Destinations › Malaysia › Kuala Lumpur › Scams
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
13 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Kuala Lumpur, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.
"Macau scam": callers impersonate banks or officials, sometimes over video call with fake uniforms and official-looking backdrops, to pressure victims into transferring money or revealing personal details.
Pairs on motorcycles grab bags from pedestrians at speed — holding on risks being dragged, so let go rather than resist.
ATM skimming devices installed on machines outside secure premises — use ATMs inside banks or malls where possible.
Small shops heavily advertising discounts sell fake, modified, or hacked electronics.
Buffet-style restaurants with no visible price tags on side dishes (notably in the Little India area) charge foreign tourists double the local price.
Unofficial "guides" or shop touts near tourist sites redirect travelers to commission-paying jewelry or textile shops.
Drivers quote a fixed fare higher than the meter would show, or deliberately take a longer route to rack up the fare.
Vendors shortchanging cash transactions with large ringgit notes.
Market vendors selling counterfeit branded goods at inflated tourist prices.
Strangers at the airport, on the street, or in malls sell SIM cards at inflated prices or with far less data than promised.
Children selling flowers or trinkets are often part of an organized begging ring that takes the money from them.
A stranger tells a sad personal story on the street and asks for money.
Pickpocketing in crowded spots like Jalan Alor Food Street, Chinatown, and shopping malls.
