⚡ Quick Safety Tips
- Use InDriver or Uber for all transportation — avoid street taxis entirely, which have no accountability
- In Miraflores and Barranco (safe zones), phone snatches still happen — keep devices pocketed while walking
- Only exchange currency at banks or official exchange houses (casas de cambio) — never on the street
- Book Machu Picchu and Inca Trail tickets only through the official government portal or your hotel
The 6 Scams
You hail an unofficial taxi outside the airport or your hotel and get in. Shortly after, a second person gets in the car — sometimes claiming to be another passenger. Suddenly you realize you're being driven somewhere you don't recognize, and the 'passengers' demand you hand over your phone, wallet, and your bank card PIN. They drive you to an ATM and force you to withdraw cash. These express kidnappings typically last 2-3 hours.
Red Flags
- Unofficial taxi with no markings or meter
- Driver picks up 'another passenger' mid-route
- Route doesn't match Google Maps
- Car doors locked from inside
How to Avoid
- Book taxis through your hotel or use InDriver/Uber
- Never get into an unmarked vehicle
- If in a bad situation, stay calm — express kidnappings in Lima are usually 'safe' as long as you comply and don't resist
You book a Machu Picchu or Sacred Valley tour through a budget agency on the main Miraflores strip. They show you glossy photos and promise everything is included — train, bus, entry ticket. Days later in Cusco, you discover the train ticket was for a different time, the entry to Machu Picchu wasn't actually included, or the tour simply doesn't exist. You're out hundreds of dollars with no recourse.
Red Flags
- Price is significantly lower than any other operator
- Agency can't show you actual booking confirmations
- Booking is verbal with minimal paperwork
- Lots of laminated certificates that look like they were printed at home
How to Avoid
- Book Machu Picchu only through the official site tuboleto.cultura.pe
- Use well-reviewed operators on TripAdvisor or verified by your hotel
- Get every inclusion in writing with a receipt
You stop to buy something at a market stall or eat at a small restaurant without checking the menu. The vendor names a price only after you've already committed, and it's 5-10x what locals pay. When you push back, they get hostile or cause a scene. This 'gringo pricing' is especially common in tourist markets but also happens at unlicensed restaurants near Larco Mar.
Red Flags
- Price is never stated before you sit down or commit to a purchase
- Restaurant has no visible menu with prices
- Vendor names price only after item is in your hands
How to Avoid
- Always confirm prices before committing
- Eat at restaurants with menus and listed prices
- Learn basic price phrases in Spanish
Someone 'accidentally' squirts something on your shirt — mustard, bird poop, or colored water. An immediately helpful stranger produces tissues and starts cleaning you off. Meanwhile, their partner has unzipped your bag or picked your pocket. By the time you realize what happened, your camera or wallet is gone.
Red Flags
- Sudden liquid or substance appears on your clothing
- A stranger immediately appears offering to help clean it
- You feel unnecessarily crowded
How to Avoid
- If something hits you, step away from all strangers immediately and check your belongings first
- Keep your bag in front of you in crowded areas
- Decline all unsolicited 'help'
Two men — one in plain clothes, one in what looks like a police uniform — stop you and say there's been a drug incident nearby and they need to verify your money isn't counterfeit. One takes your wallet to 'inspect the bills' and returns it, but not before swapping large bills for smaller denominations or memorizing your card numbers.
Red Flags
- Police stop you without a specific stated reason
- They want to handle your wallet or cash directly
- One officer is in plain clothes with a questionable badge
How to Avoid
- Real Peruvian police don't conduct 'money inspections' on the street
- Offer to walk to the nearest police station instead — they will refuse
- Ask to see a badge and official ID number (real officers won't object)
You're struggling with a Spanish-language ATM and a friendly bystander offers to help. They press some buttons 'to help you navigate the menu' — but while they're guiding you through, they're actually watching your PIN. Sometimes there's an actual device on the machine, other times they rely purely on observation. A few hours later your account is cleaned out.
Red Flags
- Stranger approaches while you're at an ATM
- Someone standing unusually close while you use an ATM
- Helpful 'assistance' that requires them to touch the keypad
How to Avoid
- Always shield your PIN with your body and hand
- If someone approaches at an ATM, cancel your transaction and find another machine
- Use ATMs inside bank branches only
🆘 What to Do If You Get Scammed
📋 File a Police Report
Go to the nearest Peruvian National Police (PNP) station. Call 105. Get an official crime report — you'll need this for insurance claims. You can also report online at pnp.gob.pe.
💳 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 is at Av. La Encalada Cdra. 17 s/n, Surco, Lima. For emergencies: +51 1-618-2000.
📱 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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