Destinations › Turkey › Istanbul › Scams
Istanbul, Turkey
13 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Istanbul, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.
Gold switch scam: a jeweler shows a genuine-looking gold item, then swaps it for a fake or lower-purity piece during wrapping or payment.
Currency switch: a shop lets you pick out an item at a reasonable price, then runs the card machine in euros instead of lira, multiplying the real cost.
Taxis from the airport or hotels quote a flat fare instead of using the meter, or claim not to have change to pressure a bigger tip.
A "policeman" suddenly approaches and asks to inspect a wallet and passport, then pockets cash — real Turkish police won't do this on the street.
Bars near Istiklal Street/Taksim add unlisted "service" and drink charges well above menu prices, sometimes with a heavy-handed payment demand.
Bar/drink scam: a friendly stranger invites a solo tourist for "one drink," and the bill that arrives is thousands of dollars — the single most dangerous scam reported in the city.
A local strikes up a friendly or romantic connection with a solo traveler (in person or via an app), which develops into pressure for gifts, loans, or money over the following days.
Change scam: paying cash in lira and deliberately receiving the wrong (lower) amount of change back.
Drivers take a deliberately long route to inflate a metered fare.
"Bump and apologize" pickpocketing in crowded streets and public transport — a stranger bumps into you and apologizes while an accomplice lifts a wallet or phone.
Shoe-shine "dropped brush" approach — a shiner "accidentally" drops his brush ahead of you, insists on a free shine once you return it, then demands 10–20x the normal price.
Unofficial sellers near Hagia Sophia/Blue Mosque offering "skip the line" guided tours at inflated prices.
Grand Bazaar carpet and leather shops use high-pressure sales tactics and inflated "discount" pricing.
