Street Scams in Jerusalem, Israel
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in Jerusalem — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Baku.
Last updated: April 4, 2026
6
Street Scams Scams
14
Total in Jerusalem
How it works
Souvenir and religious goods vendors in the Muslim Quarter and along the Via Dolorosa use aggressive pricing tactics against pilgrims who are emotionally engaged with the religious significance of the location. Items including olive wood crosses, Jerusalem stone carvings, and Dead Sea cosmetics are sold at prices five to ten times their value in shops one street away from the main tourist route.
How it works
Vendors throughout the Christian Quarter and along the Via Dolorosa sell religious items described as genuine authenticated relics, "blessed by the Pope," "from the original wood of the True Cross," or "certified by the Patriarchate." These claims are universally fabricated. Olive wood rosaries and crosses are misrepresented as hand-carved Bethlehem pieces when they are mass-produced. Certificates of authenticity have no official backing.
How it works
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre and its immediate surroundings experience concentrated pickpocketing, particularly during peak pilgrimage periods (Easter, Christmas, Orthodox celebrations) when crowds are dense and emotional engagement is high. Teams work the queue to enter the Edicule (Christ's tomb) and the narrow lanes of the Christian Quarter approaching the church from Muristan Road.
How it works
The narrow lanes of the Old City's souk, particularly between Damascus Gate and the Via Dolorosa, are used by distraction theft teams. One person engages the tourist with a question, direction request, or item being sold from a tray, while an accomplice removes items from bags or pockets. The disorienting nature of the Old City's unmarked lanes adds to tourist vulnerability.
How it works
At the panoramic overlook at the top of the Mount of Olives, operators position camels and donkeys as photo props for tourists. Visitors are invited to sit on the animal for a photo with the Old City skyline behind them, but the price is not stated before the tourist is seated. Once the tourist is mounted, handlers demand inflated fees — sometimes 100–300 NIS for a brief photo — and may refuse to help them dismount until payment is made. In some cases, multiple handlers demand separate payments. Stuffed toy camels and other merchandise are thrust into tourists' hands during the interaction with payment then demanded.
How it works
Craft shops in the Muslim Quarter and around Damascus Gate sell Palestinian embroidery (tatreez), keffiyeh scarves, ceramic tiles, and olive wood carvings at prices marketed as "authentic" and "direct from artisans" but substantially above their actual production cost. Some items are imported from Turkey or China and presented as Palestinian-made. Guides who receive commissions steer groups to specific shops where prices are inflated to cover the commission.
See all scams in Jerusalem
14 total warnings across all categories