Avoid Travel Scams2026–2027 Guide
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Destination · Middle East

Travel Scams in Amman

Amman's documented scams cluster around transport: yellow-taxi meter games in town, fare tricks on the airport run, and — on the Petra day trip nearly every visitor makes — the 'free' horse ride tip shakedown and unlicensed guides at the gate. The US State Department also notes pickpockets and opportunistic thieves target foreigners in the crowded streets of downtown Amman.

1. Yellow taxi meter games

Amman's yellow cabs are legally metered, but drivers commonly refuse to start the meter, claim it is broken, or quote a lump sum that exceeds the metered fare; traveler reports also describe drivers quoting a price and then claiming at the destination that it was per person. The UK FCDO flatly advises using Uber or Careem, which it calls safer than yellow taxis, or asking your hotel for a recommended driver.

Warning signs

  • Driver waves off the meter or says it is broken
  • Flat price quoted before you say your destination's neighborhood
  • Ambiguity about whether the price is per car or per person
  • Detours or 'shortcuts' once moving

How to avoid it

  • Default to Uber or Careem, where the fare is fixed in-app
  • If using a yellow cab, insist on the meter before getting in
  • Have your hotel call a trusted driver for airport or intercity runs
  • State clearly: the price agreed is per taxi, not per person
Sources

2. Queen Alia Airport taxi fare tricks

The airport has an official, exclusive taxi service with Ministry of Transport-set fixed fares, sold at a desk inside the Arrivals Hall and a booth outside Gate 1. The trap is drivers outside the official channel quoting inflated 'special' rates or treating the posted fare board as per person rather than per vehicle — travelers report having to state firmly that the board price is per taxi. Travel guides put the fixed fare to Amman at roughly JOD 22-23 in recent years.

Warning signs

  • Driver approaches you before you reach the official desk or booth
  • Quoted price well above the posted fare board
  • Claim that the posted price applies per person
  • Reluctance to show the official fare list

How to avoid it

  • Buy your ride at the official airport taxi desk inside Arrivals
  • Confirm the price is per vehicle before departing
  • Alternatively pre-book Uber or Careem
  • Use the Airport Express bus to Amman if traveling light
Sources

3. Petra 'free' horse ride tip shakedown

The Petra entry ticket includes a short horse ride from the Visitor Center to just before the Siq, and handlers pitch it as 'free — included in your ticket.' At the end of the brief ride they demand a tip, sometimes aggressively; visitor reviews describe handlers refusing amounts below JD5-20 and turning hostile when challenged. The ride is entirely optional and the Siq is easily walked.

Warning signs

  • 'Free ride, it's in your ticket' pitch at the Visitor Center
  • No mention of the expected tip until the ride ends
  • Handlers getting loud or insistent about the amount
  • Sob stories or pressure tactics at dismounting

How to avoid it

  • Simply walk — the 'free' segment is a few hundred meters
  • If you ride, agree the tip amount before getting on
  • Give a small tip (JD1-2 is commonly suggested) and walk away firmly
  • Complain at the Petra Visitor Center if harassed
Sources

4. Unlicensed guides and surprise charges at Petra

Self-appointed 'guides' approach visitors at the Petra entrance and inside the site, offering guidance that later turns into demands for inflated fees; a Tripadvisor warning thread titled 'guided tour SCAM in Petra' urges travelers not to go with anyone who solicits them. The UK FCDO specifically advises Petra visitors to ask tourist office staff if unclear about ticket prices and before agreeing to any additional charges. Licensed guides can be hired at the official entrance office.

Warning signs

  • Guide offers services outside the official visitor center
  • No visible license or official ID
  • Vague pricing — 'pay what you feel' that escalates later
  • Offers to show 'secret' spots for extra cash

How to avoid it

  • Hire guides only through the official Petra Visitor Center
  • Agree the full price and duration before starting
  • Check ticket inclusions with tourist office staff before paying extras
  • Politely decline unsolicited offers at the gate
Sources

Practical safety briefing

  • Airport arrival: Queen Alia International is about 35 km south of the city; the safe play is the official airport taxi desk inside the Arrivals Hall (fixed Ministry-set fares, roughly JOD 20-25 to Amman per traveler reports), a pre-booked Uber/Careem, or the Airport Express bus. Street taxis on the Amman-Petra run commonly quote around JOD 80-90 one way, so day-trippers often prefer the JETT tourist bus or a tour.
  • Trusted transport: Uber and Careem — explicitly recommended by the UK FCDO over yellow taxis — plus hotel-arranged drivers; for Petra day trips, the JETT bus from Amman is the budget mainstay.
  • Money & payments: The dinar is the unit; ATMs are widespread in Amman but thin outside major towns, and US State Dept guidance notes Jordanian ATMs may charge high fees. Jordanian police advise extra vigilance when leaving banks and ATMs, particularly in downtown Amman.

Official travel advisories

  • US State Dept — Notes pickpockets and opportunistic thieves targeting foreigners in downtown Amman's crowded streets, police warnings on ATM-area theft, and that financial and romance scams are common in Jordan.
  • UK FCDO — Recommends Uber or Careem over yellow taxis and specifically tells Petra visitors to confirm ticket prices and any extra charges with tourist office staff before agreeing.

Compiled from documented reports and government advisories. How we verify scams. Last verified July 2026.