Common Scams in Bali & How to Avoid Them

• The money changer fast-count is the most common scam — always count your notes yourself before leaving.
• Unofficial taxis and transport always quote high to tourists — agree the price before getting in.
• The fake temple dress attendant charges inflated fees at the gate — temples have fixed entry fees, check in advance.
• Petrol from plastic bottles on the roadside is usually fine but sometimes diluted — use Pertamina stations when available.
• The "closed" attraction scam diverts you to a different shop — verify closures independently.
• Drug entrapment is rare but serious — see the Safety guide.

How it works: You hand over $100 USD at an exchange booth advertising a suspiciously high rate (e.g. Rp 17,200 when everyone else is at Rp 16,100). The cashier counts out your IDR quickly, making a show of the full amount — then palms several notes while you are distracted. You walk away Rp 200,000–500,000 short.

Warning signs: Rate significantly higher than neighbouring booths. Cashier counts very fast and slides notes back to you. Small booth with no official PT branding.

How to avoid it:

1. Use licensed PT money changers only (look for PT Authorized Money Changer signage).
2. Better yet, use bank ATMs — you always get the real interbank rate.
3. If you do use a booth: count every note yourself before leaving the counter. Take your time. If the cashier rushes you or takes the money back to "recount", keep your hand on the notes.
4. The too-high rate is the red flag — a booth advertising 15% above market rate is not generous, it is the setup.

How it works: Unofficial taxi drivers, beach transport touts and motorbike ojek drivers quote prices to tourists 3–5x higher than the normal rate. When you accept (not knowing the real price), the same person walks away having earned 10 minutes' work equivalent to a day's local wage.

This is not always a "scam" per se — it is price discrimination, and the driver is not deceiving you about the service. But it is avoidable.

How to avoid it:

• Use Grab or Gojek (ride apps) for all short trips — the app shows you the real market price before you accept.
• For longer journeys, use a pre-booked driver via a trusted recommendation.
• If you use a bemo or local taxi without an app: agree the price firmly before getting in, get it confirmed verbally, and have small notes ready so you do not need change.
• Common fair rates (2026): Airport to Canggu ~Rp 150,000–200,000, Airport to Ubud ~Rp 250,000–300,000 via app.

How it works: You are heading to a temple, market or attraction. A friendly local (often on a scooter) pulls up alongside you and says "Sorry, closed today — ceremony / special day / renovation." They offer to take you to a "better place" or their "cousin's batik factory." The attraction is not closed. You end up at a high-pressure retail showroom.

How to avoid it: Do not accept directions from unsolicited strangers, regardless of how convincing or friendly they are. Check Google Maps for current hours. Walk past the "informant" and verify the closure yourself. Ubud Palace, Tanah Lot, and the Ubud Market are frequently mentioned as "closed" in this scam and are almost never actually closed to visitors.

How it works: An unofficial person at or near a temple gate insists you rent a sarong at an inflated price (Rp 50,000–100,000 instead of the standard Rp 10,000–20,000) or demands a large "donation" before you enter. Some operate a few metres before the official entrance.

Real temple entry fees (2026):

• Tanah Lot: Rp 75,000 (adult), sarong included or provided at gate
• Uluwatu: Rp 50,000 (adult), sarong Rp 10,000–15,000 if needed
• Tirta Empul: Rp 50,000 (adult)
• Besakih: Rp 150,000 including mandatory guide (check current fees at imigrasi.go.id or the temple's official page)

How to avoid it: Research the official entry price before visiting (search the temple name + "entry fee 2026"). Pay only at the official ticketing booth with a printed ticket. Wearing a sarong is required — most temples sell or rent them at the official entrance at a fixed price.

How it works: Roadside petrol sellers in plastic Absolut vodka bottles (common in rural areas) are normally fine — it is just Pertamina petrol resold by locals. Occasionally the petrol is diluted with water or lower-grade fuel. Separately, some petrol stations reset their pumps mid-fill (starting at a positive number, not zero) when they see a foreign tourist.

How to avoid it:

• Use Pertamina branded stations (green and red logo) whenever possible for better quality assurance.
• Watch the pump start at 0.00 before the attendant begins filling. If it starts above zero, point it out immediately or go to another pump.
• Roadside bottles are fine in a pinch but not ideal for long rides — they can cause engine knock in sensitive scooters.

How it works: A person claiming to be a police officer (sometimes in partial uniform, sometimes plainclothes) stops you on a scooter for a "violation" and asks for an on-the-spot cash fine. Real traffic violations do exist and police do issue fines, but the corruption version involves either a manufactured violation or a request to "settle this without going to the station."

How to handle it: If stopped, stay calm. Ask to see the officer's badge and ID. If they insist on an on-the-spot cash payment and seem reluctant to provide a receipt (surat tilang), firmly but politely say you would prefer to go to the station (ke kantor polisi). Most corrupt stops end here. Genuine fines come with a printed receipt.

This scam is less common than reported online — most traffic stops by uniformed police are legitimate. The risk of manufacturing outrage is higher than the risk of the fine itself.

How it works: At markets and craft shops, a seller places items in your hands — bracelets, flowers, small carvings — insists they are "free gifts," wraps them, and then refuses to take them back while demanding payment. The social pressure to pay is the mechanism.

How to avoid it: Do not accept items placed in your hands without initiating the transaction yourself. If something is pressed on you, return it immediately and firmly before the wrapping-or-tying step. "No thank you" (or "Tidak mau, terima kasih" in Indonesian) should be stated clearly. Once it is tied to your wrist, the social dynamic shifts.

Should I feel unsafe walking around Bali?

No. The scams described here are financial inconveniences, not safety threats. Violent confrontation is extremely rare. The goal is to avoid being overcharged or misdirected — not to be on constant alert.

Is Kuta more scam-prone than other areas?

Kuta and Legian have historically higher concentrations of tourist scams due to the high-volume budget tourism crowd. Ubud, Canggu and Seminyak have fewer reported issues, partly because their visitor base is slightly different. Awareness works everywhere.

What should I do if I realise I have been scammed?

For small amounts (Rp 50,000–100,000), decide whether the time and stress of pursuing it is worth it. For larger amounts (Rp 500,000+), the Bali Tourist Police speak English and handle tourist complaints: +62 361 224111. Keep any receipts or evidence.

Are scooter rental shops trustworthy?

Most are fine. The scam to watch: a rental shop photographs the scooter before you ride, then claims damage on return that was pre-existing. Photograph the entire scooter yourself — every scratch and dent — before riding, and show the photos to the rental owner before you sign.

Is the Ubud Art Market safe to shop at?

Yes. The market is legitimate. Prices start high for tourists — negotiating down to 40–60% of the opening price is normal. The "closed" redirect scam operates outside the market, not inside it.

How do I report a scam to help other tourists?

Report to TripAdvisor, Google Maps (flag the business), or Bali-focused Facebook groups (Bali Expats, Bali Travelers) where warnings spread quickly. The Bali Tourist Police also track patterns — +62 361 224111.