Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Makati City, Makati, Philippines
1. Ayala Triangle Gardens
Popular tourist spot with lush gardens and high-end shops. Be wary of pickpockets.
- High Foot Traffic: Attracts thieves, remain aware of surroundings
- Valuable Items: Expensive items attract unwanted attention
- Secure Storage: Keep valuables in secure pockets or storage
2. Greenbelt Mall
Upscale shopping mall with various stores and dining options. Watch out for overpriced goods.
- High-end Items: Expensive items may be overpriced
- Bargaining Skills: Negotiate prices when shopping
- Ask for Receipts: Always ask for receipts to verify prices
3. Legazpi Active Park
Beautiful park with a view of Makati skyline. Be careful of unscrupulous street vendors.
- Street Vendors: May sell counterfeit or overpriced items
- Park Safety: Avoid isolated areas for safety reasons
- Buy from Reputable Shops: Support reputable shops to avoid scams
4. Gloria Diaz corner
Popular meeting point for rickshaws and taxis. Be cautious of unofficial drivers offering services.
- Unofficial Drivers: May overcharge or take longer routes
- Registered Taxis: Only use registered taxis for safe travel
- Fix Fares in Advance: Negotiate fares before starting the journey
5. Makati Stock Exchange
Busy financial district with various investment opportunities. Be aware of investment scams.
- Investment Scams: Some investments may be fraudulent
- Research Before Investing: Thoroughly research before investing in anything
- Regulated Brokers: Use regulated brokers to minimize risk
6. Salcedo Market
Weekend food market with local delicacies. Watch out for counterfeit goods.
- Counterfeit Goods: Some items may be fake or low quality
- Buy from Reputable Stalls: Support reputable stalls to avoid scams
- Haggle for Prices: Negotiate prices when buying goods
7. Makati Sports Club
Exclusive sports club with various facilities. Be wary of bogus membership offers.
- Bogus Membership Offers: Some offers may be fake or fraudulent
- Contact Club Directly: Contact the club directly to verify membership offers
- Official Membership Process: Follow official process for joining the club
8. The Poblacion
Vibrant district with bars and restaurants. Be careful of drink-spiking incidents.
- Drink-Spiking Incidents: Avoid leaving drinks unattended
- Stay in Groups: Stay with trusted friends and avoid isolated areas
- Watch Your Drink: Never accept drinks from strangers
9. Makati Shangri-La Hotel
Luxury hotel with various services. Be cautious of overcharges in the spa and restaurants.
- Overcharges: Some services may be overpriced
- Check Prices Beforehand: Enquire about prices before using hotel services
- Compare with Other Hotels: Compare prices with other hotels for fair comparison
10. RCBC Plaza
Financial center with ATMs and banks. Be alert for skimming devices on ATMs.
- ATM Skimming Devices: Some ATMs may have skimming devices
- Use Well-lit and Busy ATMs: Choose well-lit, busy ATMs to avoid scams
- Cover Pin Entry: Cover the pin entry while using the ATM
11. Alphaland Makati Place
Office and retail building with various shops. Watch out for unofficial shop attendants.
- Unofficial Shop Attendants: Some may not be authorized to sell goods
- Check for Authorization: Ensure attendants are authorized before purchasing goods
- Ask for Store Managers: Ask to speak with store managers if unsure
12. Chino Roces Avenue
Busy street with various shops and restaurants. Be vigilant of pickpocketing incidents.
- Pickpocketing Incidents: High foot traffic attracts thieves
- Secure Wallet: Keep wallet secure in front pockets or bags
- Avoid Isolated Areas: Avoid isolated areas for safety reasons
13. Makati CBD (Central Business District)
Busy financial district with various offices and buildings. Be cautious of business scams.
- Business Scams: Some businesses may be fraudulent
- Research Before Engaging: Thoroughly research before engaging with any business
- Use Regulated Services: Only use regulated services to minimize risk
14. The Fort Strip
Entertainment district with bars and restaurants. Be aware of date-related scams.
- Date-Related Scams: Some individuals may have fraudulent intentions
- Stay in Groups: Stay with trusted friends and avoid isolated areas
- Trust Your Instincts: Trust your instincts when meeting new people
15. Makati Medical Center
Hospital with various medical services. Be wary of overcharges or false billing.
- Overcharges and False Billing: Some services may be overpriced or falsely billed
- Check Prices Beforehand: Enquire about prices before using hospital services
- Insurance Coverage: Ensure insurance covers all costs before treatment