When we plan to travel to a new place, whether for a vacation or because we’re moving to a different city or country, there are several things we must prepare in advance. These include appropriate clothing based on the season, any necessary medications and ensuring that they can be found at our destination, important supplies that might not be available at the place we’re going to, accommodation, tours, and much more.
To avoid falling prey to the many tourist scams that are prevalent in most tourist destinations, it is important to prepare and inform ourselves about the places we plan to visit. Unfortunately, Cusco is no exception to this reality, where many scammers take advantage of the innocence and trust of tourists. However, in this article, I will highlight the most common scams in this city and other tourist destinations around the world so that you can be well-informed and prepared before embarking on your travels.
The 11 most common scams in Cusco Peru are:
The ‘Free Gift’ Scam
The scam of offering ‘free gifts’ is frequently used to trick naive tourists in Cusco, often by immigrants in touristic areas.
How It Works
If you are in a touristy area, be cautious of individuals who may approach you. These individuals may appear scruffy and could be either locals or from a migrant community. They may speak some English and may try to share a sad story about their life with you while offering you a “free gift”.
When offered a “free gift,” it is usually a twine or string bracelet that the vendor will tie onto your arm. This bracelet cannot be removed without cutting it. Be aware that as soon as it is on your arm, the vendor will demand payment ranging from 20PEN to 100PEN (between $5 and $25 USD) or possibly more.
How To Avoid It
It is essential to keep in mind that when in South America, someone who offers you something for nothing is most likely homeless. And in this region, nothing comes for free. There are always strings attached to any offer, no matter how generous it may seem. So, if someone offers you something for free, it’s best to decline politely and walk away.
Picture Taking Scam In Cusco
One of the popular scams in Cusco is when locals approach tourists and ask them to take their pictures.
How It Works
When you return the camera, they intentionally drop it and falsely accuse you of damaging it, pressuring you to pay an excessive amount for the repairs.
How To Avoid It
To ensure your safety and avoid falling for a scam, it is recommended that you politely decline any requests from locals (suspicious-looking) to take their pictures. If you do choose to help, be sure to handle their phone with care. Remember, prevention is always better than cure.
Picture With Alpacas and Llamas Scam
One of the most common scams in Cusco involves tourists taking pictures with little alpacas or llamas. If you have seen your friends’ pictures with these cute animals, be aware that a “contribution” needs to be paid to the owners. So, if you want your own picture with these creatures, you will have to pay a price for it.
How It Works
One of the many remarkable things about Cusco is the sight of baby llamas and baby alpacas being carried through the streets by their owners dressed in traditional Cusco costumes. They catch the attention of everyone who passes by. Tourists are often approached by the owners and asked to take pictures with the animals. However, after the picture is taken, the owners request money in exchange. In the past, tourists would voluntarily offer money, but now the owners demand “five,” “ten,” or even “twenty dollars” in English.
As a frequent walker in Cusco, I have witnessed this situation multiple times. The problem is that if you refuse to give them money, they become upset. The owners have become accustomed to receiving more and more money, to the point where they now try to take advantage of tourists.
How To Avoid It
It’s always better to agree on a price beforehand when taking pictures with llamas and alpacas to avoid any awkward or uncomfortable situations. Additionally, it’s important to choose places where animals are treated well and can be interacted with. We must remember that these animals are not originally from the city, and walking around on concrete can hurt their hooves. They often stand for long periods of time, and we cannot be sure if they are getting enough food and water. Although the pictures may be cute, paying for them encourages the continued use of these animals for profit, which may not be in their best interest.
The Sneaky Distraction Scam In Cusco
Beware of scammers and pickpockets who use distraction tactics, such as selling items or handing out flyers on the street, especially in crowded areas. Stay alert, and don’t let them catch you off guard.
How It Works
Stay alert and watch your belongings while someone is trying to sell you something. Pickpockets or accomplices may take advantage of the distraction to steal from you.
How To Avoid It
It’s important to always keep your valuables safe. Avoid leaving them in plain sight or unattended bags. When walking on the streets or using public transport, make sure to carry your purse or backpack in front of you. Keep all zippers closed, and if you have a wallet, keep it in your front pocket.
Overcharging And Inflated Prices In Cusco
Overcharging is an all too familiar occurrence at tourist spots across the globe, and Cusco is certainly not exempt from this practice. It’s essential to recognize that visitors, regardless of their nationality, often find themselves paying inflated prices due to perceived affluence. In colloquial terms, this practice is referred to as ‘gringo pricing,’ and it’s a phenomenon that occurs with greater frequency in Cusco, particularly when it’s assumed that you’re an American traveller. It’s crucial for everyone to be aware of this issue and take steps to avoid falling victim to such pricing disparities.
How It Works
There are various situations where overcharging can happen, such as when you take a taxi, buy goods from informal vendors in touristy areas, or order food at restaurants in remote regions. In addition, you may come across inflated prices when booking tours or taking photos with street performers.
How To Avoid It
Always ask and negotiate prices before committing to a purchase or service. Book tours with reputable agencies and verify prices before taking photos with local characters to avoid inflated prices.
The Money Misdirection and Swap Scam In Cusco
One of the most common scams involves deceiving you about the amount of money you have paid to a vendor or even claiming that you have given them a counterfeit note. This usually happens when paying for services such as taxi rides or buying souvenirs on the streets. This is one of the many reasons why I avoid using random taxis in Cusco or purchasing items from random street vendors.
How It Works
You may encounter situations where you give a taxi driver or a vendor a 20 or 50 note, but they distract you and falsely claim that you only gave them a 10. They may also switch your real note with a fake one while keeping the genuine one and still ask you to pay the original amount. Additionally, you may receive counterfeit notes as change, which can be problematic.
How To Avoid It
It’s essential to always carry small banknotes and to check the authenticity of any notes you receive as a change. Authentic banknotes can be recognized by their textured feel and security strip that changes colour when viewed from different angles. Being aware of counterfeit currency is crucial as it can cause significant setbacks. For more information on how to spot fake money, check out my detailed article on Currency and Exchange Rates in Cusco HERE.
The Roundabout Taxi Ride Scam
If you plan on using a taxi service while in Cusco, it is essential to be aware that some drivers may take longer routes than necessary in an attempt to overcharge their customers. This is a common issue, particularly when travelling back from a night out or heading to destinations outside of the city. However, by staying informed, you can avoid falling victim to this practice. To learn more about this, you can check out this article.
How It Works
After getting into a taxi, the driver may sometimes take a longer route, which can waste your time and increase the fare. In some cases, they might use the excuse that the journey was longer than expected and ask you to pay more than the agreed price. However, in rare cases, the driver may demand a specific amount higher than the original price.
How To Avoid It
Don’t worry if you find yourself without a SIM card with data when in Cusco. You can easily find information on how to obtain one HERE. Alternatively, you can use an offline GPS to ensure you’re heading in the right direction. I recommend using a reputable taxi-hailing app that tracks your ride for added safety. I find InDrive, Uber and Didi to be Cusco’s most reliable transportation companies. For more information on this topic, check out my article “Arriving to Cusco” HERE.
Bird Poop Scam In Cusco
Be aware of a scam where someone pretends to help you clean up after a bird has pooped on you. In reality, the scammer is pickpocketing you while pretending to help you. This type of scam often involves multiple people, with one acting as the inside man. Stay vigilant and always be cautious of strangers offering unsolicited help.
How It Works
When walking in the streets, be aware that someone might throw a white paste-like substance on you that looks like bird poop. Afterwards, a seemingly “friendly” local may approach you and offer to help you clean up. In reality, they are using this opportunity to distract you and steal your belongings. So, be cautious and vigilant when this happens.
How To Avoid It
If you find yourself in this situation, say loudly you’re aware of it, and you’re okay, refuse help, and do not let anyone touch you. Walk away quickly to go and clean yourself up inside a safe establishment.
Online Dating Scams In Cusco
When using dating apps while travelling, it is important to stay informed so you can avoid falling victim to scammers. With that in mind, always be on the lookout for fake profiles that target foreigners and tourists in Cusco. Considering this, you can enjoy your travels and meet new people without any worries.
How It Works
Scammers often create attractive profiles to bait and rob their victims in person. In a previous article, I mentioned the term “bricheras” or “bricheros”, which refers to locals taking advantage of foreigners by spiking their drinks and stealing from them. Although this is less common in most parts of Peru, it is more likely to happen in places like Cusco, Mancora, and Lima.
How To Avoid It
To protect yourself from scams, it is crucial that you only use legitimate dating apps and meet in public places for the first few dates. Don’t be fooled by profiles that expose more body than face, as they are often created by scammers. If the profile has no pictures of the person with their friends and family members or is not linked to a valid Instagram account, it is most likely a fake or a scam. Moreover, if you’re visiting Peru, it’s better to avoid online dating for at least the first week or two. Before starting to date online, take some time to familiarize yourself with the local culture, currency, and everyday prices. This way, you will be better equipped to spot and avoid dating scams.
ATM And Credit Card Cloning Scams In Cusco
It’s important to know that credit and debit card scams are common worldwide. In Cusco, tap-and-go payments are a convenient option for most transactions. However, taking necessary precautions is crucial as your card details can be vulnerable to theft when swiping at local stores or withdrawing money from an ATM.
How It Works
Scammers have a sneaky way of stealing your credit card information, known as ‘skimming’. The process involves installing a tiny electronic device over the card slot of an ATM or a genuine card reader at a store. This device reads your card’s details, which are later used to create a clone of your card.
How To Avoid It
To ensure your security, using ATMs inside banks or shopping centres during business hours is recommended. Additionally, before using the machine, you should check for any suspicious card slots or keypads. It’s always best to cover the keypad while entering your PIN to prevent hidden cameras from capturing your information.
A way to avoid these types of problems is by using Western Union if you need cash. Alternatively, I recommend using a Wise digital debit card on your phone for tap-and-go payments using Apple Pay or Google Pay.
The Wise account is a prepaid account that can be quickly loaded from any bank account across the globe. It is impossible for any scammer to get more money than the balance available in the account at any given time. Being a borderless digital online bank, I can instantly change my card number by using the mobile app; it takes less than 10 seconds to do that.
If I sense something suspicious while using an ATM or in a store, I can use the mobile app to change my debit card number in real-time. This way, if someone has attempted to skim my card number, they won’t be able to get any funds from my account, as the previous card number will no longer exist.
The Street Artist Scam
When you reach Cusco, you will be greeted by numerous individuals offering their services, including massages, tours, souvenirs, and paintings. Among these, you may come across some street artists who sell their artwork to support themselves and their families or pay for their education. Unfortunately, this is not the case most of the time, and you should be cautious while dealing with them.
How it works
When you are in the heart of Cusco, you will likely encounter one of the so-called “street artists”. They often approach tourists and foreigners, sharing a story of hardship and claiming that they have created the art they carry with them. In reality, they purchase these paintings in bulk and the pieces they show you are no different from those offered by other “artists” around Cusco. To start a conversation, they may even share some local stories before attempting to sell you one of their paintings or asking for a “tip”.
How to avoid it
To avoid being scammed on the streets, it is best to avoid any help or conversation offered by friendly strangers. However, it’s important to note that not everyone on the streets is trying to scam you. There are genuine artists who sell their art in the streets, but they are a minority. You can rely on your common sense by looking at the quality of the art to determine if it’s an original piece or not.
If you’re interested in art, visit the San Blas neighbourhood, where you can find local artists and galleries that sell original pieces. You may even see them working on their next piece!
When planning your trip to Cusco, it’s important to be well-prepared for more than just packing and booking your flights. It’s essential to inform yourself about common scams and frauds in the city to stay alert and fully enjoy your trip without any surprises.
It is essential to be cautious and politely decline offers that seem too good to be true. By taking precautions and being aware of these scams, you can enjoy your time in Cusco to the fullest, explore its wonders, and create lasting memories without setbacks. Ensure you travel safely, and may your adventures in Cusco be filled with joy and discovery!