Street Scams in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in Tashkent — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Almaty.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
3
Street Scams Scams
10
Total in Tashkent
How it works
A street performer runs a three-cup ball game surrounded by accomplices. While onlookers focus on the game, team members pickpocket the crowd.
How it works
A stranger claims to have found cash and offers to split it with you, then uses sleight of hand to steal your contribution along with the "found" money during the handover.
How it works
Vendors at Ipak Yoli Bazaar and the surrounding covered market streets sell ceramics, ikat silk fabrics, and miniature paintings as handmade traditional crafts, but the majority are mass-produced in Chinese factories and imported. Prices are quoted as though items are one-of-a-kind heirlooms, and vendors claim pieces are antique or personally hand-painted by local artisans. Buyers paying premium prices for "authentic" Uzbek goods frequently find identical items available at a fraction of the cost in discount import stores.
See all scams in Tashkent
10 total warnings across all categories