Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Trujillo, Peru

All Topics about Trujillo All Cities in Peru

1. Mercado Central Scam

Watch out for overpriced souvenirs or exaggerated exchange rates at Mercado Central. Always negotiate and verify prices.

Overpricing Souvenirs: Sellers might charge higher than market rates for souvenirs.
Exaggerated Exchange Rates: Some vendors may use deceptive exchange rates to overcharge unsuspecting tourists.
Pushy Sellers: Aggressive sales tactics are common in the market.

Be aware of taxi drivers who may use a faulty meter or take an unnecessary route to inflate the fare.

Faulty Meter: Taxi meters might be tampered with to charge more than the actual fare.
Round-about Routes: Drivers may take longer routes to inflate the cost of the ride.
Unlicensed Taxis: Some unofficial taxis do not have meters and charge arbitrary prices.

Beware of salespeople offering 'free' SIM cards with hidden charges or poor service.

Hidden Charges: SIM cards may come with additional, unexpected fees.
Poor Service: Unreliable network coverage or call quality are potential issues with some unofficial providers.
Identity Theft: Providing personal information for a 'free' SIM card may put you at risk of identity theft.

Unlicensed tour guides might offer subpar service or mislead tourists about attractions.

Subpar Service: Tour guides may not have extensive knowledge of the area, leading to a poor experience.
Mislead About Attractions: Guides might lead tourists to overpriced or fake attractions.
Unlicensed Guides: Tour guides operating without a license may not be insured, putting you at risk if something goes wrong during the tour.

Be cautious when eating street food as some vendors might use expired ingredients or unsanitary practices.

Expired Ingredients: Street food vendors may use old or spoiled ingredients.
Unsanitary Practices: Some street food vendors might not follow proper food handling and preparation procedures.
Counterfeit Money: If you pay with local currency, be sure it's genuine. Some tourists have been given counterfeit bills in return.

Be vigilant when using ATMs as some might be tampered with or have skimmers installed.

Tampered Machines: ATMs might have fake card readers to steal your information.
Skimming Devices: Devices installed on ATMs can capture your card and pin information.
Surveillance Cameras: Cameras near ATMs might be used to record you entering your PIN for potential theft.

Be wary of 'police' asking for bribes or escorting you to an ATM to withdraw money.

Bribery Requests: Impersonators may pose as police officers and ask for bribes.
ATM Theft: Fraudulent 'officers' might lead you to an ATM to steal your card or PIN information.
False Accusations: Some scammers may falsely accuse you of a crime and demand money for release.

Inspect your hotel room before accepting it to avoid finding hidden charges or damage.

Hidden Charges: Additional fees may be charged for amenities such as Wi-Fi, minibar items, and cleaning services.
Damage: Rooms may have existing damage for which you might be wrongly charged upon checkout.
Overbooking: The hotel might have double-booked your room, forcing you to find alternative accommodations.

Be aware of buses that charge excessive prices for transport or drop passengers off at souvenir shops before destinations.

Overpricing: Buses may have inflated prices compared to other transportation options.
Souvenir Shops: Tour buses might make unnecessary stops at shops where you'll be pressured to buy overpriced items.
Unsafe Vehicles: Some buses may have poor maintenance, putting your safety at risk.

Negotiate the fare before riding a tuk-tuk and be aware of potential overpricing or misleading routes.

Overpricing: Tuk-tuks may charge excessively high prices compared to other transportation options.
Mislead About Distance: Drivers might claim a longer route, inflating the fare.
Unsafe Vehicles: Some tuk-tuks may have poor maintenance or lack safety features such as seat belts.

Be cautious when renting a Peruvian Paso horse as some providers may offer poor quality animals or overcharge.

Poor Quality Horses: Some providers might offer horses that are not well-cared for, poorly trained, or in bad health.
Overpricing: Rental fees for the horses may be significantly higher than market rates.
Safety Concerns: Horses might be aggressive, unpredictable, or poorly managed, posing a risk to riders.

Avoid buying tickets from street vendors for attractions like Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna as they may be counterfeit or overpriced.

Counterfeit Tickets: Tickets sold by street vendors might not be valid, leaving you unable to access the attraction.
Overpricing: Scalpers may sell tickets for significantly higher prices than the official ticket booths.
Lack of Information: Street vendors might not provide information about additional fees or restrictions, leading to unexpected costs.

Avoid exchanging money on the streets as some vendors might give you counterfeit bills or overcharge for poor exchange rates.

Counterfeit Bills: Vendors may give you fake currency in return for your money.
Poor Exchange Rates: Exchange rates offered on the street might be much lower than the actual market rate.
Lack of Regulation: There's no regulation for these transactions, leaving you with no recourse if something goes wrong.

Be careful when consuming drinks in bars or clubs as they might be spiked with drugs, putting you at risk.

Drug Contamination: Drinks may be laced with drugs such as Rohypnol or GHB without your knowledge.
Theft: Scammers might take advantage of an intoxicated victim, stealing valuables or personal belongings.
Robbery: Thieves may target intoxicated victims in bars and clubs, increasing the risk of theft.

Beware of fake charity collectors who may ask for donations under false pretenses.

False Pretenses: Collectors might claim to represent a legitimate organization but are actually scammers.
Lack of Receipt: If you donate, there's no guarantee that the money will go to the intended charity.
Unsafe Donations: Scammers might collect items like clothes or toys, which could be resold for personal gain.