⚡ Quick Safety Tips
- Book Angkor Wat tours only through your hotel or licensed operators — tuk-tuk drivers who approach at the airport often overcharge and skip temples
- Buy your Angkor pass only at the official ticket office on Apsara Road — anyone selling tickets elsewhere is selling fakes
- At Pub Street restaurants, check prices before ordering — some menus show USD prices that are 2-3x the local price
- Be cautious of children selling souvenirs or postcards near temples — while sympathetic, buying encourages child labor and the money rarely reaches them
The 6 Scams
You're heading to Angkor Wat and someone flags down your tuk-tuk on the road, offering to sell you tickets before you reach the official gate — saving you the queue. The tickets look authentic and even have holograms. When you reach the actual entrance, the scanner rejects them and security explains they're sophisticated fakes. You've lost $37 per day and need to buy official tickets again.
Red Flags
- Ticket sellers approaching vehicles on the road before the official booth
- Someone at your guesthouse offers to 'organize' Angkor tickets for you
- Tickets sold at slightly below official price to seem like a bargain
How to Avoid
- Buy Angkor passes only at the official Angkor Enterprise ticketing center (well-signed)
- The official center is at the north of Siem Reap — go directly and don't stop for roadside vendors
- Angkor passes include a photo taken of you at the booth — that's the authentication
You settle in at one of the lively Pub Street bars for a few drinks. Locals and staff are extremely friendly, ordering rounds and keeping your glass full. When the bill comes, it's massive — you were charged for rounds you didn't order, at prices far above what's on the menu. The chaos and friendliness was cover for systematic overcharging.
Red Flags
- Staff orders extra drinks without explicitly asking your permission
- Running tab rather than pay-per-drink system
- Bill appears with unfamiliar items or quantities
How to Avoid
- Pay for each round as it's served rather than running a tab
- Check the menu prices and verify your bill line by line before paying
- Stick to well-reviewed bars on TripAdvisor with consistent pricing feedback
You exit a temple and immediately a child approaches selling postcards, bracelets, or scarves. Their pitch is practiced and heartbreaking — 'one dollar, only one dollar' — and they follow you persistently. Giving money feels compassionate, but it directly incentivizes families to keep children out of school to work as tourist beggars. The money often goes to adults who organize the operation.
Red Flags
- Children actively selling items at every temple exit
- Child knows exact phrases in many languages to target different tourists
- Large group of children working the same area in coordinated fashion
How to Avoid
- Do not buy from child vendors — however heartbreaking it feels, it funds school truancy
- If you want to help, donate to established organizations like Riverkids or Friends-International
- Buying from children perpetuates the cycle — walk past firmly but kindly
You hire a tuk-tuk driver for the full day Angkor temple circuit and he's cheerful and helpful all morning. After lunch, he suggests visiting a 'silk village' and a 'traditional floating village' that aren't on your plan. You go along to be polite, spend an hour at each, and realize at the end of the day you only saw half the temples you planned. Your driver collected commission at each stop.
Red Flags
- Driver suggests detours not on your agreed itinerary
- Each detour involves a shop, workshop, or village with goods for sale
- Driver is unusually enthusiastic about specific 'authentic' experiences
How to Avoid
- Give the driver a written list of the temples you want to visit and say that's the day's plan
- Be politely firm: 'Today is just temples, thanks — maybe tomorrow for the village'
- Book through your hotel for drivers with verified good reputations
You arrange a 4:30 AM tuk-tuk ride to watch sunrise at Angkor Wat. Your driver offers to take you to a 'secret' spot away from the crowds for a premium fee. You pay extra and he takes you to a random field with a partial view of the temple — barely visible and certainly not worth the money. The 'crowd-free' main sunrise viewing pool is free and the view is spectacular.
Red Flags
- Any driver offering 'exclusive' or 'hidden' sunrise spots for extra money
- Route goes away from the main temple complex rather than toward it
- Driver discourages the main pool: 'too many tourists, better view I know'
How to Avoid
- The reflection pool in front of Angkor Wat is the classic sunrise view — go directly there
- Arrive by 5:00 AM to get a good spot at the free viewing area
- Ignore offers of 'premium' sunrise experiences from anyone other than an established tour company
You arrive at Siem Reap airport and someone with a sign approaches offering a ride to your hotel at a fixed price. You assume it's your hotel's transfer. At the hotel, you realize the driver was an independent tout — no connection to your booking — and has charged you $20 when the hotel's free shuttle was waiting. Or you're dropped at a 'partner hotel' instead of your actual one.
Red Flags
- Driver holds your name on a sign but can't name your hotel accurately
- Driver is very eager to get you in the car before you confirm details
- Price much higher than Grab app rates
How to Avoid
- Pre-arrange airport pickup through your hotel directly
- Use the Grab app for transparent, metered pricing from the airport
- Confirm the driver's identity and your hotel name before getting into any vehicle
🆘 What to Do If You Get Scammed
📋 File a Police Report
Go to the nearest Cambodian Tourist Police station. Call 117 (Police) or 119 (Emergency). Get an official crime report — you'll need this for insurance claims. You can also report online at tourismcambodia.com.
💳 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 Phnom Penh is at #1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh. For emergencies: +855 23-728-000.
📱 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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