During your stay in Bali, you would want to maximize the experience by having fun and making good memories. Like in every place, scams are very common in Bali, especially those that are targeting foreigners who have never been to Bali or know less about it. There are a lot of scams in Bali that you may unconsciously encounter, it’s best to know these scams so you’ll know what to expect when you’re walking down the streets in Bali.
These are some of the common scams in Bali, mainly targeting unknowing foreigners that you might encounter!
Currency Exchange / ATMs
There are a lot of money changers in the streets of Bali, especially in Kuta, Legian, and other popular tourist spots. While the exchange rate listed on their whiteboard seems to be tempting, make sure to check whether the place is an authorized currency exchange shop. It’s to make sure you’re not scammed when exchanging your money, as the scammer might have a calculator and convinced you by counting the bills right in front of you but, they might slip some of the bills under the counter.
Going to an ATM to withdraw your money will be the safest option. However, make sure you are withdrawing money in safe locations. For safety reasons, it’s better for you to withdraw money from the branch banks. Make sure you don’t accept any help from strangers, as they might try to scam you by taking advantage of your lack of Bahasa Indonesia.
Fake Blue Bird Taxi
If you don’t have a private driver to take you around Bali for the day, taxis are usually reliable to get you through the island. One of the most prominent and trustworthy taxi companies in Bali is Blue Bird, which is known for its iconic blue car with the driver dressed in a blue shirt. They usually have all information about the car and drivers displayed for you, with a meter displayed too.
However, there are some taxi scammers that imitate the iconic Blue Bird pattern to trick foreigners, making them spend more than they should be. To avoid this, make sure you only ride from Blue Bird taxis, you can call their number or their app. Whatever taxi company you’re driving with, make sure that the driver agrees to use the meter. If they don’t, it’s better to find another taxi.
Ojek Overcharging
Ojek like Grabbike or Gojek isn’t available in some popular spots in Bali, as they are forbidden to enter. This makes some of these ojek drivers in places like Uluwatu or Ubud may set their own prices and overcharge you more than what was written in the app. Some foreigners might opt to just pay extra to avoid any necessary conflict, which is one of the reasons why this scam keeps happening. Make sure to remind the price that has been settled for you through the app with the driver, if they don’t agree with it, bargain for a tip as it might help them in the long run.
Arak
As a tax on alcohol is quite expensive in Indonesia, some places might be swapped branded spirits with arak for a cheaper option. Arak is referred to as Indonesian Moonshine, which is produced cheaply in backyards that might get contaminated with methanol. Methanol is dangerous when consumed, even the tiniest bits of it can cause blindness and organ failure.
As Bali is quite a cheap place to stay or have fun, keeping your eyes peeled can prevent the worse. Be suspicious of places that sell cocktails at a very cheap price like IDR 15,000 or free welcome drinks during the entrance. To be safe, stick to beers or branded bottles of spirits that are opened right in front of you.
“Handmade” handicrafts
There are a lot of handmade items when you travel down the local market of Bali. While it’s true that handmade goods tend to be more expensive as it takes effort and time to craft each of them, not everything is handmade. Some people might try to sell you things, claiming that it is handmade only to find a ‘Made from China’ label on them. They tend to be persistent in selling their stuff, which might make you give in and buy it from them. But the best is to find trusted souvenir shops beforehand and ignore them as you go.
Fake/Corrupt Police
Be careful when you rent a scooter to take a drive around Bali, as fake or corrupt police are often seen in some of the most crowded places in Bali. They usually will stop you for the smallest things, like not wearing a helmet or perhaps without a reason. You will be asked to pay a fine so that they’ll let you go. One thing you should never hand over them is your passport, as they might ask you to pay in order for them to return it to you.
By the end of the day, it’s always great to stay vigilant wherever you are. Practice good traveling habits and do some research before you go so that you’ll be aware of the worst that may come. Have you ever got scammed in Bali before? What other scams do you know in Bali? Share this post to your social media or your friends so that they’ll be more aware!
