Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Diyarbakır, Turkey
1. Taxi Scams
Avoid overcharging and unnecessary routes by using a pre-paid taxi service or downloading trusted ride-hailing apps.
- Pre-paid Taxi Service: Offers fixed prices for your destination.
- Trusted Ride-hailing Apps: Helps you find reliable taxi services in Diyarbakır.
- Avoid Unnecessary Routes: Ensure the cab driver takes a direct route to your destination.
2. Counterfeit Money
Inspect Turkish Lira notes carefully for watermarks, security threads, and holograms. Exchange money only in banks or official exchange offices.
- Watermark Inspection: Helps identify genuine Turkish Lira notes.
- Security Threads: Visible when held up to light, helps authenticate the note.
- Official Exchange Offices: Ensure you receive genuine Turkish Lira.
3. Overpriced Souvenirs
Bargain aggressively at bazaars and markets to avoid overpaying for souvenirs. Compare prices among various vendors.
- Aggressive Bargaining: Allows you to negotiate the best possible price.
- Compare Prices: Ensures you don't overpay for a souvenir.
- Bazaars and Markets: The best places to find traditional Turkish souvenirs.
4. Sim Card Scams
Purchase SIM cards from authorized retailers or mobile network operator stores. Be cautious of unsolicited offers on the street.
- Authorized Retailers: Ensures you receive a legitimate and working SIM card.
- Mobile Network Operator Stores: Official stores provide customer service support for any issues that may arise.
- Unsolicited Offers on the Street: May result in low-quality or malfunctioning SIM cards.
5. Fake Guides
Book guided tours from reputable travel agencies. Be cautious of unsolicited guide offers in public areas.
- Reputable Travel Agencies: Ensures you have a professional and knowledgeable guide.
- Booking in Advance: Allows you to research the agency and their reviews before booking.
- Unsolicited Guide Offers: May lead to a subpar or unprofessional guide experience.
6. Fraudulent Restaurants
Avoid restaurants near tourist attractions. Ask locals for recommendations and opt for popular eateries with positive reviews.
- Restaurants Near Tourist Attractions: May charge inflated prices or serve low-quality food.
- Local Recommendations: Ensures you get a taste of authentic Turkish cuisine.
- Positive Reviews: Indicates the restaurant offers good food and service.
7. Street Performances
Be wary of street performers who demand money for subpar performances or insist on taking pictures with tourists. Avoid engaging in these situations.
- Demanding Money: Can lead to overpaying for a mediocre performance.
- Subpar Performances: May not meet expectations and waste your time.
- Insisting on Pictures: Can result in unwanted photos and unnecessary expenses.
8. Gold Jewelry Scams
Purchase gold jewelry from licensed stores or jewelers. Be cautious of vendors trying to sell cheap imitations at inflated prices.
- Licensed Stores: Ensures you receive genuine and high-quality gold jewelry.
- Cheap Imitations: May not be worth the price or last long.
- Inflated Prices: Can lead to overpaying for low-quality jewelry.
9. Currency Exchange Scams
Exchange money at banks or authorized exchange offices. Be cautious of street vendors offering unfavorable exchange rates.
- Banks: Offer competitive and fair exchange rates.
- Authorized Exchange Offices: Provide secure and convenient currency exchange services.
- Street Vendors: May offer unfavorable exchange rates or try to scam customers.
10. Overpriced Accommodation
Book accommodation in advance through reputable platforms. Be cautious of hotels offering unusually low prices or overpriced rooms.
- Reputable Platforms: Ensures you get a fair price for your accommodation.
- Unusually Low Prices: May indicate poor quality or hidden fees.
- Overpriced Rooms: Can lead to paying more than necessary for your stay.
11. Fraudulent ATMs
Use ATMs located at banks or inside shopping malls. Be cautious of standalone ATMs in less busy areas.
- ATMs Inside Banks: Offer increased security and reduced risk of fraud.
- Shopping Mall ATMs: Provide a safe and convenient location to withdraw cash.
- Standalone ATMs in Less Busy Areas: May be compromised or have hidden cameras.
12. Tourist Bus Scams
Use trusted tour companies for transportation services. Be cautious of unsolicited offers for cheap bus rides that may lead to scams.
- Trusted Tour Companies: Ensures safe and reliable transportation services.
- Unsolicited Offers for Cheap Bus Rides: May result in overpaying or encountering scams.
- Scams: Can include being taken to unwanted destinations or overcharged for the ride.
13. Fake Charity Collectors
Support legitimate charities by researching them beforehand. Be cautious of collectors who claim to be affiliated with a charity but are actually scammers.
- Researching Legitimate Charities: Ensures your donation goes towards a worthy cause.
- Claims of Affiliation with a Charity: May not be legitimate and could be a scam.
- Scammers: Can pocket donations intended for charitable causes.
14. Overpriced Car Rentals
Book car rentals in advance through reputable platforms. Be cautious of rental agencies offering unusually cheap or expensive prices.
- Reputable Platforms: Ensures you get a fair price for your car rental.
- Unusually Cheap Prices: May indicate hidden fees or poor-quality vehicles.
- Overpriced Rentals: Can lead to paying more than necessary for your rental.
15. Street Food Scams
Avoid street food vendors near tourist attractions. Opt for busy and popular street food stalls with a variety of offerings.
- Street Food Vendors Near Tourist Attractions: May use poor-quality ingredients or overcharge customers.
- Busy and Popular Street Food Stalls: Offer authentic and tasty street food options.
- Avoid Overcharging Customers: Ensures you pay a fair price for your meal.