1. Short-changing street money changers
Small kiosks in Kuta and other tourist strips advertise rates slightly better than everyone else's to pull you in. The changer counts your rupiah out in front of you, sometimes twice to 'prove' it is right, then uses sleight of hand, palmed bills or a last-second swap so you leave short. The UK FCDO warns that unlicensed money changers may short-change you and advises using only licensed exchanges, identifiable by a Bank Indonesia logo and a QR code you can scan to verify the licence.
Warning signs
- Rate board noticeably better than every other changer on the street
- Tiny kiosk tucked down an alley or behind a shop counter
- Changer re-counts repeatedly or moves piles of notes below the counter
- No Bank Indonesia logo or scannable licence QR code on display
How to avoid it
- Use licensed changers such as BMC or Central Kuta, or exchange inside a bank branch
- Scan the Bank Indonesia QR code on display to verify the business and licence
- Count your rupiah yourself at the counter before leaving, twice
- Walk away from any rate that looks too good; that gap is the bait
2. Broken-meter taxis and airport arrival touts
At Ngurah Rai arrivals, crowds of freelance drivers shout 'taxi?' and quote fares two to three times the metered or app price, sometimes adding invented toll or luggage charges mid-ride. Around Kuta and Legian, some taxi drivers claim the meter is broken and demand inflated flat rates. The FCDO advises using only registered companies such as Bluebird, and checking the driver's identity matches your app booking.
Warning signs
- Drivers swarming you in the arrivals hall with 'transport? where you go?'
- Meter declared 'broken' before you have named a destination
- Flat quote given without reference to distance
- Price drops step by step as you walk away, then 'extras' appear in the car
How to avoid it
- Book Grab or Gojek from the app to the designated airport pickup point, or pre-book a hotel transfer
- Hail only light-blue Bluebird taxis and insist the meter runs
- Say a polite no to every in-terminal tout and keep walking
- Know the rough app fare for your route before you land so quotes are easy to judge
3. Fake Gojek and Grab drivers
Freelance drivers buy green Gojek or Grab jackets and helmets online and wave down tourists outside bars and beach clubs, posing as the ride you just booked. They are not connected to the app; once you are on the bike or in the car they demand a cash fare well above the in-app price. The FCDO specifically warns of drivers claiming to be registered with app companies trying to pick up passengers on the street.
Warning signs
- A 'driver' waves you over before your app has even matched a ride
- Name, photo or plate does not match what your app shows
- Demand for cash payment instead of the in-app fare
- Branded jacket but no driver profile when you ask to see the booking
How to avoid it
- Only board the exact bike or car your app assigned, after checking plate, name and photo
- Never accept a street hail from someone in ride-hail gear
- Cancel and rebook in the app if anything does not match
- Wait inside the venue until your matched driver arrives, especially late at night
Sources
4. Scooter rental damage claims and accident extortion
On return of a rented scooter, the operator 'discovers' scratches or dents that were there before, or that were planted, and demands repair payments of 500,000 IDR or more, sometimes holding your passport as leverage if you left it as deposit. The FCDO adds that foreign nationals involved in even minor traffic violations or accidents in Indonesia may be vulnerable to extortion, which is why some expat employers ban staff from driving.
Warning signs
- Shop insists on holding your actual passport as the deposit
- No documented pre-rental inspection of the bike's condition
- Damage 'found' on the underside or rear panels you never saw
- Repair quote far above what a local workshop would charge
How to avoid it
- Photograph and video the scooter from every angle, with the operator visible, before riding off
- Offer a cash deposit or passport photocopy instead of the original passport
- Rent through your hotel or a vetted operator rather than a kerbside board
- If a claim is made, get an independent workshop quote before paying anything
Sources
5. ATM and card fraud
Unbranded or isolated ATMs in tourist areas have been used to skim card data or swallow cards, and criminals have placed fake 'report a problem' phone numbers on machines to harvest card details from callers. The FCDO calls credit card fraud common in Indonesia and advises never losing sight of your card during transactions; Smartraveller notes some vendors install hidden cameras and skimmers.
Warning signs
- Standalone ATM in a dim corner with no bank branding
- Card slot or keypad feels loose or overlaid
- Handwritten or stickered 'helpline' number on the machine
- Server walks away with your card to process payment out of sight
How to avoid it
- Use ATMs attached to actual bank branches such as BCA, BNI, Mandiri or CIMB Niaga
- Cover your PIN and wiggle the card slot before inserting
- Keep your card in view for every transaction and prefer tap-to-pay
- Enable instant transaction alerts so fraudulent charges surface within minutes
Practical safety briefing
- Airport arrival: Ngurah Rai (Denpasar) arrivals funnel you past a gauntlet of freelance drivers quoting inflated cash fares. Pre-book a hotel transfer or use the Grab/Gojek app pickup point; otherwise the official airport taxi counter posts fixed zone fares.
- Trusted transport: Grab and Gojek apps (car and motorbike); Bluebird taxis (light blue, bird logo, metered); hotel-arranged private drivers for day trips.
- Money & payments: Exchange only at licensed changers displaying the Bank Indonesia logo and scannable licence QR code (BMC and Central Kuta are established names) or inside banks. Use bank-branch ATMs (BCA, BNI, Mandiri, CIMB Niaga), cover your PIN, and count rupiah before leaving any counter.
Official travel advisories
- UK FCDO — Warns of unlicensed money changers short-changing tourists, credit card fraud with fake ATM helpline numbers, drivers falsely claiming to work for app companies, and extortion risk after minor traffic accidents.
- Australia Smartraveller — Advises exchanging money only at authorised changers, using official metered taxis or rideshare apps, and warns of card skimmers and hidden cameras at ATMs.
Compiled from documented reports and government advisories. How we verify scams. Last verified July 2026.