Bali Tourists Warned Of Common & Easy To Fall For Money Scam

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It’s that time of year again. With high season in Bali about to get started, it’s time for all the travel scams to start coming to light again.

Seasoned Bali tourists, you already know what we’re going to be talking about, but for newbies, listen up. There is one money scam in Bali that feels as if it’s been around since the dawn of time, but since travelers keep getting caught out by it, we’re going to keep reporting on it. 

That being said, this particular scam appears to be declining. This is in part because more and more tourists are traveling using international travel cards, and more and more of Bali’s leading attractions, cafes, restaurants, and shops accept debit and credit cards.

Nevertheless, cash is still king in Bali, and it’s always good to have some notes with you, especially if you’re exploring away from the big resort areas like Canggu, Uluwatu, Seminyak, and Ubud. 

@2wheeledtorque Money exchange scam in Bali, he drops the bills behind the desk as he counts them again! This is not the first time it’s happened. I kept saying leave the bills there after I’d counted them but he kept handling the cash. #bali #scam #scammeralert #scams #sanur #travel #stayalert #ubud #fyp #viral ♬ Ding – Finnolia Sound Effects

In theory using a currency exchange facility in Bali should be safe, convenient and offer a fair exchange rate.

What makes this Bali money scam so surreptitious is that at face value, everything looks above board.

The scam involves a slight-of-hand mavaoeur who can steal hundreds of dollars from tourists’ currency exchange transactions.

@thedibbfamily Need cash in Bali? ATMs are widely available, but watch out for high fees and skimming scams! Stick to machines inside banks or major stores for safety. 💳💰 #BaliTravelTips #bali #traveltiktok ♬ original sound – Mick Willow

The scam goes something like this: A tourist walks into a currency exchange shopfront or kiosk. The teller and tourist agree on the exchange rate, and the teller counts out the amount in the original currency to make sure everyone is on the same page about how much is being exchanged.

The teller then brings out the Indonesian Rupiah notes and counts out the amount agreed upon with the tourist. Sometimes, they count the notes out several times before reassembling them and handing them over to the tourist. Just as they gather the notes together, the teller will use a sleight of hand to drop some of the notes down behind the desk or screen.

To the tourist’s eye, all that’s happened is that the notes have been reorganized into a pile, but in reality, as many notes as possible have been swiped away behind the desk for the teller to keep.

@andreaboldbodytravels Money exchange tips for Bali that I wish I knew about #bali #baliguide #balitips #baliscam #greenscreen ♬ original sound – Andrea BoldBody | Solo Travel

This scam has been happening in Bali and in many other tourist destinations all around the world for decades.

Over the years, the tellers have become super good at swiping the notes away without tourists’ notice. In fact, in some cases where tourists have filmed the interactions, it’s still nearly impossible to tell what’s happened even when the video is played back in slow motion. 

Several safeguards can be implemented by tourists to keep them safe from scammers.

The first is to only exchange currency in a certified and reputable facility, such as a bank, at the currency exchange counter of a resort hotel or at any of the exchange facilities at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on arrival though the outlets at the airport typically have a higher exchange rate than those outside the airport.

The second is to take some time to familiarize yourself with the Indonesian Rupiah notes. It’s especially easy for first-time tourists to Indonesia to get confused by the new numerical denominations and note colors.

The final safeguard is the most essential: count the notes handed over by the teller at least twice before walking away from the desk or signing the exchange invoice.

While some tourists feel awkward doing this, as it may appear distrusting of the teller, those who are running legal and legitimate currency exchange facilities will not be offended, and in many cases will encourage tourists to do so.