Tourist Scams in Central Asia

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: 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.

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: 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.

Drivers at Tashkent Airport and near the bazaars refuse to use meters and quote prices 3–5x the local rate for foreigners, sometimes claiming the agreed price was per person.

How to avoid: Use the Yandex Go app for all rides. Confirm "total price, not per person" explicitly before entering the cab.

Informal money changers operating near tourist sites and bazaars offer attractive exchange rates but use sleight of hand to shortchange customers. Common techniques include miscounting large stacks of sum notes, adding smaller denomination notes in the middle of a bundle, or providing a rate that differs from what was quoted once counting begins. The high-denomination sum notes in large bundles are difficult to count quickly.

How to avoid: Exchange currency only at licensed bank branches or official exchange offices with posted rates and receipts. If using an exchange office, count all notes yourself before leaving the counter and verify the math independently. Avoid any changer who creates urgency or crowds the transaction.

While Uzbekistan has liberalized its currency exchange system, informal money changers near tourist sites in Samarkand still operate and use sleight of hand to short-change tourists. Common techniques include miscounting high-denomination sum notes (UZS 50,000 and 100,000 notes), palming notes during counting, or quoting one rate and applying a lower one when completing the transaction.

How to avoid: Use official bank exchange counters, ATMs, or hotel exchange desks for all currency conversion. If you use an informal changer, count the sum notes yourself before handing over your foreign currency — do not let the changer take back the sum bundle to "recount". Know the current official exchange rate before any transaction.

Vendors around the trading domes and bazaars sell machine-made or synthetic textiles falsely described as handmade silk suzani embroidery. These items are presented as authentic artisan work with origin stories and certificates that have no basis in reality. Prices are often negotiated down dramatically from an inflated starting point to create a false sense of a good deal. The quality difference between genuine handmade suzani and machine-produced copies is significant and only apparent to trained eyes.

How to avoid: Visit workshops attached to reputable craft cooperatives where you can watch artisans work and purchase directly. Genuine handmade silk suzani takes months to produce and commands a corresponding price. Be skeptical of any vendor who dramatically drops the price after minimal negotiation.

The Registan is Samarkand's main monument and charges an official admission fee that includes standard photography rights. However, individuals near the entrance pose as officials and demand additional "photography permits" or "tripod fees" for amounts far exceeding any actual charge. Some approach visitors inside the complex claiming that using a phone or camera without a special sticker is illegal.

How to avoid: Pay only at the official ticket booth at the Registan entrance. The standard ticket includes photography rights for personal use. If someone inside the complex demands an additional fee, ask to see their official identification badge and the printed fee schedule. Legitimate fees are always collected at the entrance booth.

Unofficial taxi drivers at Almaty International Airport quote tourists rates of 5,000–8,000 KZT for rides that should cost 2,000–3,000 KZT by meter. They approach passengers in the arrivals hall before they can find official transportation.

How to avoid: Use Yandex Taxi or InDrive apps from inside the terminal before exiting the building. If taking an airport taxi, insist on the meter. The official taxi desk inside the terminal offers fixed rates — use it rather than accepting a deal from anyone who approaches you.