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South Africa
21 scams
With wild natural beauty, legendary safaris and colorful cultural fabric, South Africa is the perfect destination for an adventure of a lifetime!
Unfortunately however, despite being one of the most beautiful countries in the world, it also has one of the higher rates of violent crime. Thus, one has to be careful here.
Note: vast majority of trips are trouble free and there is no need to be paranoid. That said, it always pays to be aware, careful, and prepared.
Emergency numbers
- Police: 10111
- Ambulance: 10177
- Cell phone emergency (note: you will face an automated menu first): 112
Trusted travel resources
Drink spiking in South Africa
8 3How it works: South Africa has one of the highest reported cases of rape, and much of it is due to spiked drinks, with Rohypnol commonly used. Besides sexually assaults,…
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Taxi scams in South Africa
7 3How it works: Version 1: official taxis have meters but some may refuse to use it and charge you an inflated flat fare. Version 2: if the meter is used,…
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Snatch thefts in South Africa
6 2How it works: Two versions: strike and run; distract and grab. Possible scenarios: Street, mall, shop, park, transportation hub: distracting and snatching from you, then escaping via a getaway car or…
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Unofficial guides robbery in South Africa
5 0How it works: Unofficial guides at tourist attractions are a dime a dozen around the world. However, in South Africa, some of these you find at national parks are actually…
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Currency switcheroo in South Africa
3 1How it works: When you pay, the cashier drops the cash received and then switch it with a smaller value note while picking them up. They then claim that you…
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Car window washer scam in South Africa
2 0How it works: Situation: in 2015, 550 such scammers were caught in 6 months! Opening: at a junction/car park, a local springs out of nowhere and starts wiping your car’s…
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Corrupt traffic police in South Africa
2 1How it works: Corrupt traffic police officers will accuse you of a crime and demand you pay a bribe. One such hotspot is near Kruger on the Panorama route, as…
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Price quote scams in South Africa
2 0How it works: Version 1: at street markets where goods do not have price tags, inflated prices are quoted based on how rich a vendor thinks you are. Version 2:…
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Unlicensed taxis in South Africa
1 0How it works: You may encounter these smartly dressed unlicensed taxi touts at the airport who offer to drive you into town for a cheap price. If you are lucky,…
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Timeshare scam in South Africa
1 0How it works: An agent approaches and offers a free prize such as a resort stay. To redeem it however, you have to attend a 90 minutes timeshare presentation which…
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Unofficial parking attendants in South Africa
1 0How it works: At tourist attractions and busy spots, you may encounter unofficial parking attendants. They will ask for a fee in exchange for looking after your car. They don’t…
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Hotel thefts in South Africa
1 0How it works: Situation: Theft from hotel rooms, guesthouses cottages and safes is a concern here. Break into a hotel/resort room: Hacking (electronic locks can be hacked to create a…
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Luggage handler thefts in South Africa
1 1How it works: Some of the main airports here are known for luggage thefts. After you check your bags in, or wait to collect them, baggage handlers may go through…
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Unofficial luggage porters in South Africa
1 0How it works: An official looking staff grabs your bag and tries to show you the directions. Once they have “helped” you (i.e. moving it over a short distance), they…
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Pickpockets in South Africa
1 0How it works: Version 1: they work in a gang – one onlooker, one blocks, pushes, distracts, or engages you, one grabs and the final hides the loot under a…
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