Beware! Tourists Scams in Jakarta – When you visit Jakarta, you will experience the city’s bustle and a throng of skyscrapers. You shouldn’t be shocked if you feel a lot of heat there. This is due to Jakarta having Indonesia’s greatest population density. But the other thing that you put attention more when you travel alone in Jakarta is the tourist scam that might happen. Make sure to take good care of yourself. As well as noticing. Scams to Avoid in Bali, notice the 5 tourists scam in Jakarta below.
List of Tourist Scams in Jakarta
Taxi scam
First, we warn you about the taxi scam. There are likely to be some taxi drivers waiting for you when you exit the airport. They will ask you where you’re going right away and would even give transportation services to get you there. Don’t let them directly tempt you, make sure you use an official cab. Likewise, request that the cabbie activate his taximeter. Remember to keep an eye on the route using Google Maps. If not, traveling outside of Jakarta may merely be cheating you. The taxi driver may occasionally choose a longer path to get to your location. Please check one of trusted taxi in Indonesia here.
Money Scam
The other thing you need to note is beware of money scams. Especially when you exchanging money with a money changer. Some places will trick their victim by handing out notes worth IDR 10,000. Imagine receiving IDR 1,000,000 in IDR 10,000 Rupiah notes. Calculating it would be challenging and this is how money scammers work. Thus, avoiding exchanging money in unauthorized places is advisable.
Fake Tourist Guide Scam
Fake tour guides are prevalent at the National Monument, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, and Kota Tua, among other locations. They will begin by stating that this tour guide is a part of the complimentary service provided by the tourist attractions. However, they will ultimately turn to you for some for an additional fee or tip.
Pickpocket
In Jakarta, pickpocketing is the most common type of crime. It frequently happens in crowded settings, such as on buses, commuter trains, or in crowded areas of Jakarta. Don’t arrange your belongings carelessly and put your wallet or cell phone in the front carrying bag. Never put your money or phone in a pocket. Some pickpockets are experts at stealing your belongings. They can do it swiftly and you won’t even notice. Therefore, you should use caution when in a crowded area of Jakarta.
Fake Donation
You might come across someone in Jakarta carrying a folder with plans for a place of worship or orphanage while you’re out and about. After that, they will request donations. Don’t consent to hefty donations right away. Ask the details about the worship place or orphanage first then google it to make sure about the truth of the existence of these places.
Scams are one of the things to avoid when you travel or start to live in Jakarta. Taking good care of yourself could reduce the likelihood of all those frauds. Remember to be careful wherever you go when you are traveling in Jakarta. Hope this article helps and don’t forget to check out our other articles for more information about Indonesia, Jakarta or Bali.