AVOID these SCAMS in Turkey 2025. Watch before traveling!

Scams that Happen with Tourists in Turkey

Olga talks about the most popular scams that happen to tourists in Turkey, including taxi scams, scams at bars and restaurants, scams with tour guides, and the infamous shoe shiner scam. She also shares her personal opinion on whether Turkey is safe for travelers.

Taxi Scams

• The most popular scam everywhere in the world, including Turkey, is a taxi scam.

• When you arrive at the airport, never ever agree to the first taxi offered to you. There is always an official taxi, airport taxi. You will see the signs.

• In big cities in Turkey there is always a good public transport option. It's either a comfortable HAVABUS (airport transfer bus), public bus or tram.

• Never agree on a fixed price. Always ask to go by the meter. If the driver refuses then just get out and get yourself another taxi that will go by the meter.

Restaurant Scams

• With inflation, prices in restaurants are changing quite rapidly. A scam happened where people went to a restaurant in the Old City and were given menus; they ordered their meals and then received a bill tripled from what they were expecting.

Tour Guide Scams

• Olga did not mention any specific tour guide scams but warns viewers to be careful when choosing one.

Shoe Shiner Scam

• Olga did not provide any details about this scam but mentions it as one of the most popular ones.

Is Turkey Safe for Travelers?

Olga shares her personal opinion on whether Turkey is safe for travelers and provides tips on how to stay safe.

Turkey is Safe for Travelers

• Olga's personal opinion is that Turkey is quite safe for travelers. Just use common sense and you should be just as safe as in Europe or Asia.

• Taxi drivers in Antalya are quite reliable, so Olga has never been scammed there. However, she recommends not using taxis in a city center like Istanbul because the traffic is completely crazy.

• In big cities especially, public transport system is good. So you can always rely on metro, on ferries, on buses, and that's a good way to get around the city.

Tips for Staying Safe

• Olga did not provide any specific tips but advises viewers to use common sense when traveling and avoid situations that seem suspicious or too good to be true.

Tips to Avoid Scams in Turkey

In this video, the speaker shares tips on how to avoid scams in Turkey. The speaker covers three common scams: restaurant scam, bar scam, and shoe shiner scam.

Restaurant Scam

• Check prices before ordering.

• Don't agree to pay more than the menu price.

• Turkish restaurants usually don't scam tourists.

Bar Scam

• Tourists are targeted by friendly locals who offer to take them to a different place with better music or prettier girls.

• Tourists end up paying for their drinks, women's drinks, and friends' drinks.

• Turkish people usually go out in groups and don't approach strangers alone.

Shoe Shiner Scam

• An old man drops his brush in front of you and asks to shine your shoes.

• He asks for a lot of money (e.g., 100 euros).

• Ignore anyone who approaches you on the street.

Tour Guide Scam

• A friendly guide offers to show you around and takes you to places where he will ask for money.

• It becomes harder and harder to tell him that you want to explore on your own.

Overall, tourists should be cautious when approached by strangers offering help or friendship. They should also check prices before ordering food or drinks and avoid getting drunk.

Istanbul Scams

In this section, the speaker talks about a scam that she witnessed in Istanbul's tourist area between Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia. She advises travelers to be cautious when approached by strangers in crowded touristy areas.

Beware of Scammers

• The speaker warns against scammers who approach tourists in crowded touristy areas.

• She advises travelers to ignore people who try to sell them something or engage them in conversation.

• The speaker acknowledges that there are good people out there but recommends being cautious when approached by strangers in crowded touristy areas.

Positive Experiences

• The speaker shares a positive experience where a stranger helped her buy a transportation card and did not ask for his money back.

• She emphasizes that Turkey is a great country for travelers and encourages people not to let scams discourage them from traveling.

Final Thoughts

• The speaker concludes by saying that there are scams in every country, but it should not deter people from traveling.