6 Tourist Scams in Montevideo

You are walking along Peatonal Sarandí toward the Mercado del Puerto, checking directions on your phone. A motorcycle with two riders pulls alongside you. The passenger reaches out and grabs your phone from your hand while the driver accelerates away. It happens in seconds. In a more violent variation, they grab your bag strap and drag you a few steps before the strap breaks. Wallet-snatching incidents have occurred in broad daylight with other people around. The UK Government's Uruguay travel advisory specifically warns about motorcycle snatch thefts, noting that 'criminals using motorcycles often work in pairs.' The Canadian Government advisory confirms that 'petty crime such as pickpocketing and purse snatching occurs' and is more common in Montevideo. GlobeTrotterGirls published a first-person account titled 'She said, She said: Perspectives on an attempted robbery in Montevideo' documenting a snatch-theft attempt near the old town. The World Travel Index safety guide for Montevideo warns against walking close to roads, as motorcycle thieves target pedestrians walking near the curb.

You are walking through Ciudad Vieja when someone bumps into you and you discover a wet stain on your jacket — mustard, ketchup, or some unidentifiable liquid. An apologetic person appears with napkins and starts dabbing at your clothing. While you are distracted looking down at the stain and being cleaned up, an accomplice slips their hand into your bag or pocket. By the time you realize what happened, both the 'cleaner' and the pickpocket have disappeared into the crowd. WorldNomads.com's Uruguay safety guide lists the distraction spill as a documented technique used against tourists in Montevideo, warning travelers to be suspicious of any overly friendly locals who may be trying to distract them. The SkyTicket travel guide for Uruguay specifically warns about liquids intentionally spilled on clothing as a theft setup. TravelSafe-Abroad's Montevideo safety guide confirms that petty crime including distraction theft is the primary security concern for tourists in the city.

You take a taxi from Carrasco Airport to your hotel in Ciudad Vieja. All Montevideo taxis have meters, so you assume the price is fair. But the driver takes a route through suburban neighborhoods rather than the direct highway. The meter runs up to $66, but a recent traveler reported that Uber charges only $42 for the same trip. Some drivers also manipulate the meter by starting it before you get in or using a faster-ticking rate meant for nighttime during the daytime. TripAdvisor's Montevideo Forum discusses taxi versus Uber pricing, with a 2025 traveler reporting paying US$66 by taxi from the airport versus US$42 by Uber to Ciudad Vieja. GuruGuay.com's Montevideo transport guide confirms that while most taxi drivers are honest, not all are, and some will overcharge tourists by taking longer routes. WelcomePickups.com's Montevideo taxi guide warns travelers to check the meter is running from the start and to question any route that seems unnecessarily long.

You step up to an ATM on Avenida 18 de Julio. A helpful stranger notices you are confused by the Spanish instructions and offers to assist. While showing you how to use the machine, they watch you enter your PIN. Later, your card is 'retained' by the machine due to a device placed over the card slot. The stranger offers to help again, suggesting you enter your PIN one more time. You leave without your card, and the scammer retrieves it from the trap device and uses your PIN to withdraw your cash. The US State Department's Uruguay Travel Advisory warns that criminals specifically target ATMs and that visitors should be alert to unsolicited assistance. TravelSafe-Abroad's Montevideo safety guide warns about ATM-related crime, noting that criminals target early morning ATM users. The Canadian Government advisory confirms ATM targeting as a risk and recommends using machines inside banks during business hours. WorldNomads.com's Uruguay guide lists ATM distraction techniques as a documented scam method in Montevideo.

You have dinner at one of the restaurants in Mercado del Puerto and decide to walk back to your hotel in Ciudad Vieja. Once you leave the main streets, the old town becomes quiet and dark. On a poorly lit side street, two people approach and demand your phone, wallet, and watch. There is no running, no negotiation. Muggings in Ciudad Vieja after dark are a documented risk that even locals take seriously. TripAdvisor's Montevideo Forum includes a thread titled 'Crime situation' with visitors reporting that walking alone or in couples at night in Ciudad Vieja is 'an open invitation to muggers.' International Travel News published 'Montevideo cautions' specifically warning that side streets in Ciudad Vieja become dangerous after dark. The Uruguay 2020 Crime & Safety Report notes that the only sections of Ciudad Vieja continually patrolled by police are Plaza Independencia, Peatonal Sarandí, and around Mercado del Puerto — streets beyond these areas have limited police presence at night.

You sit down at one of the famous parrilla (grill) restaurants inside Mercado del Puerto. The waiter presents a menu with prices that seem reasonable, but then suggests the 'special plate' or 'tasting menu' without mentioning the price. The bill arrives with the special at three times what the regular menu items cost. Additionally, some vendors in the market charge tourist prices for souvenirs and produce that are available for much less at other markets in Montevideo like Feria de Tristán Narvaja. GuruGuay.com's Montevideo guide acknowledges that Mercado del Puerto is primarily a tourist destination with prices to match, recommending that visitors compare prices and expect to pay more than at neighborhood restaurants. TripAdvisor's Montevideo Forum discussions compare Mercado del Puerto prices unfavorably to restaurants in neighborhoods like Pocitos and the Rambla where locals eat. The World Travel Index Montevideo guide warns about price inflation at tourist-oriented venues in Ciudad Vieja.