Kuala Lumpur

Scams in Malaysia

Snatch thefts in Malaysia

  5   0

How it works: Bike/moped: riding past with a pillion rider doing the snatch. Car/taxi/bus: smashing your window and grabbing your valuables at traffic lights/crowded traffic. Bar, restaurant: stealing unattended bags/valuables…

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Sob story scammers in Malaysia

  5   1

How it works: Example 1: at Georgetown, a German woman with a child claims to have her card stuck in an ATM and asks if you can give her some…

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Fake, used attraction tickets in Malaysia

  4   0

How it works: Outside tourist attractions, touts may offer you discounted tickets to the attraction. These are likely to be invalid (e.g. fake, used ticket, etc). Places to beware: Johor…

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Fake travel agents in Malaysia

  4   0

How it works: With the rise of digital media, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has found an increasing number of fake/unofficial travel agents in Malaysia. Places…

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Penang National Park boat scam in Malaysia

  4   0

How it works: Boat operators will tell you that the path to Monkey Beach is closed (it is not) to get you to take their expensive boat rides. Places to…

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Perhentian Island boat scams in Malaysia

  3   0

How it works: Version 1: You take a taxi from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Besut jetty. However, you are dropped off at travel agents a few minutes walk from the…

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Fake monks, nuns in Malaysia

  2   0

How it works: There are fake monks who solicit donations by offering a cheap amulet/small medallion in return for money. Places to beware: Kuala Lumpur: Jalan Alor, Bukit Bintang, Chinatown…

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Rental motorbike damage scam in Malaysia

  2   0

How it works: Version 1: someone from your rental shop “steals” your parked bike. Version 2: someone from your rental shop “damages” your parked bike. Places to beware: Langkawi Perhentian…

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Restaurant, food stall scams in Malaysia

  2   0

How it works: Situation: most food places are fine, it’s generally just a few bad eggs around touristy areas that spoil it for the rest. Nasi kandar stalls: prices are…

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Electronics shopping scams in Malaysia

  2   0

How it works: Version 1: a touts offer you a (fake) iPhone at a cheap price, claiming to have won it and have no use for it. He may also…

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