Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

All Topics about Florianópolis All Cities in Brazil

1. Beachfront Bargain Scams

Avoid buying souvenirs or services at unusually low prices from street vendors on the beach. They often use faulty or fake items.

Unusual Low Prices: Prices significantly lower than market rate may indicate a scam.
Fake Items: Beachfront vendors often sell fake or low-quality items.
Unwanted Attention: Be aware of overly friendly strangers trying to engage you in conversation while a scam is being set up.

Taxi drivers may charge tourists excessively for short distances. Use apps like Easy Taxi or 99Taxis to pre-negotiate fares.

Excessive Charges: Taxis may charge tourists more than the local price.
Pre-Negotiate Fares: Apps like Easy Taxi or 99Taxis allow you to pre-negotiate fares.
Avoid Roaming Taxis: Avoid taxis without a meter, as they may overcharge you.

Be cautious when exchanging money at unofficial exchange booths. Only use banks or authorized exchange houses.

Unofficial Booths: Exchange booths not located in banks or official exchange houses may deal counterfeit money.
Authorized Exchange Houses: Banks and authorized exchange houses offer safe currency exchanges.
Check Bills Thoroughly: Always carefully check the bills you receive for any signs of counterfeit.

Avoid buying SIM cards from street vendors. Go to an official store like Oi or Vivo for a safe purchase.

Street Vendors: SIM cards purchased from street vendors may be faulty or unregistered.
Official Stores: Oi and Vivo are official stores where you can buy safe SIM cards.
Register Your SIM Card: Register your SIM card to avoid unwanted charges and potential fraud.

Use ATMs located inside banks or malls instead of stand-alone machines. Cover the keypad while entering your PIN for added security.

Stand-Alone Machines: ATMs not located in a secure area may be rigged with skimming devices.
Inside Banks or Malls: ATMs inside banks or malls are more secure and less likely to have skimming devices.
Cover Keypad: Always cover the keypad while entering your PIN to prevent others from seeing it.

Avoid buying bus tickets on board. Buy tickets at the ticket booth before getting on the bus to avoid overpaying.

Buy ferry tickets from authorized ticket booths on the mainland or the island. Avoid buying from unofficial sellers.

Unofficial Sellers: Unofficial sellers may charge higher prices and offer faulty tickets.
Mainland or Island Booths: Tickets can be bought from authorized booths on the mainland or the island.
Check Ferry Schedule: Always check the ferry schedule to ensure you're boarding a legitimate service.

Rent cars only from reputable companies. Check the car thoroughly before driving off for any damage.

Reputable Companies: Only rent cars from established and reputable companies.
Check Car Thoroughly: Inspect the car for any damage before driving off to avoid being charged for it later.
Insurance Coverage: Ensure your rental agreement includes insurance coverage.

Avoid eating street food that looks old or unappealing. Stick to reputable street vendors.

Old or Unappealing: Street food that looks old, unappetizing, or unsanitary should be avoided.
Reputable Vendors: Choose vendors with a good reputation and clean appearance to minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses.
Cooking Practices: Look for street vendors who cook food in front of you and follow safe cooking practices.

Book accommodations through reliable platforms like Booking.com or Airbnb to avoid being overcharged.

Reliable Platforms: Use trustworthy online booking sites for accommodation.
Check Reviews: Always check reviews and ratings before booking an accommodation.
Beware of Scams: Be cautious when dealing with property owners directly, as they may attempt to overcharge you or provide subpar accommodations.

Book tours through reputable agencies. Avoid street vendors offering tours at unusually low prices.

Reputable Agencies: Choose established tour operators for safe and reliable experiences.
Check Reviews: Always check reviews and ratings before booking a tour.
Avoid Unusual Low Prices: Tours offered at unusually low prices may be incomplete or subpar.

Avoid accepting drug offers from strangers on the beach. Report any suspicious activity to local authorities.

Strangers on the Beach: Drug deals are often carried out by strangers on the beach.
Report Suspicious Activity: Always report any drug-related suspicious activity to local authorities.
Follow Local Laws: Be aware of and follow the local laws regarding drugs.

Keep your belongings close and be cautious in crowded areas like markets or festivals.

Crowded Areas: Pickpocketing is more common in crowded, touristy areas.
Keep Belongings Close: Keep your belongings close and use a secure bag or backpack to deter pickpockets.
Avoid Distractions: Avoid distractions like maps, smartphones, or loud conversations that may make you an easy target for pickpocketing.

Rent cars only from reputable companies with transparent pricing. Compare prices between different rental providers.

Reputable Companies: Choose established and reputable car rental companies.
Transparent Pricing: Ensure the pricing is transparent and includes all costs.
Compare Prices: Always compare prices between different rental providers to ensure you're getting a fair deal.

Rent bikes only from reputable shops. Compare prices between different bike rental providers.

Reputable Shops: Choose established and reputable bike rental shops.
Transparent Pricing: Ensure the pricing is transparent and includes all costs.
Compare Prices: Always compare prices between different bike rental providers to ensure you're getting a fair deal.