Starting your trip in Peru with a scam leaves a sour taste in your mouth. It is important to always be mindful of your surroundings but some scams are hard to notice when you are a first-time traveler in Peru. We have put together the scams many travelers experience during their time in Peru. This blog is not to scare you! Just be careful: Peru is a beautiful country full of kind people but like every country in Latin America a small portion of the population scams tourists. They even see it as a victimless crime as they assume that all tourists have insurance and plenty of money. Read more about the most important Tourist Scams in Peru and how to avoid them.
Milk Scam
This scam happened to travelers whilst they were visiting Lima. They were walking through a park in Lima when a young man approached them with a stroller with a young child in it. He then said how he was not looking for money but was asking the student to buy milk powder from the pharmacy for his child. The student agreed to accompany the man to the pharmacy. Once they arrived the pharmacist was quoting 50 dollars for milk powder.
The person who scammed you then sells back the milk powder to the pharmacist at a loss. This scam can happen in different ways and what may seem innocent to you in reality is not. Plus there is the exploitation of a child in this scam; in certain situation the kids can even be ‘rented’ for this act.
Taxi Scam
Tip: Always agree on the price before getting into a taxi. Taxis around airports and popular tourist spots are the worst for changing the price once you arrive at your destination. They might quote you in sols and then say the agreed price was in dollars. Be careful around the airport especially as when you arrive you have bigger notes on you and you are unsure of the exchange so taxi drivers or even those helping you with your bag will try and ask for way more than expected. Some taxis in the bigger cities like Lima have a taxi meter but not all of them.
We recommend you use Uber or a company like TaxiDatum.
Read more about Transport in Lima here.
Airport Taxi scam
This happened to a friend when they arrived in Lima. They went to a taxi station in the airport and booked a taxi to their hotel using a credit card. The seller said the sale had not gone through on the card and to try again, which she did. He said again it had not gone through. They then used their friends card, to pay for the fare. In the end, the seller said they could pay cash when they arrived at the hotel. After arriving at the hotel they connected to the internet and checked their bank app on their phone and saw it had gone through every time! Scammers tend to target tourists who just arrived in Peru as after a long flight and arriving somewhere new they are more susceptible to scam.
You can book a transfer with your hotel before you arrive and or we can do it for you at Dos Manos (just contact us); if you are learning Spanish with our partner Amauta Spanish School, your airport pick up in Cusco is included.
Taxi Uber Scam
Ordering an Uber in the UK, the US or elsewhere is usually fast and easy and you set an agreed price before your Uber arrives. In Peru 98% of the time this is the same experience. The price is agreed and it is a safe travel option.
Once, I ordered an Uber in Cusco and the price was 9 soles. Once the driver came we got into the care. As the driver was turning around he started to tell us the price was not correct on the app and to take us to the location, he wanted an extra 10 sol. After trying to reason with him we asked him to stop the car, as it was clear he thought he could ask for more as we were tourists. We then reported him to Uber as this goes against their terms and conditions.
Photo Scam
In Cusco you will find lots of women in traditional clothes with alpacas, llamas and baby lambs asking you if you want a photo (for money). Usually it’s up to you to give how much you think it is worth (10/20 soles). But sometimes they don’t accept your tip and try to charge you extra or take the money from your hand. Some might even try to ‘force’ the baby lamb into your hand or force you to take a photo and demand another payment.
If you would like a photo, agree on the price beforehand and make sure the animal is in good health. There are stories that the baby lambs are drugged to be more docile, so perhaps take the time to check out different ladies who do the photos (or not take the photo at all (animal exploitation).
Romantic Scams
In tourist cities across Sur America males/females will meet tourists for the purpose of exploiting their romantic feelings in return for money. They may get you to buy gifts for them or perhaps tell you a parent is ill and they need money for medication.
In night clubs and bars always be careful. It is great to meet new people but some people have the intention of meeting gringos. In Cusco this is very common: young Peruvian guys will meet ‘gringas’ knowing they can exploit them for money through romantic connection. Perhaps they leave you with the bill after a night out.
These scams like the milk scam tend to target the kind and sympathetic tourists. Do not worry if you have fallen for these scams, you have learnt what to look out for next time!
Make sure when you are drinking alcohol leave your important belongings such as card, passport and jewelry at your accommodation. Plus be out with people you know and make sure you have a way of getting home safely.
No Change Scam
This happens across the globe. The owner of the shop or market stall will not have the right change and hope you will let them keep it. Refuse to let them keep the change. If this happens in a taxi, you can avoid this by saying you have a bigger note (like 50 soles) so they know they need to have change before accepting you as the ride.
This scam also happens when they give you the wrong change, at a shop or restaurant. This is a really hard scam to prove, as once the money goes in till the shopkeeper will say you gave them 10 and not 20 sol (and you won’t be able to proof it). You can always contact the police if this happens but next time you can try saying out loud the note amount you are giving them and the change you expect.
Counterfeit money scam
“Over the past decade Peru established itself as the world leader in counterfeit money output producing the world’s finest fake banknotes; mainly US Dollars – about 60% of all counterfeit US$ bills are produced in Peru – but as well Peruvian (Nuevos) Soles” (Lima Easy)
Peru has a lot of fake notes and coins in circulation! Read our tips and the recommended article on how to detect fake notes in Peru. At cash exchange locations take extra precaution to make sure you are receiving real notes. In Plaza de Armas (or any other plaza or park in Peru), strangers might come up to you and ask you to trade a bigger note for smaller ones, like 100 sol note for 5 x 20 sol notes; better don’t accept, because this is usually them trading counterfeit money.
| How to determine if a Peruvian banknote is real or fake? The so-called “Feel, Look and Tilt” applies to the Peruvian (Nuevos) Soles allowing everyone to detect counterfeits at a glance. Feel: Peruvian banknotes are made of cotton, giving them a distinctive texture and durability. The notes aren’t completely smooth; certain areas, such as the words “Banco Central de la Reserva,” the short black strips at the top and bottom of the note, or parts of the collars of the depicted figures, feature raised printing. As a result, when you run your fingers over these sections, you can feel the textured ink. Each bank note (10 soles, 20 soles etc.) have different stripes. Look: If you look at a Peruvian banknote against the light you see the watermark, which can be found on the blank area of the note. Tilt: Some security features are only visible when you tilt the bill. So, just move the banknote slowly up and down. The main number with the value of the note, for example, is printed with an optical variable ink and changes its color when turned. Read more about how to recognize fake money in Peru |
We hope this helps you on your travels in Peru
Make sure you keep your belongings safe while out, using close-to-the-body-bags and also at restaurants keep your bag in view or put the bag handle round your feet.
