6 Tourist Scams in Seychelles

A charismatic man on Anse Volbert beach offers a full-day Curieuse Island trip for €100 per person — €50 less than licensed operators — and takes a €50 cash deposit; next morning no one shows up and the phone is dead.

You're relaxing on Anse Volbert beach in Praslin when a charismatic man approaches with photos on his phone showing beautiful boats, snorkeling at Curieuse Island, and giant tortoises. He introduces himself and offers a full-day island-hopping trip for €100 per person — significantly less than the €150–€200 most licensed operators charge. He asks for a cash deposit of €50 to 'secure your spot for tomorrow.' The next morning, nobody shows up. Your calls go unanswered.

TripAdvisor's Praslin Island forum has a dedicated thread titled 'Just a thank you to the person who posted about the JP scam' where travelers warned each other about a specific salesman in Anse Volbert who approached tourists on the beach to sell Curieuse Island trips, collected deposits, and then provided substandard service — arriving late with an undersized boat lacking proper safety equipment, being aggressive and rude.

A Facebook post from GoTravelYourWay went viral warning 'Beware: Taxi Scam in the Seychelles' with details about unlicensed operators targeting tourists. On La Digue, a similar scam involved someone charging $150 USD upfront for golf-cart transport to the beach, then demanding an additional $50 upon arrival. The pattern is identical across the three main islands.

The unlicensed-operator playbook combines a price below market rate, cash up front, and no paper trail. Even when the operator does show up, the boat is often dangerously undersized, uninsured, and lacking life jackets — meaning the financial scam is layered on top of a real safety risk. Curieuse Island legitimate trips run roughly €60–€80 per person through Mason's Travel, Creole Travel Services, and other registered operators.

The defensive move is to book excursions through your hotel, a licensed Seychelles Tourism Department operator with a physical office, or platforms like Viator and GetYourGuide with buyer protection. Verify the operator's Tourism Department registration before paying. Never pay full price upfront in cash — use a credit card or pay only a small deposit. Check TripAdvisor reviews for the specific operator by name. Police: 999. Tourism complaints: tourism.gov.sc.

A driver at Mahé Airport quotes 600 SCR to Beau Vallon — the official rate is 400 SCR — then adds 'luggage' and 'airport surcharge' fees mid-journey to push the total to 800 SCR ($60) for a 30-minute drive.

You land at Seychelles International Airport and head to the taxi area. A man approaches saying he can take you to Beau Vallon Beach for 600 Seychellois Rupees. It sounds reasonable until you learn the official taxi fare should be around 400 SCR. But you're tired from flying and agree. Mid-journey, the driver mentions additional charges for luggage and 'airport surcharge,' pushing the total to 800 SCR — roughly $60 USD for a 30-minute drive.

Facebook's GoTravelYourWay posted a viral warning about a 'Taxi Scam in the Seychelles' involving unlicensed operators approaching tourists at the airport and ferry terminals. Welcome Pickups' Mahé guide advises tourists to 'ensure your driver resets the taximeter to the base fare before beginning your journey' and warns that 'if a taxi driver isn't using a taxi meter, be sure to discuss the cost in advance.'

Seychelles taxis do not universally use meters — fares are largely unregulated and negotiated, which creates an environment ripe for overcharging. Short cab rides commonly cost $50–$60 USD according to traveler reports on TripAdvisor; a beach coconut at the same time can cost $8 USD in tourist areas. The combined effect makes Seychelles one of the most expensive Indian Ocean destinations.

The mid-journey-surcharge variant is the harder mechanic: an initial fare gets agreed at the curb, then 'luggage,' 'airport,' or 'night-rate' charges appear once you're committed and there's no way to abort the trip. By the time you arrive at the destination, you've effectively been ratcheted up 50–100% with no recourse.

The defensive move is to ask your hotel to arrange a fixed-price airport transfer before you arrive — most resorts offer this for 600–900 SCR. If taking a curb taxi, agree on the total fare including all bags and passengers in writing before getting in. Renting a car (€40–€50/day) is the most economical way to explore Mahé and Praslin. The SPTC public bus on Mahé runs main routes for just 7 SCR per ride. Police: 999.

You rent a car on Mahé, return it undamaged after 3 days, and fly home — two days later your card is charged $800 for a 'dent' that was already there at pickup. All Seychelles rental agencies are local franchises, making dispute resolution difficult.

You rent a car on Mahé from a small local agency. The car arrives with bald tires, a messy interior, and a few existing scratches. You drive it carefully for three days, return it, and head to the airport. Two days later, your credit card is charged $800 for 'damage' you supposedly caused — a dent or scratch that was already there when you picked it up. The agency has your credit card details from the deposit hold, and disputing the charge from home is a nightmare.

One Mile at a Time travel blog documented a bad rental car experience in Seychelles, noting the poor condition of vehicles provided. Car Hire Seychelles blog dedicated a full post to 'What You Need to Know About Insurance,' warning that CDW/LDW waivers include very high excess charges — up to $5,000 for cars and $7,500 for motorhomes.

CoverTrip's guide on fighting rental car damage scams notes that 'all of the rental agencies in Seychelles are franchises, not corporate owned,' making dispute resolution more difficult than with major international brands. There is no central corporate office to escalate to; each franchise sets its own dispute process.

The combination of high excess deposits, deliberately poor vehicle condition at handover, and local franchise ownership creates a perfect environment for inflated damage claims. Travel forums consistently advise taking extensive photos and video of every panel, tire, interior surface, and existing scratch at pickup and dropoff with timestamps — without that evidence, you have no way to prove pre-existing damage.

The defensive move is to take time-stamped photos and video of every panel, tire, and interior surface at both pickup and dropoff, and insist on a detailed written condition report at pickup with the agent's signature acknowledging all existing damage. Purchase independent rental-car excess insurance from RentalCover.com before your trip. Dispute any unexpected charges with your credit card company within 60 days using your photos as evidence. Police: 999. Tourism complaints: tourism.gov.sc.

An Airbnb host in Seychelles asks you to tell airport immigration you're staying at a different (registered) hotel — their property isn't licensed with the Tourism Department, and if discovered you face forced last-minute bookings at €200+/night or denial of entry.

You book what looks like a charming local guesthouse through Airbnb on Mahé at a great price. The host messages you before your trip and asks you to tell immigration at the airport that you'll be staying at a specific hotel instead of their property. When you ask why, they explain their accommodation isn't officially registered with the Seychelles Tourism Department. You think it's a minor bureaucratic issue and agree.

At Seychelles airport immigration, officers ask where you're staying and check accommodation records. If they discover the discrepancy, you could be required to book an expensive last-minute hotel room right at the immigration counter. The 'minor' framing the host used is the trick: you're being asked to make a false declaration to a sovereign immigration authority on the host's behalf.

One traveler documented on Fearless Female Travels receiving a message from an Airbnb host in Seychelles telling them they 'had to lie to immigration about where they would be staying.' The traveler reported that Airbnb sided with the host on the dispute. Seychelles immigration requires proof of accommodation for entry, and staying at unregistered properties can technically violate visa conditions.

The risk is real: if your accommodation is found to be unapproved, you may face questioning, forced last-minute hotel bookings at airport prices (€200+/night), or in extreme cases denial of entry and being sent home on the next flight. The financial 'savings' of an unregistered Airbnb evaporate the moment immigration flags the booking.

The defensive move is to only book accommodation registered with the Seychelles Tourism Department — ask for the registration number before booking, and refuse any host who asks you to make false immigration declarations. Book through platforms with buyer protection (Airbnb, Booking.com) and keep all communication on the platform for chargeback leverage. Print your booking confirmation to show immigration officers. Police: 999. Seychelles Tourism Department: tourism.gov.sc.

A Beau Vallon Beach vendor charges 100 SCR ($8) for a coconut that costs locals 15–20 SCR; painted shells run 300 SCR vs 50 SCR at Victoria Market. Beachfront markups run 100–300% for the same items.

You're at Beau Vallon Beach and stop at a vendor selling fresh coconuts. He cracks one open and hands it to you — 100 SCR, about $8 USD for a coconut that costs locals 15–20 SCR. You move on to the souvenir stalls where a painted coconut shell goes for 300 SCR and a simple shell necklace for 200 SCR. At the Victoria Market in town, the same shell necklace is 50 SCR.

The shopkeeper at Beau Vallon doubled the price for fruits when they saw you were a tourist — travelers report being charged 'double the usual price' simply for being foreign. The pricing isn't a mistake; it's a system. Local shoppers and tourists at the same stall in the same hour pay different rates, and the menu (when there is one) reflects the foreigner price.

Seychelles is an expensive destination by any measure, but the gap between tourist prices and local prices is significant. TripAdvisor's Seychelles forum thread 'Seychelles, the most disappointing island paradise!' features multiple travelers complaining about inflated prices. Inside Seychelles' money guide notes that 'in many hotels and restaurants you can pay in Euros but this costs more' — a hidden markup that effectively penalizes tourists who don't use the local Seychellois Rupee.

The Seyvillas shopping guide confirms Victoria Market is where locals shop and prices are fairer, while beach-front vendors near Beau Vallon and other tourist beaches charge premiums of 100–300% for the same items. The geographic split is straightforward: 5 km inland gets you fair pricing, 50 m onto the beach gets you double-to-triple.

The defensive move is to shop where locals shop — the Victoria Market for souvenirs and spices, STC or Deepam supermarkets for water and snacks, and small roadside stalls away from major beaches for fresh coconuts. Always pay in Seychellois Rupees rather than euros — paying in foreign currency costs more due to unfavorable conversion rates. Ask your hotel staff about fair prices for common items before heading to tourist beaches. Police: 999.

You set your bag on the sand at Beau Vallon while you swim — five minutes later it's gone with your phone, cash, and room key. Or at Victoria bus station someone bumps you from one side while an accomplice lifts your bag from the other.

You set your bag down on the sand at Beau Vallon Beach while you wade into the water for a quick swim. When you return five minutes later, your bag is gone — along with your phone, cash, and room key. A nearby sunbather says they saw someone casually pick it up and walk away. Alternatively, at the Victoria bus station, someone bumps into you from one side while an accomplice grabs your bag from the other.

Basic Planet's Seychelles safety guide notes that 'some scammers operate in groups where one member distracts tourists while others steal.' Anja on Adventure's 2026 Seychelles safety guide warns about petty theft at popular beach areas and transport hubs. While Seychelles has a relatively low crime rate, opportunity theft is the main risk for tourists.

The Victoria bus station and Mahé–Praslin ferry terminals are the most common locations for bag snatching because of crowds and the distraction of boarding. The bump-and-lift technique is two-person: one creates physical distraction, the other extracts the bag in 3–5 seconds. The mechanic exploits transit-window urgency where you don't want to lose your spot in line by chasing.

Beaches present a different risk pattern — valuables left unattended while swimming disappear quickly because the thief has 5–15 minutes of unmonitored access. The 'walking past casually' approach looks innocuous to nearby sunbathers because there's no struggle and no alarm. By the time you've toweled off, the thief is 200 m down the beach.

The defensive move is to never leave valuables unattended on the beach — use a waterproof phone pouch and carry your key card while swimming, and use a crossbody bag in crowded areas like the Victoria bus station and ferry terminals. Leave passport, extra cash, and non-essential electronics in your hotel safe. Travel with a companion who can watch your things while you swim, or ask your resort for a beach locker. Police: 999. Tourism complaints: tourism.gov.sc.