Money & ATM Scams in Punta del Este, Uruguay
Card skimming, currency exchange fraud, dynamic currency conversion, and cash cons. Below are the money & atm scams scams reported in Punta del Este — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Valparaíso, Mendoza, and Medellín.
Last updated: April 9, 2026
2
Money & ATM Scams Scams
10
Total in Punta del Este
How it works
Some restaurants, market stalls, and informal vendors on Avenida Gorlero and near Playa Brava deliberately confuse Argentine pesos with Uruguayan pesos when making change — the bills look superficially similar to hurried tourists. A vendor may quote a price in USD, accept payment in USD, but return change mixing in Argentine peso bills worth a fraction of the Uruguayan peso equivalent, profiting from the confusion. The Argentine peso trades at roughly 1,000+ ARS per USD while the Uruguayan peso trades around 40 UYU per USD.
How it works
Card skimming devices have been reported on standalone ATMs in Punta del Este, particularly machines on Avenida Gorlero and those in standalone kiosks away from bank branches. Criminals attach a thin card reader overlay to the machine slot and a miniature camera above the keypad to capture PIN entry. The skimmed data is later used to clone cards and drain accounts. Risk is elevated during high season when machine maintenance cycles lengthen and tourist volume spikes.
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10 total warnings across all categories
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