Bali is a well-known tourist place for its rich culture, food, beaches, and paddy fields. Like any other tourist place in the world, there are tourist traps and scams that try to take our earned money. Below are the top 10 common scams you will find in Bali, Indonesia
1. The currency exchange scam
Now, if you go to Bali you will most definitely find currency exchange stores lined up in popular tourist areas. Those stores have normally had the wooden sign and spray-paint saying Currency Exchange. Normally the will advertise a cheaper rate than the rate that you would get at the bank.
How does the Scam work?
The advertised exchange rate is too good to resist. If you were to go in and exchange your money there you will quickly find if you did the math as soon as they gave you your currency in Rupiah (Indonesian Currency) that it doesn’t add up to what you were supposed to get. If you questioned them about it they will claim that they’re taking a five to ten percent interest on your money because that is their commission rate.
If that doesn’t happen one of the other kinds of scams that they could do with these currency exchange places is the sleight of hand. What they will do is happen to me personally is they will take your money and they will send a stack aside here and there on their table they did the counting out, and then shuffle it around and then shuffle some bills into their pocket when you are not looking now at them. So, I challenge him and recount the money on the spot.
How to avoid this Scam?
The solution is quite simple just stick to reputable banks and forget the shady places. Do not be fooled by cheaper rates as it will cause you more at the end of the day.
2. Pickpockets and thieving monkeys
Like any pickpocket in the world, the Bali’ pickpocket is very creative and you will run into them infamous tourist spot.
How does the Scam work?
They are usually working in teams of four or five people and let’s say three people will be the ones distracting you while the other one grabs your belongings just check out.
However, the very cunning Balinese pickpocket is not a human but a monkey. These monkeys will steal your belongings because when you go into a monkey forest (in Ubud). You need to extra careful to watch out Balinese monkeys, we can see most of the tourists fight with monkeys to avoid them taking their belongings.
Monkey’s grip is very strong and fast they will silently sneak behind your or from top of the branches and snatch your sunglasses right off your face. If you have a phone in your hand they will take the phone right out of your hand.
Just be aware and be careful of the scam as it isn’t quite the monkey taking your things but basically what happens is there will be somebody standing around and of course, conveniently they will be able to get your belongings back for a hefty price.
How to avoid this Scam?
Don’t flash your belongings or get one of those ocean pack dry bags, these bags not only waterproof and you can fit a lot of stuff in here basically you just take the top you fold it over three times just like that and then you take the clip clip it to seal it completely. It’s a great item for anyone who’s traveling.
3. Motorbike rental scam
Both scams are popular tick in Southeast Asia, for cheap bike rental and water sports.
How does the Scam work?
If you are gonna rent a motorbike just be extra careful because sometimes what they will do is they will claim that you damaged the motorbike when you bring it back to the store. They will say there was a scratch here or there’s a scuff on it here. They will demand you to pay them some money.
The worst-case scenario is they ask where you’re staying and they will come in the middle of the night to your hotel and steal the motorbike and you are gonna end up paying for the entire cost of that motorbike. let that happen the solution is quite
How to avoid this Scam?
The safe way to rent any transport is always rent from reputable shops. Do go for not the hops or stores who’s only had one or two bikes on the street
Don’t tell them where your hotel it’s that because this information does not require
4. Beach hustlers kids
Normally, beach hustlers, kids will come up to you trying to sell you bracelets or women will come up to you trying to offer you a service like getting your hair braided a massage manicure. The sad truth is that you are paying overpriced rates for these products and services compared to getting them in a market even with a better discount.
How to avoid this scam?
I’m sure the solution is simple don’t support the beach hustlers say no thanks and avoid have any further conversation with them.
5. Fake Bluebird taxi drivers
Bluebird is a famous transport in Bali. Fake Bluebird taxi drivers and that a lot of drivers will make their cars look like Bluebird taxis. Although they’re not working for the company they may go as far as having a fake ID card or a meter that doesn’t work or it could be tweaked out to run up your bill a lot quicker.
How to avoid this scam?
Just know before you go anywhere, tell the taxi driver to put the meter on and if he doesn’t just get out of the taxi, In Bali, there are plenty of taxis out there that will take your business. Look for mobile app call ‘Go-Jek’ or ‘Grab’ car haling app, it is like ‘Uber’. However, just be aware that a lot of the times they will ask for a tip on top of the rates so when they are going to drop you off they will ask for the hat tip.
Please don’t let yourself be taken advantage of and ignore their request.
6. Overcharged airport taxis fare
Just about anywhere you go in the world, the first people to approach you as soon as you are coming out of the gate is usually the fake taxi driver that will be ripping you off, You are gonna pay three to four times what you would pay.
How to avoid this scam?
The solutions simple just keep walking know where the taxi counter gets your number and pay the rate where the meter is turned on don’t get ripped off.
Just to let you know, if you are going to Kuta, the popular district it’s only like five minutes away from the airport so it shouldn’t be costing you that much.
7. Bonus Parking fees
If you rented a car or scooter in Bali just be aware sometimes an individual will stand outside a parking lot and charge you a fee to enter the parking lot and park your vehicle and if you refuse to pay him. The most likely incident when you walk away you may come back to your scooter and find it knocked over or damaged.
How to avoid this scam?
The solution is quite simple if you run into these guys just park elsewhere.
8. Temple entrance fees
Sometimes Balinese scammers will stand outside a temple and try to charge you a fee to enter the temple and sometimes this is normal I mean you do have to pay a fee in some cases to enter different kinds of temples but just know that you’re not overpaying at an inflated rate. Understand what the rate would be to enter the temple there usually is a sign or something somewhere don’t just give it to the scammer that approaches you asking you for money.
There is a lot of the times they will have a guide take you and show you around and at the end of it the last for a small donation
How to avoid this scam?
The solution here just has a small amount of change on you at all times so you can throw at somebody and walk away
9. Corruption
It was reported that police officers will target tourists riding motorbikes and pull them over for not wearing their helmets they will give you a fine they will warn you that you do not have international driver’s license and they’ll give you a fine. Even if you have a valid license, they will find a way to get money from you. They usually just take from what they see you carrying. I mean the amount of money that they see you carrying
How to avoid this scam?
The solution is quite simple just carry another wallet with a little less money and they’ll take from there.
10. Dangerous Arak Bali (Balinese Alcohol)
Arak is a cheaply produced liquor in Bali and a lot of locals will swap alcohol for Iraq because it’s cheaper and the profit margins are better for them. A lot of free drinks at hotels have Arak nowadays.
here are two different kinds of Arak- a regulated Arak and a homemade kind Arak. Homemade Arak can cause serious health effects. You can google the effect of fake Arak over the internet the solution.
How to avoid this scam?
Always drink beer drink or imported drinks and just open things yourself and see what goes in them. Also, don’t accept free drinks from any store.
These are just the top ten that we found that you would probably get scammed with although there is all sorts of scams happen in the world every day, please share and comment below of you faced any similar scams in Bali.