Money & ATM Scams in Uyuni, Bolivia
Card skimming, currency exchange fraud, dynamic currency conversion, and cash cons. Below are the money & atm scams scams reported in Uyuni — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Valparaíso, Mendoza, and Salvador.
Last updated: April 4, 2026
2
Money & ATM Scams Scams
8
Total in Uyuni
How it works
At the Bolivian-Chilean border crossing between Uyuni and San Pedro de Atacama, informal money changers offer to exchange Bolivian bolivianos for Chilean pesos or USD. Exchange rates offered are significantly below official rates and changers may use sleight of hand to pass counterfeit notes or short-change travellers completing a currency swap under time pressure from waiting transport.
How it works
Bolivia's banknotes include multiple denominations that look similar to the unfamiliar eye. Market vendors and small shops in Uyuni take advantage of this by short-changing tourists, particularly when paying with larger notes. The practice is especially common in the Mercado Central and at bus ticket windows.
See all scams in Uyuni
8 total warnings across all categories