Key Takeaways
- The #1 reported scam is the The Positano Parking Hustle
- Most scams in Amalfi Coast are low-to-medium risk
- Use app-based ride services (Uber, Bolt) or official metered taxis instead of unmarked vehicles
- Never accept unsolicited offers from strangers near tourist sites in Amalfi Coast
⚡ Quick Safety Tips
- Keep phones and valuables in secure pockets when in crowded areas
- Use only licensed taxis or app-based ride services
- Book tours and tickets through verified operators with online reviews
- Keep a copy of your passport separate from the original
Jump to a Scam
The 5 Scams
You drive to Positano and a guy in a reflective vest waves you into a 'parking spot' on the side of the road.
He charges €40 for 4 hours. Official street parking is €3/hour. His 'spot' may not even be legal — and you could return to find a real parking ticket on your windshield on top of what you already paid.
Red Flags
- Person waving you into a spot isn't at an official parking facility
- Reflective vest but no uniform or ID
- Cash only, no receipt or ticket machine
- Price much higher than posted street parking rates
How to Avoid
- Use official parking garages in Positano (book in advance in summer)
- Street parking machines issue printed tickets — only pay at those
- Take the SITA bus from Sorrento instead of driving
- Better yet, take the ferry from Salerno or Amalfi to avoid driving entirely
You sit down at a stunning cliffside restaurant in Ravello.
The menu prices look steep but acceptable. After eating, the bill includes a €5 per person 'coperto' (cover charge), a €3 per person 'servizio' (service charge), a €15 'view supplement,' and the '€2 bread and water' you didn't order. A €30 lunch becomes €65.
Red Flags
- No prices for bread, water, or cover charges listed on the menu
- Waiter brings bread and water without asking
- Bill includes line items you didn't see on the menu
- A mandatory minimum order per person is listed in tiny print at the bottom of the menu or on a sign by the entrance
How to Avoid
- Always ask about coperto, servizio, and any supplements before ordering
- Say 'acqua del rubinetto' for free tap water
- Decline bread if you don't want to pay for it
- Check Google reviews for complaints about hidden charges before choosing a restaurant
A man on Amalfi harbor offers private boat tours along the coast for €150 — half the going rate.
You pay cash, board a small boat, and spend 2 hours instead of the promised 4. The 'Blue Grotto stop' is actually just circling the entrance because he doesn't have the permit to enter. He drops you at Positano instead of returning to Amalfi, saying 'schedule changed.'
Red Flags
- Price significantly below the standard €250-400 for private coast tours
- Cash only, no invoice or company name
- Boat has no visible registration or company branding
- Tour details are vague and verbal only
How to Avoid
- Book through established operators listed on the official Amalfi Coast tourism site
- Expect to pay €250-400 for a legitimate 4-6 hour private boat tour
- Confirm in writing: duration, stops, return point, and what's included
- Viator and GetYourGuide offer verified operators with cancellation protection
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Get Free Itinerary →A friendly shop attendant on the Positano main street waves you inside for a free limoncello ...
A friendly shop attendant on the Positano main street waves you inside for a free limoncello tasting at their 'family factory.' You sample three varieties and chat about the production process. The atmosphere is warm and the pressure is gentle until you try to leave without buying. Suddenly the mood shifts. The owner blocks the narrow doorway and insists a bottle is only 35 to 40 euros, calling it a special price. Outside the tourist zone, the same quality limoncello sells for 8 to 15 euros at any supermarket. TripAdvisor's Amalfi Coast forum has dozens of threads warning about this exact pattern, with names of specific shops flagged by multiple visitors.
Red Flags
- A shopkeeper actively beckons you inside rather than letting you browse on your own
- The 'tasting' is described as free but there is social pressure to buy afterwards
- Bottles are priced at 30 to 40 euros or more when supermarket prices are 8 to 15 euros for comparable quality
- The shop is on the main tourist pedestrian strip rather than a residential street
- Staff become noticeably less friendly when you try to leave without purchasing
How to Avoid
- Buy limoncello at a regular supermarket or a shop away from the main tourist streets where prices are 8 to 15 euros per bottle
- If you want to taste before buying, visit a licensed distillery tour rather than a street shop offering free samples
- Set a spending limit before entering any tasting shop and stick to it regardless of pressure
- Politely but firmly say 'no grazie' and walk out if prices seem inflated; you are under no obligation to buy after tasting
- Ask locals at your hotel for recommendations on where to buy good limoncello at fair prices
You are halfway along the Path of the Gods trail with the sun blazing overhead when you spot a ...
You are halfway along the Path of the Gods trail with the sun blazing overhead when you spot a vendor selling water bottles. You ask the price and hear 6 euros for a 500ml bottle. At the trailhead, the same bottle was 1 euro. At popular viewpoint stops along the Amalfi Drive, small kiosks charge 4 to 8 euros for water and 6 to 10 euros for a basic panino. While this is technically not a scam in the legal sense, travellers on Reddit's r/travel consistently flag it as a tourist trap that catches hikers unprepared. The markup is driven by location monopoly rather than transport costs.
Red Flags
- The vendor is the only option at a remote viewpoint or midway along a trail
- Prices are not displayed and are quoted only when you ask, leaving room for per-person inflation
- Water costs 4 to 8 euros when it is 50 cents to 1 euro at any town shop
- The vendor targets visibly tired and thirsty hikers who feel they have no alternative
- Prices vary depending on how tourist-heavy the crowd looks at that moment
How to Avoid
- Carry at least 2 litres of water per person when hiking the Path of the Gods or any Amalfi Coast trail
- Buy snacks and water from a supermarket in Amalfi, Positano, or Bomerano before starting your hike
- Bring a refillable water bottle and fill it at public fountains in towns along the coast
- If you must buy at a viewpoint kiosk, ask the price before the vendor pours or opens anything
- Check Google Maps offline for nearby restaurants or shops before paying inflated trailside prices
🆘 What to Do If You Get Scammed
📋 File a Police Report
Go to the nearest Carabinieri / Polizia di Stato station. Call 112 (Carabinieri) or 113 (Polizia). Get an official crime report — you'll need this for insurance claims. You can also report online at poliziadistato.it.
💳 Cancel Your Cards
Call your bank immediately. Most have 24/7 numbers on the back of the card (keep a photo saved separately). Block any suspicious transactions before the thieves use your details.
🛂 Lost Passport?
Contact your nearest embassy or consulate. The US Embassy in Rome is at Via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187 Rome. For emergencies: +39 06-4674-1.
📱 Track Your Device
If your phone was stolen, use Find My (iPhone) or Find My Device (Android) from another device. Don't confront thieves yourself — share the location with police instead.
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