Street Scams in Surabaya, Indonesia
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in Surabaya — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, and Vang Vieng.
Last updated: April 9, 2026
2
Street Scams Scams
10
Total in Surabaya
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
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.
See all scams in Surabaya
10 total warnings across all categories
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