6 Tourist Scams in Suva

You're browsing the stalls near Suva Municipal Market when a friendly local approaches with a ...

You're browsing the stalls near Suva Municipal Market when a friendly local approaches with a wooden sword and asks your name. Before you can object, he's already carving it into the handle. The sword costs about FJ$2 to make, but once your name is etched in, he demands FJ$50 and gets aggressive if you refuse. As travelers on r/travel warn, these carvers work the busy streets of both Suva and Nadi and rely on you feeling obligated once the personalization is done. Walk away immediately if someone asks your name while holding a piece of wood.

Your taxi driver in Suva is incredibly warm and chatty, asking about your trip and telling you about Fijian culture.

At some point, he invites you to dinner at his family's home for a 'real Fijian experience.' You arrive to a lovely meal, meet his wife and kids, and feel genuinely welcome. But when he drives you back to your hotel, a hefty bill appears — sometimes hundreds of Fijian dollars for the food and transport. As r/fiji users note, this is a well-practiced routine where the hospitality is calculated, and the bill is non-negotiable. The driver may become threatening if you refuse to pay.

You're walking along Victoria Parade when someone bumps into you or spills something on your shirt.

They apologize profusely and start helping you clean up. While you're distracted, an accomplice lifts your wallet or phone from your pocket or bag. Redditors on r/solotravel describe this exact scenario happening near the Suva Municipal Market, with losses averaging FJ$100-200 in cash and cards. The bird droppings variant is also common — a white substance gets thrown on your shoulder, and a 'helpful' stranger offers to clean it off while their partner picks your pockets.

You flag down a taxi in central Suva and the driver seems friendly enough.

He starts the meter, but it's ticking faster than it should — or he claims it's broken and quotes you FJ$20 for a ride that should cost FJ$5. As r/fiji regulars explain, some drivers tamper with meters or take deliberately long routes. A standard 10-minute ride from your hotel to the market should run about FJ$5-7, but scam drivers regularly bill FJ$15-20. Some will also demand a hefty tip for pointing out local landmarks along the way, even though tipping is not customary in Fiji.

You're out in downtown Suva when two friendly locals strike up a conversation and invite you for ...

You're out in downtown Suva when two friendly locals strike up a conversation and invite you for drinks at a bar they know. The place looks normal enough, and the first round is cheap. But after a couple of shots, the bill arrives and it's five to ten times what it should be. When you protest, a bouncer materializes and makes it clear you're paying. As r/travel users describe, if you refuse, you'll be escorted to a nearby ATM to withdraw cash. The friendly locals who invited you are partners with the bar and quietly disappear after chipping in a token amount.

You are walking along Victoria Parade when a well-spoken British man approaches you with a compelling story —

his wallet was stolen, he needs money for a hotel, or he is collecting for a local charity. He is convincing because he does not fit the profile of a typical scammer: he is white, speaks perfect English, and seems genuinely distressed. Reddit users on r/Fijian posted a specific warning: 'There is a British man, believed to be named Bobby Mason, originally from Liverpool, who is reportedly approaching tourists and soliciting money under false pretenses.' The post warned travelers across Fiji about this individual, who has operated this scam for an extended period.