Phnom Penh Scams to Avoid in 2026 (Cambodia)
Cambodia's riverside capital blends French colonial architecture, the powerful Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, and a fast-growing food scene. It also has some of Southeast Asia's most serious tourist-targeted scams, including armed card game setups and drive-by bag grabs.
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Last updated: April 2, 2026
Drive-By Bag and Phone Snatching
Criminals on motorbikes snatch phones, bags, and cameras from pedestrians and tuk-tuk passengers in Phnom Penh. Australian Smartraveller and the US State Department both flag this as one of the most common crimes against visitors, with incidents increasing in 2024.
📍Riverside Promenade (Sisowath Quay) and streets near the Royal Palace
How to avoid: Hold bags on the side away from the road. Keep phones in pockets when not actively using them. Sit inside a tuk-tuk rather than on the outer edge. Be particularly alert near the riverfront and Russian Market.
This scam type is also documented in Luang Prabang and Hoi An.
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Phnom Penh · Cambodia · Asia
Open map →📍Where These Scams Are Most Active in Phnom Penh
Specific areas and landmarks with the highest concentration of documented incidents.
Drive-By Bag and Phone Snatching
Riverside Promenade (Sisowath Quay) and streets near the Royal Palace
Card Game Scam at Private Residences
Private residences reached via tuk-tuk, typically in Toul Tom Poung and BKK1 neighborhoods
Drug Entrapment
Nightlife areas around Street 136, Street 51, and Riverside in Phnom Penh
Tuk-Tuk Overcharging and Commission Routing
Airport exits, the Central Market area, and guesthouses around Boeung Keng Kang (BKK1)
Fake Orphanage Visits
Tourist areas near Wat Phnom and the riverfront, where drivers offer orphanage tours
Gem and Jewellery Scams
Jewelry stalls near the Central Market (Phsar Thmei) and along Monivong Boulevard
These areas are safe to visit — knowing the setups in advance makes them far easier to recognize and avoid.
How it works
Criminals on motorbikes snatch phones, bags, and cameras from pedestrians and tuk-tuk passengers in Phnom Penh. Australian Smartraveller and the US State Department both flag this as one of the most common crimes against visitors, with incidents increasing in 2024.
How it works
A friendly stranger initiates conversation, builds rapport over hours, and eventually invites the tourist to a private home for food or drinks. A card game follows where the tourist is cheated into losing large sums, sometimes under armed threat to visit an ATM. Multiple Western embassies have issued specific warnings.
How it works
Dealers sell drugs openly in areas frequented by tourists, then police (sometimes in coordination with the dealer) arrest the buyer. Victims are pressured into paying large on-the-spot 'fines' to avoid formal arrest. US and UK advisories specifically warn about this in Cambodia.
How it works
Tuk-tuk drivers quote low initial fares then add charges, or take tourists to shops and restaurants that pay them a commission rather than the destination requested. Common from the airport and near the riverfront.
How it works
Operators promote visits to local orphanages as voluntourism experiences for a fee. Many 'orphanages' are not genuine — children are sometimes borrowed from families to attract donations, and the money rarely benefits them. UNICEF and Australian aid agencies have campaigned against this practice in Cambodia.
How it works
Vendors near the Central Market and tourist guesthouses sell low-quality or fake gems — synthetic rubies, glass 'sapphires,' and plated jewellery — at prices presented as significant deals. Purchases cannot be refunded.
How it works
Unofficial money changers near the Central Market and riverside tourist areas give fake bills mixed with legitimate currency, use sleight-of-hand to reduce count, or quote falsely favorable rates then shortchange tourists at handoff.
How it works
Tourist-targeted restaurants near Tonlé Sap and in Toul Tom Poung add phantom dishes, overcharge for beer or spirits, or swap itemized bills with inflated versions before tourists review totals. Some charge per person rather than per dish without prior disclosure.
How it works
Money changers operating near Psar Thmei (Central Market) and along the surrounding streets use sleight of hand to shortchange tourists during currency exchanges. Common techniques include counting out bills quickly and palming a note, handing back a stack with a low-denomination bill on top and bottom concealing fewer bills inside, or quoting one rate verbally and applying a worse rate when counting out the cash. The busy, noisy market environment creates distraction that facilitates the manipulation.
How it works
Near the entrance to the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (the Killing Fields), unofficial touts approach tourists offering pre-purchased tickets at a slight discount or claiming the official ticket office is closed or overcrowded. The tickets provided are either counterfeit or legitimately purchased at face value and resold with a markup framed as a "service fee." Some touts also pose as licensed guides offering bundled ticket-and-tour deals that are vastly overpriced compared to the official audio guide included in the admission price.
Phnom Penh Safety — Frequently Asked Questions
What scams target tourists in Phnom Penh?
Are taxis safe in Phnom Penh?
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Which areas of Phnom Penh should tourists be most careful in?
How can I avoid being scammed in Phnom Penh?
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If you're visiting more than one destination
Similar scam patterns are active across the Asia region. Before visiting Koh Samui, review each city's guide — tactics vary and local setups differ even for the same scam type.
Editorial note: Scam warnings for Phnom Penh 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 →