Tourist Scams in Turkey & How to Avoid Them

Summary

This video script offers a comprehensive guide to avoid common scams in Istanbul, ensuring travelers can enjoy their holidays safely. It advises against taking unregulated taxis, as drivers may overcharge or take longer routes. It warns of the 'paper bill switch trick' and suggests using apps like Uber or requesting taxis through hotels. The script also covers scams involving shoe shiners, fake police, and overpriced restaurants, recommending checking menus and reviews beforehand. Additionally, it cautions against accepting invitations from strangers and buying tickets from unofficial vendors, emphasizing the importance of skepticism and vigilance to safeguard against such scams.

Takeaways

• 🚕 Avoid taking taxis from the street in Istanbul as they may not use the meter and could charge you a higher, fixed price or take a longer route.
• 💸 Beware of the 'paper bill switch trick' where taxi drivers may attempt to switch a higher denomination bill for a lower one and then ask for the difference.
• 📱 Use taxi apps like Uber and Bitaksi to reduce the risk of being scammed, and consider asking your hotel to arrange a taxi for you.
• 👞 Watch out for the shoe shiner scam where individuals may drop a brush and, after you return it, insist on shining your shoes and then demand an exorbitant fee.
• 🍞 Be cautious of people carrying Simit or other items who pretend to be ill to elicit sympathy and potentially scam passersby out of money.
• 🍽️ When dining, check restaurant menus for prices beforehand to avoid overpaying, especially in tourist-heavy areas like Sultanahmet.
• 🍴 Be aware that some restaurants may bring unsolicited appetizers to your table and later charge you extra for them; always ask if items are included.
• 👮‍♂️ Ignore overly friendly strangers who may try to lure you into shops or other establishments with the intention of pressuring you into making purchases.
• 🍻 Solo male travelers should be wary of being invited to bars or nightclubs by strangers who may lead to a scam involving a large, unexpected bill.
• 👮‍♀️ Be skeptical of individuals posing as police officers who request to see your passport and wallet; carry a photocopy of your passport instead.
• 🌹 Avoid engaging with street vendors selling perfumes or roses, as they may become pushy and demand payment if you interact with their products.
• 🎟️ Only purchase tickets from official sources to avoid overpriced or counterfeit tickets; do not buy from people on the street.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video mentioned in the transcript?

The main purpose of the video is to educate viewers on the most common scams in Istanbul so they can avoid them and enjoy their holidays better.

Why should tourists be cautious when taking taxis from the street in Istanbul?

Tourists should be cautious because taxi drivers may not use the taximeter and could charge a much higher fixed price or take the longest route to increase the fare.

What is the 'paper bill switch trick' mentioned in the transcript?

The 'paper bill switch trick' is a scam where a taxi driver quickly switches a higher denomination bill given by the passenger with a lower one and then asks for the rest, claiming the passenger only paid the smaller amount.

How can tourists reduce the risk of being scammed by taxis in Istanbul?

Tourists can reduce the risk by using taxi apps like Uber and Bitaksi, or by requesting a taxi through their hotel front desk.

What is the 'shoe shiner scam' and how can tourists avoid it?

The 'shoe shiner scam' involves a shoe shiner dropping a brush and if a tourist returns it, the shiner may insist on shining their shoes and then demand an exorbitant fee. Tourists should avoid engaging with the shoe shiner and not return the brush.

What is the scam involving people carrying Simit on İstiklal street?

The scam involves individuals pretending to be ill by dropping a Simit on their head to elicit sympathy and potentially money from tourists. Tourists are advised to ignore them and not feel compelled to offer assistance.

Why should tourists be careful when eating at restaurants in touristic areas of Istanbul?

Tourists should be careful because they may be charged significantly more than the actual cost of the meal, or they may be surprised with additional charges for unsolicited appetizers.

What should tourists do if they are approached by strangers offering an express tour in Istanbul?

Tourists should avoid engaging with these strangers as they may be scammers trying to gain trust and lead them to shops where they will pressure the tourist to make purchases.

How do scammers target solo male travelers in nightclub scams in Istanbul?

Scammers approach solo male travelers, gain their trust, and invite them to a club where they order expensive drinks. The scammers then leave the tourist with the entire bill, which can be very high.

What is the scam involving people pretending to be police officers in Istanbul?

Scammers pretend to be police officers and ask for passports and wallets under the guise of needing to verify identity. The scammers may then run off with the wallet or distract the victim while an accomplice takes money from the wallet.

How can tourists avoid being scammed by perfume and rose sellers in Istanbul?

Tourists should avoid engaging with these sellers, not take any items from them, and politely decline their offers by saying 'no thank you'.

Why should tourists refrain from buying tickets from people on the streets in Istanbul?

Tickets bought from street vendors are likely to be overpriced and could involve scams or extra charges. Tourists should only buy tickets from official stands or ticket offices.

Outlines

00:00

🚕 Taxi Scams in Istanbul

This paragraph warns tourists about common taxi scams in Istanbul, advising against hailing cabs from the street due to potential overcharging and taking the longest route. It highlights two specific scams: drivers not using the meter and the paper bill switch trick, where drivers claim to receive a smaller bill than given. To avoid these scams, it's recommended to use taxi apps like Uber and Bitaksi or request a taxi through hotel front desks. The paragraph also mentions the shoe shiner scam, where individuals drop brushes and then invite tourists to sit for a shoe shine, only to demand exorbitant fees afterward.

05:02

🍽 Dining and Stranger Scams in Istanbul

This paragraph discusses scams related to dining and strangers in Istanbul. It advises checking menus and prices before dining in tourist areas to avoid overpaying, as some restaurants may bring unsolicited appetizers and charge extra. It also warns of strangers approaching in touristic areas with friendly overtures, who may offer tours or invite tourists to shops, only to pressure them into buying items or lead them into uncomfortable situations. The paragraph also covers nightclub scams targeting solo male travelers, where they are befriended and invited to clubs, leading to inflated bills after drinks are ordered by others who then disappear.

10:02

🚨 Police Impersonation and Other Street Scams

This paragraph covers various street scams including police impersonation, where individuals posing as police officers may ask for passports and wallets, leading to theft. It also mentions the perfume and rose seller scam, where sellers become pushy after offering their products, assuming that interest equates to a purchase and demanding payment. Additionally, it advises against buying tickets from street vendors, as they are likely to be overpriced, and recommends purchasing from official sources instead. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of skepticism and caution when approached by strangers and suggests carrying a photocopy of one's passport for such encounters.

15:04

⚠️ Avoiding Scams in Istanbul: A Call to Share Experiences

The final paragraph serves as a conclusion, urging viewers to share any scam experiences not covered in the video in the comments section to raise awareness. It encourages viewers to like, subscribe, and share the video to help others avoid falling victim to scams while in Istanbul. The paragraph reiterates the importance of vigilance and provides a friendly sign-off until the next episode.

Keywords

💡Scams

Scams refer to fraudulent schemes designed to cheat people out of their money or property. In the video's context, scams are the central theme as the speaker discusses various types of common scams in Istanbul that travelers might encounter. For example, the video mentions taxi drivers not using a taximeter and instead quoting a fixed, inflated price, which is a scam to extract more money from tourists.

💡Taximeter

A taximeter is a device used in taxis to calculate the fare based on distance and time traveled. The video emphasizes the importance of ensuring that a taxi driver uses the taximeter to avoid being overcharged. The script warns against taxi drivers who may not use the taximeter and instead fix a higher price, which is a common scam tactic.

💡Paper bill switch trick

The 'paper bill switch trick' is a scam tactic where a taxi driver quickly switches a higher denomination bill for a lower one and then claims that the passenger has paid less than they actually have. This trick is mentioned in the script as a specific scam to watch out for in Istanbul, where the driver might claim 'No, you only gave me five liras' when the passenger actually gave fifty.

💡Shoe shiners scam

The 'shoe shiners scam' involves individuals who pretend to be shoe shiners and intentionally drop their brush near tourists. Once the tourist returns the brush, the scammer will invite them for a shoe shine and then demand an exorbitant fee. This scam is highlighted in the video as a common occurrence in Istanbul, with the script providing a personal account of witnessing this scam.

💡Restaurants

In the context of the video, restaurants are mentioned as places where tourists can potentially be scammed, particularly in tourist-heavy areas. The script advises checking menus for prices beforehand and being cautious of unsolicited appetizers that may come with additional charges. This is an important aspect of the video's message, as it relates to avoiding overpricing and unexpected fees.

💡Friendly approach

A 'friendly approach' in the video refers to a scam where strangers initiate a conversation with tourists in a seemingly warm and friendly manner, with the ulterior motive of selling them something or taking them to a specific place where they can profit. The script describes how these individuals might offer tours or invite tourists to shops, only to pressure them into making purchases.

💡Nightclubs

Nightclubs are highlighted in the video as a setting for scams targeting solo male travelers. The script describes a scenario where individuals befriend tourists and invite them to clubs, where they order expensive drinks and then leave the tourist with the bill. This scam is a cautionary tale about the dangers of accepting invitations from strangers in tourist areas.

💡Perfume and rose sellers

Perfume and rose sellers are mentioned in the video as individuals who may engage in aggressive sales tactics to scam tourists. The script warns against engaging with these sellers, as they may become pushy and insistent once they have shown interest in their products, making it difficult for tourists to refuse or leave without purchasing.

💡People showing off as police

This term refers to a scam where individuals impersonate police officers to gain the trust of tourists and then request to see their passports and wallets. The video script advises against giving personal belongings to strangers claiming to be police, as this can lead to theft. It suggests carrying a photocopy of one's passport instead.

💡Tickets

The script warns against purchasing tickets from people on the streets, as these are likely to be overpriced or part of a scam. The video advises buying tickets only from official stands or ticket offices to avoid being cheated. This is a key point in the video's message about staying vigilant and avoiding common tourist scams.

Highlights

Research common scams before traveling to avoid them during your holiday.

Avoid taking taxis from the street in Istanbul to prevent being overcharged or taken on a longer route.

Be cautious of taxi drivers not using the taximeter and fixing higher prices.

Watch out for the paper bill switch trick where taxi drivers may try to switch your higher denomination bill for a lower one.

Consider using taxi apps like Uber and Bitaksi to reduce the risk of being scammed.

Request taxis from hotel front desks for a safer option.

Beware of shoe shiners who may drop a brush and then demand a high price for shoe shining.

Do not engage with individuals carrying Simit who pretend to be ill to solicit money.

Check restaurant menus for prices beforehand to avoid overpaying in touristic areas.

Be aware of restaurants adding extra charges for appetizers without your consent.

Avoid strangers offering express tours as they may lead you to overpriced shops.

Solo male travelers should be wary of being invited to bars or nightclubs where they could be left with a large bill.

Do not trust people claiming to be police who ask for your wallet or passport.

Avoid engaging with perfume or rose sellers who may become pushy and demand payment.

Only buy tickets from official stands or offices to prevent overpaying or scams.

Use yellow machines to buy Istanbul cards or single tickets for transportation.

Share your experiences with scams in the comments to help others be aware.

Transcripts

When we travel to another country or city it's  also very important to do a little research  

about the scams going on in that specific  place. For that reason in today's video,  

we're going to show you the most common  scams going on in Istanbul.

That way, you will avoid them and you can  enjoy your holidays much better.

Taxis. Try not to take any taxi from the street.  There are many ways how the taxi drivers will try  

to scam you and one of them and the most common  one is that they will not use the taximeter.  

Instead, they will fix a price for you and  it will be much higher than it should be.  

The other one is that they will try  to take you through the longest way.  

Paper bill switch trick. In this case, if you  are in a taxi and once is the moment to pay,  

make sure that the bill you are giving him is the  correct one. Because, for example, if you give him  

50 liras, very quick this taxi driver will  try to switch the bill for another one.  

Let's say five liras and then he will try to ask  you for the rest of the money because he will tell you: 

"No, you only give me five liras" when in  reality, you gave him 50 liras. So just in case,  

i mean pay attention and do it well what the bill  you gave him because sometimes, we are distracted  

and then we are not thinking or  we forget very quick like: Did i  

really give him five liras ? That's the  way they are getting extra money from tourists.  

You can have less risk of being scammed if you take  taxis from apps especially from Uber and Bitaksi  

and the other one will be, if you're staying in  a hotel you can request at the front desk to get  

you a taxi directly and i will suggest you to  use even more uber, in my case, i use it more  

because we know it's an international app and if  you put a complaint there, more likely they will  

return you the money that you have already  paid in case they have charged you more. 

The shoe shiners scam. Many travelers  have experienced this particular scam.  

While walking on the street you might see  a shoe shiner passing by with all his stuff  

but in case that he drops a brush please  stop there and do not give it back to him.  

As soon as you give it back to him, he will be so  thankful for that and then he will invite you to  

sit while he is shining your shoes but at the end  he will ask you for a ridiculous amount of money.  

Even some of our followers have told us that they  have been asked even 100 liras or more. Here is a  

small portion of this particular scam and if you  want to go check it out as well, don't forget  

that we will leave the link in our description box  where you can find that after you finish watching this video.  

So pretty much what happened was we  were walking, shoe shiner saw us, dropped his brush  

in front of us. I just pulled out my phone and  just started filming literally watched him walk  

a couple of meters then he turned around came  and got his brush. Sort of apologized and no  

joke a couple minutes later I was so shocked I got  footage of it. Because it's lockdown in Turkey at  

the moment, there's not many people around. We  turned the corner and we got done again but this  

time I saw the shoe shiner come across the road  and he walked a couple meters in front of us,  

dropped his brush and once again I just pulled  out my phone stood there and filmed it also.

Another similar scam and we will put it here in  this same section because it's very very similar.  

This one actually we saw it on the tv news a  couple of weeks ago and it is about some people,  

especially guys carrying Simit and they were  walking on İstiklal street because they know  

there are many tourists as well and suddenly they  were just walking with the simit on their head  

and all of a sudden, they just fell like if they  were ill. So they were just faking everything  

just to make other people feel bad about them and  try to get some money from them but in reality,  

they're not ill or nothing wrong is happening to  them. Afterwards the policemen just came to to the  

area and they took them to the police department  and probably that situation it's already fixed  

but just in case, if you're around the area and if  you see them, just leave them there. I mean do not  

feel bad for them because they are just trying  to trick people to get some money from them. 

Restaurants. This is another point to really  keep in mind because if you only focus  

in eating in the most touristic areas during  your whole holiday more likely you will end  

up being scammed or even paying even more than  you should really pay for a meal in Istanbul.  

If you decide eating at a restaurant, let's say  in Sultanahmet, just make sure to check the prices  

beforehand. Usually they should have the menus at  the entrance and if they have the menus make sure  

that the prices are written there. Also if they  don't have them and if you want to really go and  

eat in that place, just ask for the menu and also  make sure the prices are written there because  

sometimes maybe you will think that they will  give you all the prices but at the end they will  

charge you whatever they want and usually  for tourists it can be three to four times  

more than it should really cost. Also it is  well known that in these type of restaurants  

they will start bringing you some appetizers to  your table and for your surprise, you will say:  

"Okay, probably these are included in my menu or  the plate that i have ordered" but in reality,  

they will charge you an extra fee for that but  they won't tell you about it. So just to make sure  

as soon as they start bringing you all of those  things or extra little appetizers to your table  

just ask the waiter if those are extra or if they  are already included. That way you will avoid  

a surprise and then see the bill and that it's a  high amount of money that you have to pay for that  

before visiting a restaurant. We  also recommend you to check reviews  

online. You can go to tripadvisor, you can go to  many other platforms where you can check for that  

as well. As we previously mentioned you, make  sure to check the prices in advance and to  

know for sure that everything that you are  eating is already included in the price. 

Friendly approach of strangers to make you buy  something or invite you to a particular place.  

Usually this type of scam we can find that in the  most touristic areas like Sultanahmet or Taksim.  

Random people will try to approach you in a  very friendly way and they will either ask you  

for a cigarette, for a lighter or even where  are you from. Just to open up a conversation.  

They will try to offer you an express  tour and they will tell you like they can  

offer themselves to show you the  blue mosque, let's say for example  

and after getting your trust, they will try to  take you to the grand bazaar or to another shop.  

Once you have accepted going with them they will  treat you like a king or like a queen, they will  

give you tea, they will give you Turkish coffee  maybe Turkish delight, or any article they have.  

Afterwards they will pressure you to buy something  from that shop and actually, sometimes they  

can become very rude and very insistent. Just  ignore everyone who is trying to talk to you on  

the streets. That way you won't put yourself  into an uncomfortable situation and trust me  

nobody will help you just because they want to, in  reality, they are looking for something in return. 

Nightclubs. This is quite similar to the last  one but the only difference is that here solo  

male travelers are the ones targeted. Usually,  this scam is going on in Taksim square and in  

İstiklal street. Because here we can find many  bars and nightclubs as well. Some guys will try  

to approach you as well in a very friendly way and  they will try to ask you, where are you from and  

questions like that. After they have gained  your trust, they will invite you to have a  

beer somewhere. After that, they will take you to  a club and they will make you drink several things  

and very expensive ones. After a while, even some  girls might join the table and at some point,  

they will try to tell you like they are going to  the restroom or something like that and they will  

disappear. At the end they will leave you alone  with the whole bill. So basically, you're gonna  

pay everything that each one of you consume and it  can be a big amount of money, i mean we have heard  

that even 600 dollars, 1000 dollars and that can  be really uncomfortable for you and even if you're  

trying not to pay for all the drinks. I mean if  you're trying to pay only what you really consume,  

they will force you in one way or another to pay  for everything. Even some big guys will try to  

to block you the way to leave the place and  you can put yourself into a very dangerous  

situation. Once again, avoid talking to random  people on the street especially if you are alone  

because no one will want to invite you a  beer just because they want to have friends.  

If you accept going with them that story will not  have a happy ending for sure. If you want to see  

how this scam works. Right now we're gonna show  you just a few seconds of it so you can see how  

this is developing but if you want to check  out the full video we would love to invite you  

to click in our description box where you will  be finding the link to the full video. About  

the most common local scam here in Istanbul so  apparently the most common scam here in istanbul  

is that local guys will come up to you and  they'll act super super nice. I'm not going  

with you to club because see the thing is I  don't want to get scammed because see last  

night you left me with the bill at the bar yeah I  paid i paid you don't understand what i'm saying.

People showing off as police. There are  a few versions of this particular scam  

but the most common one is this one and for  example while you're walking on the street  

let's say İstiklal street which is the place  where usually these things happen. One person  

can approach you and ask you let's say for an  address of a place or anything else. After that,  

another person who might identify himself as a  police and even he might show you one badge, which  

we don't even know if it might be real or not,  he will start asking you for some things. He will  

request from both of you to show the passport  and the wallet. If you give that, that might be  

a big mistake, especially your wallet, I mean  they shouldn't be asking you for your wallet.  

If he or she is a real police maybe your passport,  it's okay, but not your wallet. If you give that  

i mean for sure that person will run away  because we have read in several places and  

also we have been told about this one. They will  take your money and they will run away or even  

while you are talking to the police, the other  person will be trying to distract you by telling  

you things and in the meantime, the police will be  taking the money from your wallet. As we mentioned  

before and many times avoid exchanging words with  any stranger on the street and i know sometimes  

things happen all of a sudden, in few seconds,  in case that you're already in that situation  

and another person comes to you and asks you to  give your belongings like wallet and passport,  

just do not do that also as a little tip, try  to carry with you a photocopy of your passport  

in case that if you have a doubt  that he or she might be a police,  

you can just show the photocopy of your passport  but never give the original and your wallet.  

All the time be skeptical. Especially if  you know that you haven't broken the law  

if you feel and feel suspicious that person is  not a policeman, just threaten them by calling  

the police. Grab your phone and just say i'm  calling the police right now. That way you will  

get out of that bad situation right away. Remember  that a police will never ask you for the wallet. 

Perfume and rose sellers. This is  another scam going on mainly in the  

most touristic areas and particularly for the  rose sellers, you will find them in Üsküdar.  

If a guy carrying a lot of perfumes is approaching  you and he's trying to show you all his products,  

just try not to exchange any word with him because  as soon as you grab one perfume that will be the  

biggest mistake that you will do. Because as soon  as you do it he will do everything not to get it  

back from you. Instead, he will ask you for money  because that way, he will assume that you already  

accepted to buy that perfume and they can become  very pushy and it will turn a bit uncomfortable as  

well. So just if you see these people try to  avoid them and just tell them: no thank you,  

no thank you. Just keep going on. The same  situation happens with the especially women  

selling roses in Üsküdar area. That's the area  where I have mainly seen them and also they will  

be so pushy. When you are walking they will just  stretch their hands and basically put one rose on  

your hand and that way also they will be pushing.  They will ask you for money. Just try to have your  

hands when you're walking there and do not take  anything from any other person around those areas. 

Do not buy tickets from people on the streets.  Please avoid buying tickets from anyone you see  

on the streets that includes any transportation  tickets, museum tickets or even tours. For sure  

they're overpriced and they will try to get  as much money as they can from you. Only buy  

tickets from the official stands or the museum  ticket offices that way you will avoid any type  

of scam or extra charges. The same applies for  transportation. Only buy from the yellow machines,  

you can buy the istanbul card or even you  can buy single tickets from there as well.  

If you have experienced any other type of  scam that we didn't cover in this video,  

please share them in the comments below. That  way other people can also read them and be aware  

of those other tricks. Hopefully, you have liked  this video and don't forget to like subscribe and  

share this video so more people can avoid these  scams. See you in the next episode. Bye bye. 

this is quite similar to the last one but the  difference is that here male female male female  

if you decide eating at a restaurant in the it