Bali is one of the easiest places in Asia to fall in love with — surf beaches and rice terraces, temples and waterfalls, world-class value on villas and food. It also has a well-developed set of tourist scams, most of them non-violent and built around transport, money-changing, scooter rentals, and temple visits. This guide covers the ten things you're most likely to run into — nine money scams and one genuine safety risk worth taking seriously — along with where they cluster, how to get around and visit temples without trouble, the gear and habits that prevent it, and what to do if you're caught out. We start with the high-risk areas and the essentials worth sorting before you fly, then walk through all ten and how to handle each.
1. High-Risk Locations in Bali
Trouble concentrates where tourists gather, where money changes hands, and on the roads. These are all part of a great trip — just stay sharp in them:
- Kuta and Legian. The busiest nightlife and beach strip — touts, bracelet and flower sellers, street money changers, and cheap "bucket" drinks all cluster here.
- Seminyak, Canggu, and the scooter belt. Scooter and surfboard rental shops here run the pre-existing "damage" claim.
- Ngurah Rai (Denpasar) Airport. Fake taxis and drivers posing as your rideshare target tired arrivals.
- Ubud and the traditional markets. Heavy tourist mark-ups, plus unofficial "guides" and "mandatory donation" pitches near the temples.
- The big temples — Tanah Lot, Uluwatu, Besakih. Fake mandatory fees, sarong "charges," and unsolicited guides blocking the path.
- Standalone ATMs in minimarts. Card-skimming is most common at unattended machines in convenience stores rather than bank branches.
- Street money-change kiosks. The "quick-math" short-count thrives at independent changers along the tourist strips.
2. Tours, Tickets & Excursions — Getting Around Without Getting Burned
In Bali, the most common scams happen on the road and at the rental shop. Unofficial drivers claim a "broken meter" or quote an inflated flat rate; people at the airport pose as your booked rideshare; and scooter and surfboard shops try to bill you for damage that was there before you arrived.
How to get around and book safely: use official Blue Bird taxis, or book through the Grab or Gojek apps and always check the licence plate and driver name before getting in — that one check defeats the fake-rideshare scam. Pre-book your airport transfer so you can walk past the touts. If you rent a scooter or surfboard, use a reputable shop, wear a helmet, carry the right licence, and photograph and video the whole vehicle — every angle, including underneath — in front of the owner before and after. For temples, pay only the official fee at the marked ticket booth, rent a sarong at the official counter, and politely decline unsolicited guides. Book day trips to Nusa Penida, the waterfalls, or a Mount Batur sunrise through your hotel or a well-reviewed operator.
For the best areas to stay, calmer beaches, the day trips worth taking, and trusted partners for tours and transfers, see the in-depth Bali guide from our sister site in the Retirement Guide Network.
Read the Senior Traveling Guide to Bali →3. Travel Essentials to Sort Before You Go
A few bookings made before you land remove the very situations these scams exploit — the airport taxi touts, a dead phone when you need a ride-hailing app or your bank, and bags that tie you down on your last day. These are the four we'd line up first for Bali:
Reliable transfers — Welcome Pickups
A vetted, fixed-price driver who meets you at Denpasar airport means no wrangling with the "transport?" touts or a fake rideshare driver after a long flight — the price is set before you land.
Stay connected — Saily eSIM
An eSIM gives you data the moment you land, so you can book and verify Grab or Gojek rides (checking the plate and driver name), look up real exchange rates, and call your bank if a card is skimmed.
Store your bags — Radical Storage
Between a late checkout and a night flight, drop your bags at a vetted local storage point and spend your last day at the beach or pool hands-free instead of hauling luggage around.
Cover the unexpected — Travel Insurance
From a scooter spill to a rental "damage" demand or a medical issue, travel insurance is what turns a bad day into a reimbursed claim. Compare policies before you leave home.
Some links in this section are affiliate or partner links. If you book through them, RetirementScamGuide may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend services we believe genuinely help travelers stay safe.
4. Common Scammer Tactics in Bali — and What to Do if Engaged
The scams change costume, but the underlying tactics are always the same handful. Learn the move and you'll spot a scam you've never seen before:
- The unofficial fee or commission. A "mandatory donation," a forced guide at a temple, or a market price inflated for tourists. What to do: pay only marked official fees, decline unsolicited guides, and bargain hard at markets.
- The staged damage claim. A scooter or surfboard rented with hidden damage you're then billed for. What to do: photograph and video everything before and after, in front of the owner.
- The rushed or meterless transaction. A "broken" meter, a fake rideshare driver, a quick-math short-count at the money changer. What to do: use Blue Bird or verified app rides, and recount your money before leaving the counter.
- The fake authority. A bogus "officer" stops you on a scooter and demands an on-the-spot cash fine. What to do: stay calm, ask for ID, and offer to settle it at a real police station.
The single most effective response to any of these is the simplest: you are allowed to say no, walk away, and verify things for yourself.
5. The Top 10 Scams & Safety Risks in Bali
These are the things worked hardest on visitors around Kuta, Ubud, the temples, and the roads — nine money scams and one serious safety risk. Tap any card for the full guide.
"Zero commission" kiosks with great rates that short-change you by sleight of hand, or hand back expired notes.
Standalone machines in minimarts and quiet spots rigged to clone your card and capture your PIN.
Unofficial drivers with a "broken" meter or a flat rate that balloons, especially at the airport and nightlife spots.
A rented scooter or surfboard comes with hidden pre-existing damage, then you're billed for "breaking" it.
A fake "officer" pulls you over on a scooter for a made-up violation and demands an on-the-spot cash fine.
People at temples block your path, claiming a "mandatory donation" or that you must hire a guide to enter.
Market vendors inflating prices for tourists by several times the local rate, where bargaining is expected.
Cheap local spirits and "bucket" drinks are sometimes tainted with methanol, which can be dangerous or fatal.
Someone slips a bracelet or flower onto you as a "gift," then aggressively demands payment for it.
Drivers at the airport pose as your booked Grab or Gojek, then hijack the trip and demand an inflated fare.
6. The Best Prevention Strategies for Bali
A few habits prevent almost everything: use Blue Bird or verified Grab/Gojek rides and check the plate, photograph any rental before and after, recount cash at the counter and use bank ATMs over minimart machines, pay only official temple fees, and bargain at markets starting around a third of the asking price. One safety note that isn't about money: Bali has seen cases of methanol poisoning from cheap local spirits and "bucket" drinks — stick to sealed, branded drinks from reputable venues, and if you or a companion feels unwell after drinking, especially with vision changes or confusion, treat it as an emergency and get medical help immediately (call 112). A little inexpensive gear makes the rest effortless:
Anti-theft crossbody bag
Slash-resistant straps and locking zippers stop the most common bag-dip and snatch. Worn in front, it's your best defense in busy markets and on the beach.
View Deals →RFID-blocking wallet or sleeve
Blocks wireless card skimming and keeps your cards and rupiah organized so you're not fumbling at the ATM or money changer.
View Deals →Hidden money belt or neck pouch
Keeps your passport, backup card, and emergency cash out of sight under your clothing — invisible to pickpockets and handy on the beach.
View Deals →Waterproof phone pouch
Keeps your phone dry and secure at the beach, on boat trips, and on a scooter — so you always have maps, your ride-hailing app, and your bank a tap away.
View Deals →Portable door lock & luggage locks
TSA-approved locks for your bags and a portable door lock add peace of mind in villas, guesthouses, and smaller homestays.
View Deals →As an Amazon Associate, RetirementScamGuide may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you. We only suggest gear we believe genuinely helps travelers stay safe.
7. What to Do if You're a Victim of a Scam in Bali
If something happens, act quickly and skip the embarrassment. Indonesia's general emergency number is 112, and the police line is 110. For a crime or scam, file a police report — you'll need it for any travel-insurance or card claim. Call your bank and card issuers right away to cancel skimmed or compromised cards and flag charges. For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta or the Consular Agency in Bali. And if it's a medical emergency — including feeling unwell after drinking, which can signal methanol poisoning — call 112 immediately and don't wait. Once you're home, watch your statements, and if your card or identity details were exposed, review the steps to take after a scam, how to report it, and whether to freeze your credit.