Menu
South Africa
21 scams
With wild natural beauty, legendary safaris and colorful cultural fabric, South Africais the perfect destination for an adventure of a lifetime!
Unfortunately however, one of the most beautiful countries in the world is also one of the most violent, and one has to be careful here.
Emergency numbers
- Police: 10111
- Ambulance: 10177
- Cell phone emergency (note: you will face an automated menu first): 112
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,…
Read more…
Drink spiking in South Africa
7 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,…
Read more…
Snatch thefts in South Africa
6 1How 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…
Read more…
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…
Read more…
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…
Read more…
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…
Read more…
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:…
Read more…
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…
Read more…
Fake police in South Africa
1 0How it works: Version 1: scammers posing as fake police stop you on the streets and ask for your visa and passport. They then hold them hostage while accusing you…
Read more…
Fake beggars, sob story scammers in South Africa
1 0How it works: Version 1: a local holding a bike helmet looking very upset approaches you and claims that his bike has ran out of gas and he does not…
Read more…