Question 1

What is the "Fake Police Document and Wallet Check" scam in Moscow?

Accepted Answer

Individuals posing as plainclothes police officers approach tourists near major landmarks and demand to inspect their documents, citing invented offenses such as suspected drug possession or illegal currency exchange. Once the tourist opens their wallet or bag to produce a passport, an accomplice nearby palms cash or the victim is pressured to pay a fabricated fine on the spot. This scam is well documented around Okhotny Ryad metro station, Alexandrovsky Garden near the Kremlin, and along Tverskaya Ulitsa. Real Russian police officers are uniformed and must show official credentials on request. Offer to walk with the officers to the nearest police station (otdeleniye politsii) -- genuine officers will comply, scammers will lose interest immediately. Never open your wallet or allow anyone to touch your documents or belongings during such an encounter.

Question 2

What is the "Arbat Street Costumed Photo Scam" scam in Moscow?

Accepted Answer

Along Ulitsa Arbat -- the pedestrian tourist strip running between Arbatskaya and Smolenskaya metro stations -- individuals dressed as Russian military officers, matryoshka dolls, or Soviet-era figures invite tourists to pose for a free photo. Once the photo is taken, they demand aggressive payment of 500-2,000 RUB per person and become hostile if refused, sometimes physically grabbing the tourist's phone or camera until payment is made. Decline any invitation to pose for photos with costumed performers unless you have agreed on a price before the camera comes out. If you want a photo, negotiate the specific price first. If grabbed, call for attention from nearby bystanders -- the performers will typically retreat quickly.

Question 3

What is the "Arbat Souvenir Price Gouging" scam in Moscow?

Accepted Answer

Souvenir stalls lining Ulitsa Arbat charge prices 3-10 times higher than identical goods available at Izmailovsky Market (Vernissage Market) or at larger chain souvenir shops in central Moscow. Items including matryoshka dolls, Soviet-era military badges, and fur hats are frequently misrepresented as hand-painted or antique when they are mass-produced imports. Vendors quote prices in dollars or euros rather than rubles to maximize the perception of value. For the best prices on Russian souvenirs, visit Izmailovsky Vernissage Market near Partizanskaya metro station on the dark blue line on weekends, where hundreds of vendors compete and prices are negotiable. On Arbat, budget no more than 300-800 RUB for a standard matryoshka and compare between at least three stalls before buying. Ask the price in rubles explicitly.

Street Scams in Moscow

Fake Police Document and Wallet Check

Arbat Street Costumed Photo Scam

Arbat Souvenir Price Gouging

Experienced a scam here?