Worldwide Guide
Money & ATM Scams Targeting Tourists — Worldwide Warning Guide
Money & ATM Scams are documented across 518 destinations worldwide in our database, with 780 verified reports. Card skimming, currency exchange fraud, dynamic currency conversion, and cash cons. The majority of documented money & atm scams scams are low to moderate severity, though 35 high-severity incidents are recorded where financial loss was significant. Europe has the highest concentration of documented money & atm scams scams (224 incidents across 154 destinations), followed by North America (146 incidents). Tijuana leads with 4 documented money & atm scams scams — the highest of any single destination.
Scams Documented
780
Destinations Affected
518
High Severity
35
Regions Affected
13
How Money and ATM Scams Work — Card Fraud, Currency Tricks, and Cash Manipulation
Financial fraud targeting tourists is distinctive because it is often invisible at the moment it occurs. Unlike a street scam or a restaurant overcharge, card skimming or dynamic currency conversion manipulation may not be detected until the tourist checks their bank statement — sometimes days or weeks after the event. This invisibility is the defining characteristic of the category and the primary reason financial scams are systematically underreported.
ATM skimming involves the physical installation of a card-reading device over the legitimate card slot, paired with a miniature camera or a PIN pad overlay to capture the security code. The data is copied wirelessly and used to clone the card within hours. Skimming devices are documented most frequently at ATMs in tourist areas, particularly freestanding machines in high-traffic nightlife and shopping zones. Bank-branch ATMs with physical security and anti-tamper protection are significantly lower risk. The standard guidance — check for anything loose or unusual on the card slot, cover your hand when entering the PIN — reduces but does not eliminate the risk.
Currency exchange fraud takes several forms. The most straightforward is the misquoted rate: the advertised rate looks competitive, but the actual exchange applies additional fees or a less favorable rate calculated mid-transaction. Dynamic currency conversion is a legal but manipulative variant — when paying by card in a foreign country, merchants or ATMs offer to charge in your home currency instead of local currency. The conversion rate used is always less favorable than your bank's rate; declining the offer and paying in local currency is consistently better value.
Shortchanging at currency exchanges and market stalls is documented across most tourist destinations. The mechanism varies: notes are returned in a folded stack that appears correct but contains lower denominations; a deliberate counting error is introduced with the expectation that the tourist won't recount; or money is "accidentally" dropped and switched during retrieval. Counting currency carefully before leaving the exchange desk, in full view of the operator, is the standard countermeasure.
For card security: use contactless or chip payment where available, use ATMs attached to bank branches during business hours, enable real-time transaction notifications on your bank account, and carry a backup card in a separate location. The moment a card is compromised, the fraudulent charges typically appear within 24-48 hours.
How serious are money & atm scams scams?
Money & ATM Scams Worldwide
The most frequently reported money & atm scams scams across all destinations, ranked by severity and frequency score.
This is Bangkok's most financially damaging tourist scam and one of the most well-documented confidence tricks in Southeast Asia. Tourists are told — typically after being delivered by a tuk-tuk following the Grand Palace closure misdirection — that Thailand is hosting a government gem export sale where gems can be purchased at wholesale prices and resold at home for large profits. The gems are low-quality, synthetic, or worthless glass. Individual losses can reach tens of thousands of dollars. Thai police have arrested multiple operators, most recently seizing gold and gems worth over 2.7 million THB in October 2025.
How to avoid it
No legitimate government export sale exists. Any claim that gems can be purchased in Bangkok and resold for profit at home is a guaranteed scam without exception. Decline all tuk-tuk rides that include a stop at a gem or jewellery shop, and do not enter any shop recommended by a stranger or driver.
Scammers approach tourists at ATMs in Livingstone, offering to help avoid bank fees or resolve card issues, while using a hidden card skimmer and observing the PIN being entered. A second variant involves following the victim after they withdraw cash and robbing them on a nearby quieter street. This pattern is flagged specifically by the US State Department, Australian Smartraveller, and Canadian Government advisories for Zambia.
How to avoid it
Use only ATMs inside bank branches or secure hotel lobbies, never during night hours. Shield the keypad when entering your PIN and firmly decline all unsolicited help at the machine. Be aware of your surroundings after withdrawing cash and take a direct, busy route back.
Unofficial money changers near Naghsh-e Jahan Square and the Grand Bazaar offer rates significantly above the official bank rate, exploiting the gap between the official and open-market exchange rates in Iran. Some changers use sleight-of-hand to swap high-denomination notes for counterfeits, or short-count the bundle while distracting visitors. Transactions are illegal and offer no recourse if you are defrauded.
How to avoid it
Exchange currency only at licensed exchange offices (sarrafi) displaying official certification, or at your hotel. Always count every note immediately and do not let the bundle leave your sight. Avoid anyone who approaches you on the street offering exchange services.
Touts approach tourists near Bayterek Tower and Nurzhol Boulevard offering unofficial currency exchange at rates significantly above the official bank rate. The money is often counted quickly and folded in a way that conceals short-changed bills or includes counterfeit tenge notes mixed in the middle of the stack. Victims typically only discover the shortage after the tout has disappeared into the crowds.
How to avoid it
Use only licensed exchange offices (Обмен валют) inside malls like Khan Shatyr or established bank branches on Nurzhol Boulevard. Never exchange money on the street regardless of the rate offered.
Scammers posing as licensed resale agents cold-call or email Cabo timeshare owners claiming to have a buyer lined up for their unit. They request upfront "transfer fees," "closing costs," or "tax deposits" ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 before the sale can proceed. No sale ever occurs, and repeated requests for additional fees continue until the victim stops paying.
How to avoid it
Never pay upfront fees to any company claiming to facilitate a timeshare sale or exit. Verify any resale company with PROFECO (Mexican federal consumer protection agency) before engaging.
Around Lyabi-Hauz square, the tourist centre of Bukhara, touts approach visitors openly offering unofficial currency exchange at rates well above the official bank rate. The trick involves quick-counting som notes that include old low-denomination bills buried inside a larger stack, or straightforward short-changing during the distraction of the handoff. Because the sums involved appear small in foreign currency terms, many tourists only notice the loss later.
How to avoid it
Exchange currency only at licensed bank branches or official exchange kiosks, both of which are available within a short walk of Lyabi-Hauz. Never exchange money on the street regardless of the rate offered — the spread will not compensate for the risk of receiving a short count or counterfeit notes.
Standalone Banco 24 Horas ATMs in Sao Paulo Centro, Brás, and Cambuci are targeted by criminals who wait for users to withdraw cash and rob them immediately outside. The crime usually involves a quick approach on foot or motorcycle, and resistance is actively discouraged. The Lei do Seco restricts ATM withdrawals after 10pm in high-risk zones, but many tourists are unaware of this.
How to avoid it
Withdraw cash only during daytime at ATMs inside bank branches or major shopping centers with security. Be aware of Lei do Seco (10pm ATM limit in risk zones) and plan cash needs before nightfall.
Street-level arbolitos (informal money changers) approach tourists in Mendoza's central pedestrian zone offering parallel exchange rates above the official bank rate. While some transactions proceed, many involve counterfeit notes mixed into bundles, deliberate short-counts, or sleight-of-hand where pesos are palmed mid-count. During periods of Argentine economic instability the spread between official and blue rates is large, making the scam highly attractive to operators. The practice is illegal and leaves tourists with no recourse against losses.
How to avoid it
Decline all street currency exchange approaches. Use official casas de cambio with posted rates or withdraw from ATMs. If using informal channels, never allow the other party to handle the cash during counting.
Where money & atm scams scams concentrate
Regions ranked by total documented money & atm scams incidents. Higher counts typically reflect higher tourist volume.
Europe
154 destinations · 6 high severity
224
incidents
North America
99 destinations · 7 high severity
146
incidents
Southeast Asia
56 destinations · 4 high severity
90
incidents
South America
39 destinations · 6 high severity
69
incidents
Middle East
26 destinations · 3 high severity
42
incidents
Caribbean
24 destinations · 2 high severity
39
incidents
Sub-Saharan Africa
25 destinations · 4 high severity
37
incidents
South Asia
23 destinations ·
30
incidents
East Asia
25 destinations ·
30
incidents
North Africa
19 destinations ·
27
incidents
Oceania
15 destinations · 1 high severity
19
incidents
Central Asia
6 destinations · 2 high severity
14
incidents
Central America
7 destinations ·
13
incidents
Common red flags for money & atm scams scams
These warning signs appear across multiple destinations and scam variants in this category. Recognising any of these should trigger caution.
card slot has any wobble
cash only
no receipt offered
no printed receipt offered
machine is inside a shop rather than on an external bank wall
machine inside a shop
card slot feels loose or has an unusual overlay
unusual resistance when inserting card
Where Money & ATM Scams Occur
Money & ATM Scams have been reported in 518 destinations. Click any to see the full scam list.
Tijuana
Mexico
4 scams
Mendoza
Argentina
4 scams
Cozumel
Mexico
4 scams
Wroclaw
Poland
4 scams
Santo Domingo
Dominican Republic
3 scams
Livingstone
Zambia
3 scams
Córdoba
Argentina
3 scams
Astana
Kazakhstan
3 scams
Nairobi
Kenya
3 scams
Cologne
Germany
3 scams
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam
3 scams
Bukhara
Uzbekistan
3 scams
Johor Bahru
Malaysia
3 scams
San José
Costa Rica
3 scams
Izmir
Turkey
3 scams
Manila
Philippines
3 scams
Munich
Germany
3 scams
Bagan
Myanmar
3 scams
El Nido
Philippines
3 scams
Santiago
Chile
3 scams
Montevideo
Uruguay
3 scams
Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan
3 scams
Uyuni
Bolivia
3 scams
Yangon
Myanmar
3 scams
Yerevan
Armenia
3 scams
Kingston
Jamaica
3 scams
Tirana
Albania
3 scams
Berlin
Germany
3 scams
Beirut
Lebanon
3 scams
Quito
Ecuador
3 scams
San Juan
Puerto Rico
3 scams
Manchester
United Kingdom
3 scams
Hamburg
Germany
3 scams
Alanya
Turkey
3 scams
Panama City
Panama
3 scams
Atlantic City
USA
3 scams
Lake Tahoe
USA
3 scams
Lucerne
Switzerland
3 scams
Jackson Hole
USA
3 scams
Bangkok
Thailand
2 scams
Valparaíso
Chile
2 scams
Isfahan
Iran
2 scams
Varadero
Cuba
2 scams
Marseille
France
2 scams
Playa del Carmen
Mexico
2 scams
Buenos Aires
Argentina
2 scams
Cabo San Lucas
Mexico
2 scams
Prague
Czech Republic
2 scams
Cairo
Egypt
2 scams
Shiraz
Iran
2 scams
Flores
Indonesia
2 scams
Samarkand
Uzbekistan
2 scams
Istanbul
Turkey
2 scams
Chefchaouen
Morocco
2 scams
Salou
Spain
2 scams
Warsaw
Poland
2 scams
São Paulo
Brazil
2 scams
Algiers
Algeria
2 scams
Udaipur
India
2 scams
Corfu
Greece
2 scams
Medellín
Colombia
2 scams
Johannesburg
South Africa
2 scams
Split
Croatia
2 scams
Rome
Italy
2 scams
Mexico City
Mexico
2 scams
Jakarta
Indonesia
2 scams
Iguazu Falls
Argentina
2 scams
Goa
India
2 scams
Fuerteventura
Spain
2 scams
Halifax
Canada
2 scams
Hanoi
Vietnam
2 scams
Albufeira
Portugal
2 scams
Salvador
Brazil
2 scams
Sofia
Bulgaria
2 scams
Cebu
Philippines
2 scams
Foz do Iguaçu
Brazil
2 scams
Koh Phangan
Thailand
2 scams
Monterrey
Mexico
2 scams
Naples
Italy
2 scams
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
2 scams
Bali
Indonesia
2 scams
Beijing
China
2 scams
Penang
Malaysia
2 scams
Budapest
Hungary
2 scams
Marrakech
Morocco
2 scams
New York
USA
2 scams
Gdansk
Poland
2 scams
Agadir
Morocco
2 scams
Punta Cana
Dominican Republic
2 scams
Aswan
Egypt
2 scams
Baku
Azerbaijan
2 scams
Cartagena
Colombia
2 scams
Algarve
Portugal
2 scams
Antalya
Turkey
2 scams
Nha Trang
Vietnam
2 scams
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
2 scams
Jeju Island
South Korea
2 scams
Vancouver
Canada
2 scams
Maputo
Mozambique
2 scams
Asunción
Paraguay
2 scams
Riga
Latvia
2 scams
Casablanca
Morocco
2 scams
Valencia
Spain
2 scams
Nassau
Bahamas
2 scams
Mazatlan
Mexico
2 scams
Las Terrenas
Dominican Republic
2 scams
Portland
USA
2 scams
Boracay
Philippines
2 scams
Jerusalem
Israel
2 scams
Chisinau
Moldova
2 scams
Dubai
UAE
2 scams
Kampot
Cambodia
2 scams
Alexandria
Egypt
2 scams
Melbourne
Australia
2 scams
Lombok
Indonesia
2 scams
La Paz
Bolivia
2 scams
Accra
Ghana
2 scams
Easter Island
Chile
2 scams
Macao
China
2 scams
Kansas City
USA
2 scams
Frankfurt
Germany
2 scams
Krakow
Poland
2 scams
London
United Kingdom
2 scams
Dallas
USA
2 scams
Mumbai
India
2 scams
Chiang Rai
Thailand
2 scams
Plovdiv
Bulgaria
2 scams
Lahore
Pakistan
2 scams
Zurich
Switzerland
2 scams
Turin
Italy
2 scams
Monaco
Monaco
2 scams
Samaná
Dominican Republic
2 scams
Chengdu
China
2 scams
Iquitos
Peru
2 scams
Recife
Brazil
2 scams
Roatan
Honduras
2 scams
Almaty
Kazakhstan
2 scams
Toronto
Canada
2 scams
Gold Coast
Australia
2 scams
Vilnius
Lithuania
2 scams
Florence
Italy
2 scams
Bergen
Norway
2 scams
Halong Bay
Vietnam
2 scams
Louisville
USA
2 scams
Savannah
USA
2 scams
Limassol
Cyprus
2 scams
Koh Chang
Thailand
2 scams
Eilat
Israel
2 scams
Lamu
Kenya
2 scams
Montreal
Canada
2 scams
Sedona
USA
2 scams
Dakar
Senegal
2 scams
Puerto Escondido
Mexico
2 scams
Islamabad
Pakistan
2 scams
San José
Costa Rica
2 scams
Seville
Spain
2 scams
Lloret de Mar
Spain
2 scams
Denver
USA
2 scams
Branson
USA
2 scams
Panama City Beach
USA
2 scams
Mostar
Bosnia and Herzegovina
2 scams
Melaka
Malaysia
2 scams
Cape Cod
USA
2 scams
Windhoek
Namibia
2 scams
Vang Vieng
Laos
2 scams
Negril
Jamaica
2 scams
Bilbao
Spain
2 scams
Bocas del Toro
Panama
2 scams
Nuremberg
Germany
2 scams
Hua Hin
Thailand
2 scams
Milan
Italy
2 scams
Hampi
India
2 scams
Brussels
Belgium
2 scams
Kandy
Sri Lanka
2 scams
Nadi
Fiji
2 scams
Lefkada
Greece
2 scams
Fort Lauderdale
USA
2 scams
Sint Maarten / St. Martin
Sint Maarten / St. Martin
2 scams
San Juan del Sur
Nicaragua
2 scams
Porto Seguro
Brazil
2 scams
Lyon
France
2 scams
Ljubljana
Slovenia
2 scams
Rovinj
Croatia
2 scams
Tampa
USA
2 scams
Stockholm
Sweden
2 scams
Aruba
Aruba
2 scams
Kuwait City
Kuwait
2 scams
Punta del Este
Uruguay
2 scams
Santa Barbara
USA
2 scams
Monterey
USA
2 scams
Novi Sad
Serbia
2 scams
Thessaloniki
Greece
2 scams
Rimini
Italy
2 scams
Papeete
French Polynesia
2 scams
Key West
USA
2 scams
Jesolo
Italy
2 scams
Kigali
Rwanda
2 scams
Geneva
Switzerland
2 scams
Interlaken
Switzerland
2 scams
Kota Kinabalu
Malaysia
2 scams
Bandung
Indonesia
2 scams
Destin
USA
2 scams
Rhodes Town
Greece
2 scams
Guayaquil
Ecuador
2 scams
Verona
Italy
2 scams
Bologna
Italy
2 scams
Fortaleza
Brazil
2 scams
Muscat
Oman
2 scams
Koh Lanta
Thailand
2 scams
Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands
2 scams
San Pedro
Belize
2 scams
St. Louis
USA
2 scams
Makarska
Croatia
2 scams
Kona
USA
2 scams
Saskatoon
Canada
2 scams
Ghent
Belgium
2 scams
Charlottetown
Canada
2 scams
Jasper
Canada
2 scams
Kobe
Japan
2 scams
Las Vegas
USA
1 scam
Trinidad
Cuba
1 scam
Phu Quoc
Vietnam
1 scam
Antigua Guatemala
Guatemala
1 scam
Phuket
Thailand
1 scam
Cappadocia
Turkey
1 scam
Mykonos
Greece
1 scam
Paris
France
1 scam
Lanzarote
Spain
1 scam
Amsterdam
Netherlands
1 scam
Utila
Honduras
1 scam
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
1 scam
Santiago de Cuba
Cuba
1 scam
Koh Samui
Thailand
1 scam
Tangier
Morocco
1 scam
Bogotá
Colombia
1 scam
Austin
USA
1 scam
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
1 scam
Jaipur
India
1 scam
Lagos
Nigeria
1 scam
Torremolinos
Spain
1 scam
New Orleans
USA
1 scam
Oaxaca
Mexico
1 scam
Blackpool
United Kingdom
1 scam
Chiang Mai
Thailand
1 scam
Tashkent
Uzbekistan
1 scam
Hue
Vietnam
1 scam
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe
1 scam
Hong Kong
China
1 scam
Ibiza
Spain
1 scam
Tulum
Mexico
1 scam
Barcelona
Spain
1 scam
Merida
Mexico
1 scam
Liverpool
United Kingdom
1 scam
Phoenix
USA
1 scam
Havana
Cuba
1 scam
Cape Town
South Africa
1 scam
Yogyakarta
Indonesia
1 scam
Santorini
Greece
1 scam
Siem Reap
Cambodia
1 scam
Nashville
USA
1 scam
Puerto Plata
Dominican Republic
1 scam
Porto
Portugal
1 scam
Doha
Qatar
1 scam
Abidjan
Côte d'Ivoire
1 scam
St. Lucia
St. Lucia
1 scam
Montego Bay
Jamaica
1 scam
Kusadasi
Turkey
1 scam
Batumi
Georgia
1 scam
Skopje
North Macedonia
1 scam
Diani Beach
Kenya
1 scam
Moscow
Russia
1 scam
Wadi Rum
Jordan
1 scam
Valladolid
Mexico
1 scam
Hvar
Croatia
1 scam
Miami
USA
1 scam
Mombasa
Kenya
1 scam
Guadalajara
Mexico
1 scam
Ohrid
North Macedonia
1 scam
Ios
Greece
1 scam
Dublin
Ireland
1 scam
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
1 scam
San Francisco
USA
1 scam
Byblos
Lebanon
1 scam
Manaus
Brazil
1 scam
Pisa
Italy
1 scam
Shanghai
China
1 scam
Shenzhen
China
1 scam
Erbil
Iraq
1 scam
Surabaya
Indonesia
1 scam
Varanasi
India
1 scam
Machu Picchu
Peru
1 scam
Luang Prabang
Laos
1 scam
Rotorua
New Zealand
1 scam
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
1 scam
Cali
Colombia
1 scam
Orlando
USA
1 scam
Puerto Vallarta
Mexico
1 scam
San Antonio
USA
1 scam
Dubrovnik
Croatia
1 scam
Scottsdale
USA
1 scam
Queenstown
New Zealand
1 scam
Cancun
Mexico
1 scam
Reykjavik
Iceland
1 scam
Washington DC
USA
1 scam
Colombo
Sri Lanka
1 scam
Krabi
Thailand
1 scam
Langkawi
Malaysia
1 scam
Malaga
Spain
1 scam
Puerto Princesa
Philippines
1 scam
Varna
Bulgaria
1 scam
Petra
Jordan
1 scam
Hoi An
Vietnam
1 scam
Athens
Greece
1 scam
Seoul
South Korea
1 scam
Zakynthos
Greece
1 scam
Bratislava
Slovakia
1 scam
Palermo
Italy
1 scam
Bucharest
Romania
1 scam
Bávaro
Dominican Republic
1 scam
Chennai
India
1 scam
Amman
Jordan
1 scam
Atlanta
USA
1 scam
Fez
Morocco
1 scam
Madrid
Spain
1 scam
Nosy Be
Madagascar
1 scam
Kyiv
Ukraine
1 scam
Kolkata
India
1 scam
Sarajevo
Bosnia and Herzegovina
1 scam
Dhaka
Bangladesh
1 scam
Batam
Indonesia
1 scam
Zanzibar
Tanzania
1 scam
Cairns
Australia
1 scam
Vienna
Austria
1 scam
Cusco
Peru
1 scam
Zagreb
Croatia
1 scam
New Delhi
India
1 scam
Hurghada
Egypt
1 scam
Rotterdam
Netherlands
1 scam
Lisbon
Portugal
1 scam
Memphis
USA
1 scam
Agra
India
1 scam
Tamarindo
Costa Rica
1 scam
St. Petersburg
Russia
1 scam
Calgary
Canada
1 scam
Sydney
Australia
1 scam
Da Nang
Vietnam
1 scam
Singapore
Singapore
1 scam
Boston
USA
1 scam
Florianópolis
Brazil
1 scam
Tel Aviv
Israel
1 scam
Houston
USA
1 scam
Kampala
Uganda
1 scam
Auckland
New Zealand
1 scam
Granada
Spain
1 scam
Luxor
Egypt
1 scam
Sunny Beach
Bulgaria
1 scam
Siargao
Philippines
1 scam
Tokyo
Japan
1 scam
Amritsar
India
1 scam
Playa de las Americas
Spain
1 scam
Puno
Peru
1 scam
Marbella
Spain
1 scam
Banff
Canada
1 scam
Abu Dhabi
UAE
1 scam
Osaka
Japan
1 scam
Victoria
Canada
1 scam
Bodrum
Turkey
1 scam
Magaluf
Spain
1 scam
Dahab
Egypt
1 scam
Rishikesh
India
1 scam
Ayia Napa
Cyprus
1 scam
Providenciales
Turks and Caicos
1 scam
Tunis
Tunisia
1 scam
Pattaya
Thailand
1 scam
Niagara Falls
Canada
1 scam
Sintra
Portugal
1 scam
San Diego
USA
1 scam
Gili Islands
Indonesia
1 scam
Santa Marta
Colombia
1 scam
Golden Sands
Bulgaria
1 scam
Sihanoukville
Cambodia
1 scam
Lake Como
Italy
1 scam
Kathmandu
Nepal
1 scam
Seattle
USA
1 scam
Kaohsiung
Taiwan
1 scam
Maui
USA
1 scam
Honolulu
USA
1 scam
Durban
South Africa
1 scam
Essaouira
Morocco
1 scam
Aqaba
Jordan
1 scam
Jodhpur
India
1 scam
Riyadh
Saudi Arabia
1 scam
Port Louis
Mauritius
1 scam
Asheville
USA
1 scam
Gran Canaria
Spain
1 scam
Los Angeles
USA
1 scam
Innsbruck
Austria
1 scam
Chamonix
France
1 scam
Napa
USA
1 scam
Dresden
Germany
1 scam
Monastir
Tunisia
1 scam
Sousse
Tunisia
1 scam
Paros
Greece
1 scam
Rhodes
Greece
1 scam
Pokhara
Nepal
1 scam
Maldives
Maldives
1 scam
Pai
Thailand
1 scam
Lima
Peru
1 scam
Tbilisi
Georgia
1 scam
Belgrade
Serbia
1 scam
Arusha
Tanzania
1 scam
Bruges
Belgium
1 scam
Sharm El Sheikh
Egypt
1 scam
Barbados
Barbados
1 scam
Nara
Japan
1 scam
Natal
Brazil
1 scam
Birmingham
United Kingdom
1 scam
Puerto Morelos
Mexico
1 scam
Copenhagen
Denmark
1 scam
Paphos
Cyprus
1 scam
Amalfi Coast
Italy
1 scam
San Sebastian
Spain
1 scam
Salzburg
Austria
1 scam
Anaheim
USA
1 scam
San Miguel de Allende
Mexico
1 scam
Ottawa
Canada
1 scam
Naxos
Greece
1 scam
Acapulco
Mexico
1 scam
Benidorm
Spain
1 scam
Vientiane
Laos
1 scam
Ocho Rios
Jamaica
1 scam
Gatlinburg
USA
1 scam
Crete
Greece
1 scam
Da Lat
Vietnam
1 scam
Zadar
Croatia
1 scam
Belize City
Belize
1 scam
Busan
South Korea
1 scam
Nice
France
1 scam
Montañita
Ecuador
1 scam
Sapporo
Japan
1 scam
St. John's
Antigua
1 scam
Bora Bora
French Polynesia
1 scam
Mahé
Seychelles
1 scam
Máncora
Peru
1 scam
Faliraki
Greece
1 scam
Myrtle Beach
USA
1 scam
Kavos
Greece
1 scam
Palma de Mallorca
Spain
1 scam
Kotor
Montenegro
1 scam
Koh Tao
Thailand
1 scam
Palm Springs
USA
1 scam
Valletta
Malta
1 scam
Bengaluru
India
1 scam
Kyoto
Japan
1 scam
Taipei
Taiwan
1 scam
Charleston
USA
1 scam
Kos Town
Greece
1 scam
Marmaris
Turkey
1 scam
Guangzhou
China
1 scam
Davao
Philippines
1 scam
Heraklion
Greece
1 scam
Jeddah
Saudi Arabia
1 scam
Hammamet
Tunisia
1 scam
Kefalonia
Greece
1 scam
Corfu Town
Greece
1 scam
Arequipa
Peru
1 scam
Sapa
Vietnam
1 scam
Virginia Beach
USA
1 scam
Salt Lake City
USA
1 scam
Skiathos
Greece
1 scam
Charlotte
USA
1 scam
Pittsburgh
USA
1 scam
Galapagos Islands
Ecuador
1 scam
La Fortuna
Costa Rica
1 scam
Perth
Australia
1 scam
Maceió
Brazil
1 scam
Budva
Montenegro
1 scam
Quebec City
Canada
1 scam
Venice
Italy
1 scam
Oslo
Norway
1 scam
Ninh Binh
Vietnam
1 scam
York
United Kingdom
1 scam
Tallinn
Estonia
1 scam
Philadelphia
USA
1 scam
Cinque Terre
Italy
1 scam
Santiago de Compostela
Spain
1 scam
Whistler
Canada
1 scam
Cannes
France
1 scam
Cambridge
United Kingdom
1 scam
Bordeaux
France
1 scam
Bath
United Kingdom
1 scam
Helsinki
Finland
1 scam
Okinawa
Japan
1 scam
Brisbane
Australia
1 scam
Granada
Nicaragua
1 scam
Edmonton
Canada
1 scam
Minneapolis
USA
1 scam
St. John's
Canada
1 scam
Galle
Sri Lanka
1 scam
Guilin
China
1 scam
Hangzhou
China
1 scam
Gyeongju
South Korea
1 scam
Tahiti
French Polynesia
1 scam
Glasgow
United Kingdom
1 scam
Swakopmund
Namibia
1 scam
Hiroshima
Japan
1 scam
Winnipeg
Canada
1 scam
Kelowna
Canada
1 scam
Aspen
USA
1 scam
Santa Fe
USA
1 scam
Chicago
USA
1 scam
Brighton
United Kingdom
1 scam
Oxford
United Kingdom
1 scam
Funchal
Portugal
1 scam
Wellington
New Zealand
1 scam
Adelaide
Australia
1 scam
Nagasaki
Japan
1 scam
Fukuoka
Japan
1 scam
How to protect yourself from money & atm scams scams
Money & ATM Scams are documented in 518 destinations — research the specific money & atm scams warnings for your destination before departure.
Common warning signs across all destinations: card slot has any wobble, cash only, no receipt offered, no printed receipt offered. Train yourself to recognise these patterns.
The most commonly targeted groups: Budget travelers, International tourists, backpackers. If you fit this profile, exercise extra caution in this category.
Report any money & atm scams scam to local police and your country's embassy. Even if recovery is unlikely, reports help maintain accurate travel advisory databases.
Cross-reference our warnings with recent traveler reports on forums like r/travel and TripAdvisor before your trip — conditions evolve and new variations emerge.
Safety Tips: Money & ATM Scams
Practical guides to avoiding money & atm scams scams in specific destinations.
bali
Bali Money Exchange Scams: How to Get a Fair Rate
Bali has some of the most sophisticated currency exchange scams in Southeast Asia. Learn how shortchanging, hidden fees, and fake exchange booths work — and where to exchange safely.
ATM Skimming While Traveling: How to Protect Your Card
Card skimming at ATMs is one of the most financially damaging travel scams. Learn how to spot skimming devices and which ATM types are safest to use abroad.
How to Use ATMs Safely Abroad: A Complete Guide
ATM fraud is one of the most financially damaging travel risks. Learn which machines are safest, how to spot skimmers, and how to minimize your exposure.
prague
Prague Money Exchange: How to Get the Best Rate and Avoid Scams
Prague's tourist zones are full of money exchange offices that use misleading rates and hidden fees. Learn where to exchange safely and how to spot bad deals.
Cancelling Cards From Abroad — A Bank-by-Bank Playbook
Card cancellation procedures vary by bank and by whether you can verify your identity from abroad. Here is the playbook for the major US, UK, and European banks.
amsterdam
Amsterdam Money and Transport Tips: Avoid Common Tourist Mistakes
Overpriced transport from Schiphol, poor exchange rates, and unlicensed taxi drivers are the main financial traps for tourists in Amsterdam.
Money & ATM Scams — answered
What are money & atm scams scams?
Card skimming, currency exchange fraud, dynamic currency conversion, and cash cons. Our database documents 780 verified money & atm scams scam incidents across 518 destinations worldwide. 35 of these are rated high severity, indicating significant financial or safety risk. The most common variants and how they work are detailed above.
Where are money & atm scams scams most common?
Tijuana has the highest documented money & atm scams scam count with 4 incidents. Other high-activity destinations include Mendoza (4), Cozumel (4), Wroclaw (4). Regionally, Europe has the most documented activity with 224 reports.
How do I avoid money & atm scams scams?
The most effective defence against money & atm scams scams is pre-trip research — knowing what specific scams exist at your destination makes them far easier to spot. General precautions: verify services through official channels, agree on all costs in writing before committing, maintain situational awareness in tourist areas, and trust your instincts when something feels wrong. See the individual scam entries above for specific avoidance tactics.
Are money & atm scams scams dangerous?
Most money & atm scams scams result in financial loss rather than physical danger. However, 35 of 780 documented incidents are rated high severity, indicating significant financial impact or potential safety concerns. The primary risk is financial — overcharging, counterfeit goods, or services never delivered. Physical danger is rare but documented in isolated cases, particularly where victims confront scam operators.
What should I do if I fall victim to a money & atm scams scam?
If scammed: (1) Document everything — photos, receipts, descriptions, locations. (2) Report to local police and obtain a written report number (required for insurance claims). (3) Contact your embassy if the loss is significant or you feel threatened. (4) Notify your bank immediately if payment cards were compromised. (5) File a claim with your travel insurance provider. (6) Report to our database to help other travelers.
Which tourists are most targeted by money & atm scams scams?
Based on our documented reports, the most frequently targeted groups for money & atm scams scams are: Budget travelers, International tourists, backpackers, first-time visitors, Tourists withdrawing cash. This does not mean other travelers are immune — scam operators are opportunistic and will target anyone who appears unfamiliar with local norms.
Editorial note: Money & ATM Scams scam data is compiled from government travel advisories (US State Dept, UK FCDO, Australian DFAT), verified news sources, and traveler reports. Read our methodology →
Other Scam Guides
Taxi & Transport
Taxi & Transport Scams for Tourists — Worldwide Warning Guide
Street Scams
Street Scams Tourists Fall For — Worldwide Warning Guide
Restaurant Scams
Restaurant Scams Tourists Fall For — Worldwide Warning Guide
Accommodation Scams
Accommodation Scams to Avoid — Worldwide Warning Guide
Online Scams
Online Travel Scams to Avoid — Worldwide Warning Guide
Tour & Activities
Tour & Activity Scams for Tourists — Worldwide Warning Guide
Other Scams
Other Tourist Scams to Know About — Worldwide Warning Guide