7 Tourist Scams in Curacao

A couple arriving at Hato Airport picked up their reserved car from Budget Curacao. The agent rushed them through paperwork and had them sign a liability form before even showing them the vehicle. When the car was finally presented, it had nine pre-existing scratches and dents that the agent reluctantly noted on the inspection sheet. Three days later, upon return, a different employee spent twenty minutes circling the car with a flashlight and found a small surface-level scratch near the rear bumper. The couple was charged $450 for 'repair' despite believing the mark was already there at pickup. A separate TripAdvisor thread titled 'Anyone else experience this expensive Curacao scam?' documents a pattern at Budget where additional deposits of $1,000 were processed as sales charges instead of refundable holds. National Car Rental Curacao was also flagged on TripAdvisor for similar practices involving phantom damage claims. Because Curacao's roads are riddled with potholes, rental companies know tire damage and undercarriage scratches are virtually guaranteed, and some exploit this to charge tourists for wear that would have occurred on any trip.

A solo traveler exiting Hato Airport was approached by a man in plain clothes who offered a ride to his hotel in Pietermaai for $15, well below the usual rate. Relieved at the deal, he got in. Halfway there, the driver announced the price was actually $15 per person and added a $10 'luggage fee.' At the hotel, the bill was $35 for a trip that should have cost $25-30 in an official taxi. When the traveler protested, the driver became aggressive and refused to leave until paid. Official taxis in Curacao are identifiable by their 'TX' license plates and display government-set fare cards. However, unlicensed operators frequently target tourists outside the airport and cruise terminal, quoting low initial prices that balloon with hidden surcharges. The Curacao Tourist Board recommends using only licensed taxis or pre-arranged hotel shuttles. Apps and hotel pickup services have become more popular as a result of these incidents, and official rates from Hato to central Willemstad are posted at $25-35 in 2026.

A couple shopping in Punda paid for a $30 souvenir with a $50 bill. The shopkeeper handed back $10 in change, insisting the item cost $40. When they pointed to the price tag, the shopkeeper claimed taxes were extra. At a restaurant in Otrobanda, another traveler paid in US dollars and received change in Netherlands Antillean guilders at an unfavorable rate, effectively losing $8 on a $45 meal. Curacao accepts both US dollars and Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG), and this dual-currency system creates confusion that some vendors exploit. The official exchange rate is approximately 1.78 ANG per USD, but unscrupulous merchants may use rates as low as 1.5 or simply give incorrect change hoping tourists won't do the math. Some shops quote prices without specifying currency, then charge in whichever denomination benefits them more. The Curacao Tourist Board has noted these incidents and increased enforcement patrols, particularly around the cruise port area.

A family settling into a spot at Mambo Beach was approached by a vendor who immediately set up two beach chairs and an umbrella without being asked. The vendor was friendly and chatty, asking about their vacation plans. After an hour, the vendor returned and announced the charge was $25 per chair and $30 for the umbrella, totaling $80 for what many tourists assumed was a complimentary hotel service. When they tried to decline, the vendor insisted the chairs were already 'used' and payment was required. At Jan Thiel Beach, a similar pattern involves vendors who place items near tourists and then claim them as rentals. The Curacao Tourist Board noted these incidents dropped 15% in 2025 due to increased beach patrols, but they remain common at popular beaches. Some vendors also sell drinks at inflated prices, charging $8-10 for water bottles that cost $1 at nearby shops. The key is that unsolicited setup is the setup for the overcharge.

A traveler walking along the Handelskade waterfront felt something wet land on his shoulder. A woman appeared instantly, pointing at the stain and offering napkins to help clean it. As she dabbed at his shoulder, her accomplice slipped a hand into his jacket pocket and removed his wallet and phone. He didn't realize anything was missing until ten minutes later. The 'substance' was mustard — cheap and easily wiped away. This scam has been documented across Curacao's tourist areas, with variants using bird droppings (often fake), salsa, or other liquids. The Curacao safety guides specifically warn about this as one of the island's most common street crimes. The perpetrators work in teams of two or three: one creates the distraction, one performs the theft, and sometimes a third acts as a lookout. The target is typically someone walking alone with visible valuables like a phone in a back pocket or a bag slung over one shoulder.

A traveler's card got stuck in a standalone ATM on a side street in Punda. A 'helpful' man appeared immediately and offered assistance, suggesting she enter her PIN again while he watched. He even placed his hand near the keypad to 'guide' her. The card eventually came out and she thought nothing of it. Three days later, $1,200 in unauthorized withdrawals appeared on her account from ATMs across the island. The scam works through card skimming devices installed on standalone ATMs, often in combination with a shoulder-surfer who memorizes the PIN. Some ATMs also offer 'Dynamic Currency Conversion,' charging in USD instead of ANG, which triggers a 7-10% markup that benefits the ATM operator. Travel safety guides for Curacao specifically warn against using standalone ATMs outside of bank branches. The FBI has recently warned about organized groups from South America targeting ATMs across the Caribbean with sophisticated skimming equipment.

A tourist browsing the market area near Back Street in Willemstad was offered designer sunglasses for $40, supposedly 'genuine imports from Venezuela.' The lenses were plastic and the brand logos were slightly off. At the Floating Market, another visitor purchased what was described as 'authentic Blue Curacao liqueur' in an artisan bottle for $35, only to discover back at their hotel that it was colored sugar water in a decorative bottle. Dutch Caribbean Legal Portal documented a police operation where counterfeit brand articles were confiscated from vendors with legitimate 'tourist article' licenses on Back Street in Willemstad. Nine sellers, including seven Haitian nationals and two Curacaoans, were found selling knockoff designer goods supplied by a wholesale distributor on the same street. The counterfeit items ranged from watches and handbags to electronics and perfumes, all marketed as genuine at prices that seemed like incredible deals.