Street Scams in Mendoza, Argentina
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in Mendoza — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Valparaíso, Salvador, and Buenos Aires.
Last updated: April 4, 2026
6
Street Scams Scams
16
Total in Mendoza
How it works
Motorcycle-based theft — known locally as motochorro — is documented across Mendoza's urban streets and is specifically flagged in multiple government travel advisories including the US State Department, Canada DFAT, and Australian Smartraveller. Thieves operate in pairs on a motorbike: one drives slowly alongside pedestrians while the other grabs phones, bags, or jewellery and the bike accelerates away. The attack is fast and leaves victims little time to react.
How it works
Mendoza's Terminal del Sol bus station is a documented hotspot for luggage theft, specifically named in US State Department and Canadian government travel advisories. A common technique involves a staged distraction — one person falls or bumps into you while an accomplice removes bags from overhead racks, under seats, or from unattended piles during boarding and alighting. Bags left in overhead compartments on overnight long-distance buses are also targeted while passengers sleep.
How it works
A well-documented distraction theft technique involves having a substance — mustard, fake bird droppings, tomato sauce, or a similar liquid — secretly sprayed or dropped onto the tourist. An apparent Good Samaritan immediately appears offering to help clean the mess, patting the victim down during cleanup while an accomplice picks pockets or snatches bags. The FCDO, Canada DFAT, and multiple Argentina travel blogs document this scam operating throughout Mendoza's tourist zones.
How it works
Parque General San Martín, Mendoza's largest and most visited urban park, is specifically named in the Canadian government travel advisory and multiple travel safety resources as a location where muggings and distraction theft target tourists. The park's size, tree-lined paths, and secluded areas away from main thoroughfares create opportunities for opportunistic crime, particularly along less-trafficked paths and after dark.
How it works
Vendors in Mendoza's Mercado Central and some street markets sell wine labelled as premium Malbec from well-known producers at suspiciously low prices. Bottles contain inferior blends or bulk wine, with labels and capsules that closely imitate legitimate wineries. Tourists buying gifts or souvenirs are the primary targets.
How it works
A long-running scam documented in multiple TripAdvisor threads specifically for Mendoza involves a person claiming to be a foreign tourist — often presenting themselves as Belgian, Dutch, or another European nationality — who approaches tourists saying they were robbed and have no passport, money, or hotel. The scammer is well-dressed, fluent in English, and builds rapport by appealing to the tourist's empathy as a fellow traveler. They ask for money to buy a bus ticket to the nearest consulate. The same individual operated this scam in Mendoza for years and was also reported in Salta.
See all scams in Mendoza
16 total warnings across all categories