Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Bryansk, Bryanskaya Oblast’, Russia

All Topics about Bryansk All Cities in Russia

1. Museum of Local Lore Scam

Be wary of overly friendly locals offering guided tours in exchange for money. Museum offers official guides at a reasonable price.

Unlicensed Guides: Avoid unofficial guides who may charge excessively or provide inaccurate information.
Overcharging: Verify the price for guided tours before starting to avoid overcharging scams.
Guide Misinformation: Ensure guides are knowledgeable about the museum's artifacts and history.

Watch out for taxi drivers who claim a broken meter or inflated prices to St. Spassky Cathedral. Use official taxi services or apps.

Broken Meters: Verify the meter is functioning correctly before starting your journey.
Inflated Prices: Compare taxi prices with local transportation apps or ask for an estimated fare before starting the trip.
Unofficial Taxis: Ensure your taxi is properly licensed and identifiable as an official vehicle.

Avoid buying souvenirs from street vendors; many sell counterfeit merchandise in the Square of Minin and Pozharsky.

Counterfeit Goods: Look for signs of poor quality or unusual pricing to identify potential counterfeits.
Expensive Prices: Compare prices with other souvenir shops in the area to avoid overpriced items.
Non-local Merchandise: Seek out locally made or distinctive Bryansk souvenirs when shopping.

Beware of food tampering in local markets; check products for unusual packaging or poor quality.

Tampered Packaging: Inspect products for loose seals, torn labels, or other signs of tampering.
Poor Quality Foods: Trust your senses when evaluating the freshness and quality of food items.
Unfamiliar Brands: Research common brands in Russia to avoid unfamiliar or potentially fraudulent products.

Be cautious when using downtown ATMs; they may have skimmers installed to steal your card information.

Skimmer Devices: Inspect the ATM for any unusual attachments or tampering.
Unsafe Locations: Use ATMs in well-lit, busy areas and always cover your PIN while entering it.
Check Your Statements: Regularly monitor your account for suspicious activity to catch any fraudulent charges.

Beware of overpriced or fake souvenirs in the Golden Gate souvenir shop; compare prices with other shops before purchasing.

Overpriced Items: Compare prices with other souvenir shops to avoid overpricing.
Counterfeit Goods: Look for signs of poor quality or unusual pricing to identify potential counterfeits.
Non-local Merchandise: Seek out locally made or distinctive Bryansk souvenirs when shopping.

Avoid cafes offering free Wi-Fi but charge for food and drinks; choose well-known café chains with reasonable prices.

Free Wi-Fi Charges: Check the menu before sitting down to avoid unexpected charges.
Overpriced Food and Drinks: Compare prices with other cafés in the area to avoid overpricing.
Unknown Café Reputation: Choose well-known café chains or those recommended by locals for a positive dining experience.

Avoid ticket sellers outside the bus station; buy tickets directly at the station's authorized booth.

Unauthorized Ticket Sellers: Only purchase tickets from authorized booths or machines within the bus station.
Overpriced Tickets: Compare ticket prices with other travelers or online to avoid overpricing.
Ticket Scratches: Verify that your bus ticket is intact and has not been tampered with before boarding the bus.

Avoid 'street performers' who demand payment; they are often scammers in disguise.

Demanding Payment: Enjoy the performances but do not offer payment to avoid being scammed.
Fraudulent Performers: Be cautious of any performers demanding payment, especially if they are aggressive or pressuring you.
Legitimate Buskers: Support local artists by tipping genuine buskers who ask for voluntary donations.

Avoid exchanging money on the streets; use reputable exchange offices or banks instead.

Street Exchanges: Never exchange currency on the street; only use authorized exchange offices or banks.
Counterfeit Money: Verify the authenticity of the money received before leaving the exchange office or bank.
Unfavorable Exchange Rates: Compare exchange rates with other establishments to get the best deal.

Avoid taxi drivers offering rides from Bryansk train station; use official taxi services or apps instead.

Unlicensed Taxis: Ensure your taxi is properly licensed and identifiable as an official vehicle.
Inflated Prices: Compare taxi prices with local transportation apps or ask for an estimated fare before starting the trip.
Broken Meters: Verify the meter is functioning correctly before starting your journey.

Ignore beggars near the Bridge of Sighs; they are often part of organized scams.

Organized Scams: Be cautious of any beggars who seem to be part of a group or organized network.
Distraction Tactics: Avoid being distracted by the beggars; focus on your belongings and valuables.
Donation Scams: Do not offer donations to begars near tourist attractions, as they may be part of organized scams.

Avoid eating from street food carts; their food might be contaminated or of poor quality.

Contaminated Food: Street food carts may use contaminated ingredients, increasing the risk of foodborne illness.
Poor Quality Ingredients: Street food carts often use lower-quality ingredients, which may affect the taste and safety of the food.
Unlicensed Vendors: Ensure the vendor has a valid license and follows proper food handling procedures.

Be wary of local hostels offering extremely low prices; they may be hiding additional fees.

Additional Fees: Verify all the costs associated with your stay, including taxes and any extra charges.
Low-quality Accommodations: Research hostel reviews to ensure you are getting a clean and comfortable space for your stay.
Unsafe Locations: Check the hostel's location to ensure it is in a safe area with good transportation connections.

Avoid using Internet cafés that require you to leave your laptop; they may install malware or viruses.

Malware Installation: Do not use untrusted computers, as they may infect your device with malware.
Data Theft: Use a VPN or encrypted connections to protect your personal information while online.
Overpriced Usage Time: Compare prices with other Internet cafés in the area to avoid overpaying.