Key Takeaways
- The #1 reported scam is the The Fake Wine Tour
- 1 of 5 scams are rated high risk
- Use app-based ride services (Uber, DiDi) instead of street taxis — avoid unmarked vehicles, especially at night
- Never accept unsolicited offers from strangers near tourist sites in Mendoza
⚡ 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
A flyer promises a 'premium wine tour' visiting 4 vineyards in Luján de Cuyo with a gourmet lunch for $40.
Sounds amazing in wine country. The tour visits 1 real vineyard and 3 commercial wine shops where the guide gets commission. 'Lunch' is a sandwich on the bus. The legitimate premium tours cost $80-150 and actually visit real Malbec vineyards with proper tastings.
Red Flags
- Price well below the $80-150 range for legitimate premium tours
- Itinerary lists generic 'vineyards' without naming specific bodegas
- Meeting point is a random parking lot, not a tour office
- Cash-only payment
How to Avoid
- Book directly with vineyards (Catena Zapata, Zuccardi, Achaval-Ferrer all accept direct bookings)
- Or use established operators like Trout & Wine, Ampora Wine Tours
- A real wine tour names the specific bodegas you'll visit
- Expect to pay $80-150 for a full-day tour with 3-4 vineyard visits and lunch
Argentina has an official exchange rate and a 'blue dollar' parallel market rate that's significantly better.
Street money changers offer the blue rate, but some slip in counterfeit bills, use slight-of-hand to short-change you, or stuff the inside of your wad with lower denominations. Exchanging $200 could net you counterfeit bills worth nothing.
Red Flags
- Exchange happens on the street or in an unmarked doorway
- Money counter fans bills too quickly for you to check
- Rate offered is suspiciously better than the blue rate itself
- Insistence on exchanging large amounts
How to Avoid
- Use Western Union to send yourself money at the blue rate — it's legal and safe
- Exchange small amounts and check every bill against a counterfeit guide
- Use the Wise/Revolut debit cards which offer close-to-blue-rate
- If using street changers, only use those on Calle Florida in Buenos Aires with long track records
You are sitting at a sidewalk cafe on Avenida San Martin enjoying a glass of Malbec.
A person approaches your table with a large pamphlet or map, spreading it across the table surface while asking you a question in rapid Spanish. While you are processing the conversation, the pamphlet covers your phone and wallet on the table. When the person leaves, your valuables leave with them under the pamphlet. This distraction technique is the most commonly reported theft method in Mendoza, targeting tourists at outdoor restaurants and cafes. Travel forums and the US Embassy advise against leaving any items on outdoor tables.
Red Flags
- A stranger approaches your outdoor table with papers, pamphlets, or a large map
- They spread items across the table surface, covering your belongings
- The interaction feels rushed and confusing, often in rapid Spanish
- A second person may be positioned nearby as a lookout
- Your valuables are resting on the table surface rather than in your lap or pocket
How to Avoid
- Never leave your phone, wallet, or keys on an outdoor restaurant table
- Keep your bag on your lap or looped around your chair leg
- If someone approaches with papers, immediately secure your valuables
- Sit at indoor tables or with your back to the wall when possible
- Be especially vigilant during the evening aperitivo hours when cafes are busiest
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Get Free Itinerary →You buy a bottle of Malbec from a shop near Plaza Independencia as a gift.
The label looks right, the price seems fair, but when you open it back home, the wine tastes nothing like what you sampled in Mendoza. Some unscrupulous shops near tourist areas refill branded bottles with lower-quality bulk wine and reseal them. The counterfeit wine industry in Argentina is an acknowledged problem, with some estimates suggesting up to ten percent of wine sold in tourist shops is not what the label claims. The shops target tourists who will not open the bottle until they are back in their home country.
Red Flags
- Wine prices are significantly lower than at the bodega itself or at Vinoteca shops
- Bottle seal looks slightly different from others of the same brand
- Shop is located in a prime tourist area with aggressive sidewalk touts
- No proper receipt with business tax details (CUIT number) is provided
- The shop discourages you from buying at the bodegas directly
How to Avoid
- Buy wine directly from the bodega gift shop during your winery tour
- Purchase from reputable wine shops like Vinoteca Centro or established chains
- Check that the bottle seal is intact and matches other bottles of the same brand
- Ask your hotel or tour guide for a recommended wine shop
- For shipping wine home, use a specialized wine shipping service rather than carrying bottles
You are sitting at an outdoor cafe on Aristides Villanueva scrolling through your phone when ...
You are sitting at an outdoor cafe on Aristides Villanueva scrolling through your phone when someone grabs it and sprints away. Phone snatching is widespread in Argentine cities, and a Reddit user estimated that using a phone in public places carries about a fifty percent chance of being robbed. Another Reddit user described a ring of pickpockets in a Mendoza club specifically targeting foreign visitors. The technique is simple — the thief watches for someone distracted by their screen, approaches from behind, and grabs the device in one fluid motion.
Red Flags
- You are using your phone at an outdoor table with your attention on the screen
- Someone is lingering nearby watching your table without ordering anything
- A person approaches your table quickly from a blind angle
- You are in a busy area with easy escape routes like alleyways or motorbike access
- It is after dark in a busy nightlife district where crowds provide cover
How to Avoid
- Do not use your phone at outdoor tables in Mendoza — step inside if you need to check it
- If you must use your phone outdoors, grip it firmly with both hands and face a wall
- Use a phone lanyard or wrist strap in crowded areas
- Leave your primary phone in the hotel safe and carry a cheap backup for navigation
- Sit at indoor tables or with your back to a wall at outdoor restaurants
🆘 What to Do If You Get Scammed
📋 File a Police Report
Go to the nearest Policía Federal Argentina station. Call 911 (Police) or 107 (Medical Emergency). Get an official crime report — you'll need this for insurance claims. You can also report online at fiscales.gob.ar.
💳 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 Buenos Aires is at Avenida Colombia 4300, C1425GMN Buenos Aires. For emergencies: +54 11-5777-4533.
📱 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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