Perth Scams to Avoid in 2026 (Australia)
Perth is Australia's most isolated major city and a laid-back tourist destination. Visitors should watch for unlicensed airport taxis, ATM card skimming, spill distraction pickpocketing, fake tour company reviews, and online holiday rental fraud.
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Last updated: April 2, 2026
Street Drink Spiking in Northbridge
Predatory individuals in Northbridge nightlife district offer free drinks to tourists or slip substances into unattended beverages at busy bars. Victims lose wallets, phones, and become vulnerable to further exploitation.
📍Northbridge entertainment precinct, Beaufort Street, Lake Street bars and clubs
How to avoid: Never leave drinks unattended. Use buddy system when clubbing. Stick to mainstream venues with visible security. Be cautious of overly friendly strangers offering drinks.
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Medium Risk
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Perth · Australia · Oceania
Open map →📍Where These Scams Are Most Active in Perth
Specific areas and landmarks with the highest concentration of documented incidents.
Street Drink Spiking in Northbridge
Northbridge entertainment precinct, Beaufort Street, Lake Street bars and clubs
Rottnest Island Unlicensed Boat Tour Scam
Along Barrack Street Jetty between the ferry terminal and the Elizabeth Quay pedestrian bridge, and at the informal parking areas near the Riverside Drive boat launch ramps
Airport Unlicensed Taxi Scam
Outside the international and domestic terminals at Perth Airport in Redcliffe, particularly in the unregulated pick-up zone on the roadway outside arrivals.
Online Holiday Rental Fraud
Targeting Perth tourists searching for accommodation on Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree. Properties are falsely advertised as being in Cottesloe, Scarborough, Fremantle, or the Perth CBD.
ATM Card Skimming
Standalone ATMs in Perth's CBD around Murray and Hay Streets, at ATMs near the Fremantle waterfront and markets, and at tourist-facing ATMs in Northbridge.
Fake Tour Company Reviews
Online booking platforms and social media pages advertising Perth whale-watching tours from Fremantle, Rottnest Island ferry crossings, and Swan Valley and Margaret River wine region day tours.
These areas are safe to visit — knowing the setups in advance makes them far easier to recognize and avoid.
How it works
Predatory individuals in Northbridge nightlife district offer free drinks to tourists or slip substances into unattended beverages at busy bars. Victims lose wallets, phones, and become vulnerable to further exploitation.
How it works
At the Barrack Street Jetty and Elizabeth Quay marina in Perth, touts approach tourists asking if they want a cheaper alternative to the official Rottnest Express or SeaLink ferry. They offer seats on private vessels at prices 20–40% below the official fare, sometimes claiming to offer a "private tour" that includes snorkelling or wildlife spotting. In practice, the vessels are uninsured, unlicensed for passenger transport, and do not meet the safety standards required by the Western Australian Department of Transport. Some victims are dropped at a jetty remote from the main settlement and left without return transport.
How it works
Unlicensed drivers wait outside Perth Airport's international and domestic terminals, offering flat-rate rides that are significantly more expensive than metered fares. Some variants involve taking the passenger to a nearby ATM under the pretense that card payments are not available, then taking the cash and driving off.
How it works
Fraudulent rental listings for Perth beachside properties appear on social media and informal sites, collecting deposits for non-existent or unavailable accommodation. Perth attracts significant domestic and international tourism, making it a target for rental scammers.
How it works
Standalone ATMs in Perth's CBD and tourist areas near Fremantle have been targeted with card skimming devices. A "helpful" stranger approaching you at an ATM is a warning sign of an imminent skim attempt.
How it works
Some tour operators in Perth create fake positive reviews to attract tourists for whale-watching, rottnest island tours, or wine region excursions. Victims receive a service significantly below what was advertised — inferior vessels, rushed itineraries, or cancelled components.
How it works
Scammers posing as official vendors sell tickets to Perth summer festivals, concerts, and sporting events on social media and classified sites at steep discounts. Buyers receive invalid QR codes or counterfeit tickets at the gate.
How it works
On the Hay Street pedestrian mall in central Perth, individuals carrying clipboards approach tourists and ask them to sign a petition for a charitable cause such as wildlife conservation or children's welfare. Once you engage and sign, a second person or the same individual immediately pressures you to make a cash donation or — increasingly — to enter your bank card details into a handheld EFTPOS terminal for a "direct debit." The charities named are either fictitious or have no relationship with the people collecting. Victims who enter card details have reported unauthorised recurring charges appearing within days.
How it works
In Perth's Northbridge entertainment district, some bars and restaurants add phantom charges to bills for extra drinks or 'premium' pours that were never requested. The tactic is common in busy venues where the noise and crowd make it hard to query a bill on the spot. Tourists are handed totals well above what they ordered, banking on social pressure to pay without scrutiny.
How it works
Scammers in Fremantle Market, Perth's CBD, and Northbridge nightlife area use the classic spill technique — bumping into tourists or spraying something on them — while an accomplice steals from their bag or pocket during the cleanup distraction.
Perth Safety — Frequently Asked Questions
What scams target tourists in Perth?
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Filter scams in Perth by category, or read our worldwide guides for each scam type — taxi scams, street scams, restaurant scams, and more.
If you're visiting more than one destination
Similar scam patterns are active across the Oceania region. Before visiting Sydney, Cairns, and Auckland, review each city's guide — tactics vary and local setups differ even for the same scam type.
Editorial note: Scam warnings for Perth are compiled from government travel advisories (US State Dept, UK FCDO, Australian DFAT), verified news sources, travel community reports, and traveler-submitted incidents. All entries are reviewed for accuracy and local specificity before publication. Read our full methodology →