Destinations › Germany › Hamburg › Scams
Hamburg, Germany
10 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Hamburg, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.
Pickpocketing on the entertainment strip at weekends and around the main station at night.
Nightlife touts on the entertainment strip promising fixed prices and free entry that become large bills once inside, with pressure applied to settle.
Bars and clubs in the entertainment district applying undisclosed table, hostess and service charges, with bills far above what was agreed at the door.
Fake charity collectors with clipboards working the harbour promenade and shopping streets.
Short-let listings taking deposits for properties unavailable or materially different on arrival.
Dynamic currency conversion at card terminals and independent cash machines at poor rates.
Counterfeit branded goods sold near the station and at market stalls as genuine.
Card machines operated out of sight in nightlife venues, with amounts charged that differ from the bill shown.
Drivers taking extended routes from the airport and applying surcharges outside applicable hours.
Contacts arranged online steering visitors to specific venues where an inflated bill is produced and departure obstructed.
