Destinations › Maldives › Malé › Scams
Malé, Maldives
12 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Malé, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.
Reader overlays on standalone cash machines in the capital, and cards taken out of sight to be processed at guesthouse and shop counters.
Guesthouse and resort bookings relocated or downgraded on arrival, where leaving is not practical because the island is the destination.
Resort packages sold through third-party sites excluding the seaplane or speedboat transfer, which can run to several hundred dollars per person and cannot be arranged independently.
Guesthouse staff and drivers steering visitors to excursion desks and shops that pay them per booking, presented as a recommendation rather than a paid referral.
Men presenting as officials asking to inspect documents or currency and levying an immediate cash payment for an invented infraction.
Ferry and excursion tickets sold for services that do not run on the day, with no refund.
Transfer arrangements offered at Velana arrivals by people not connected to any resort; genuine transfers are booked in advance.
Undisclosed service charges and per-person minimums added to bills on the local islands.
Dollar prices converted to rufiyaa at a rate well below the bank rate when giving change.
Excursion and diving trips sold at the guesthouse that are run without the claimed certification or equipment standard.
Collectors with laminated documentation and a donation book working the ferry terminal and the market area.
Unofficial guides at the Malé sights charging for commentary that is freely available.
