Surabaya Scams to Avoid in 2026 (Indonesia)

How it works

Unlicensed taxi touts at Juanda International Airport (SUB) approach arriving passengers in the arrivals hall before they reach the official taxi counter and quote flat rates of IDR 350,000–500,000 for rides to central Surabaya — roughly two to three times the legitimate metered fare of IDR 150,000–200,000 for the 20 km journey. Drivers may claim meters are broken or insist a flat rate is mandatory at this airport. Some touts wear unofficial-looking uniforms or carry handwritten signs to appear credible.

How it works

Touts near Gubeng Station and budget hotels along Jalan Semeru sell Mount Bromo tour packages framed as official or government-certified trips, typically priced at IDR 500,000–800,000 per person. In reality the "operator" is an unlicensed middleman: vehicles are poorly maintained, guides speak little English, promised inclusions (entry fees, jeep hire, hotel pickup) are missing on the day, and in some cases the tour does not depart at all. Mount Bromo is 2–3 hours from Surabaya and requires a jeep at the crater rim — a logistics chain that gives scammers many points to cut corners.

How it works

Becak (cycle rickshaw) drivers in the Kota Tua (Old Town) district near House of Sampoerna routinely quote tourists fares of IDR 50,000–100,000 for short rides that should cost IDR 10,000–20,000 for a local. Drivers rarely display fixed prices and will often begin pedaling before any price is agreed, then demand payment at the destination. Some will add extra charges for "waiting time" or a return trip the passenger did not request.

How it works

Unauthorized money changers operating near the House of Sampoerna, Tunjungan Plaza, and Pasar Atum use sleight-of-hand counting tricks, offer an attractive headline rate then quietly apply a "commission," or swap genuine notes for lower-denomination rupiah during the handover. The thick bundles of Indonesian rupiah (IDR 5,000 and IDR 10,000 notes are common) make quick miscounting easy to disguise, especially when the changer counts rapidly and distracts with conversation.

How it works

In tourist areas around House of Sampoerna and Kota Tua, a well-dressed local — often posing as a student practicing English — will introduce themselves and offer to show you around for free. After an hour or more of guided walking, they lead you to a shop, restaurant, or gallery where they receive a commission on anything you buy, then present an unexpected "guide fee" of IDR 150,000–300,000 when you try to leave. The social dynamic of having accepted help makes it difficult to refuse payment without confrontation.

How it works

Ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers who are not registered on the Gojek or Grab apps operate informally near Gubeng Station, Tunjungan Plaza, and Kota Tua and quote tourist fares of IDR 30,000–80,000 for short rides that the apps price at IDR 7,000–15,000. Some drivers refuse to use the app price when a foreigner books, claiming "the app price is for Indonesians only," and pressure passengers to pay a higher cash rate instead. Others agree to a price and then demand more at the destination.

How it works

Travelers arriving at Surabaya Gubeng Station without hotel bookings are approached by touts who offer to take them to a "good cheap guesthouse" nearby. The tout typically works on commission and leads visitors to overpriced or substandard accommodation on Jalan Pemuda or Jalan WR Supratman. Room rates quoted verbally may be inflated, or the tout demands a finder's fee directly from the traveler on top of the room price. Some touts claim your pre-booked hotel is "closed" or "full" to divert you.

How it works

Similar to Bromo tour touts, street sellers near guesthouses on Jalan Semeru and around Gubeng Station sell purported overnight Ijen Crater packages (to see the blue fire phenomenon) at IDR 600,000–900,000. These packages often omit mandatory transport costs, the national park entry fee (IDR 150,000 for foreigners on weekdays), and the required trek guide fee at Paltuding trailhead. Travelers arrive at Ijen unable to proceed without paying additional fees they were told were included.

How it works

Pasar Atum shopping center on Jalan Dupak is well-known locally as a source of counterfeit branded goods — clothing, shoes, bags, and electronics bearing fake Nike, Adidas, Samsung, and Apple logos. Vendors frequently overstate the quality of items and imply or directly claim they are genuine. Tourists who purchase counterfeit electronics risk receiving non-functional devices or items with dangerously substandard components. Customs authorities in many countries confiscate counterfeit goods on return.

How it works

In warung (local food stalls) and small restaurants near Tunjungan Plaza and popular guesthouses on Jalan Pemuda, owners or waiters produce a separate verbal price list for foreign visitors or present a menu without prices, then charge two to three times the local rate when the bill arrives. A nasi goreng (fried rice) that costs IDR 15,000–20,000 for locals may be billed at IDR 45,000–60,000 to a tourist who did not ask the price in advance.