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Croatia
12 scams
From the sparkling Adriatic Sea to the towering Dinaric Alps, Croatia is home to a range of amazing landscapes in the stunning Balkan Peninsula.
The country is also very safe to visit, though there are some common “European” tourist targeted scams to watch out for.
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
- European emergency number: 112
- Police: 192
- Ambulance: 194
- Fire: 193
Travel resources
Would you like a drink bar scam in Croatia
5 0How it works: Version 1: a young female on the streets asks if you want to get a drink together at a bar nearby. She then spends the evening drinking…
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Rosemary gift scam in Croatia
4 0How it works: Opening: an old, female gypsy offers you a sprig of rosemary, seemingly for free. She claims that this is a token of friendship or something that will…
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Car ferry window washing scam in Croatia
4 1How it works: While waiting in line to board a car ferry between Split and Stari Grad, unofficial car window washers may spray cleaning chemicals onto your car windscreen. They…
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Pickpockets in Croatia
2 1How it works: They work in a gang – one onlooker, one blocks, pushes, distracts, or engages you, one grabs and the final hides the loot under a cover (e.g….
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Vacation apartment scams in Croatia
1 0How it works: Version 1: fake listings on legitimate sites as well as fake sites. Version 2: apartments exist but are not as what was reflected in the photos. This…
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ATM skimming in Croatia
1 0How it works: Situation: the vast majority of tourists would probably not fall for this but on the off-chance that you do, you need to know how to spot the…
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Snatch thefts in Croatia
1 0How it works: Two versions: strike and run; distract and grab. Possible scenarios: Beach: stealing unattended valuables while you are in the water, or one distracts and another steals. Train/bus:…
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Tour operator misrepresentation in Croatia
2 1How it works: Situation: most tour agencies and operators are fine, with the most egregious “scams” being misrepresentations. Set-up: for instance, there have been reports of operators advertising big, shiny…
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Drink spiking in Croatia
1 0How it works: Version 1: someone slips a drug or sedative into your drink at a bar/club, then helps you back to your hotel room and robs you there. Version…
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Restaurant scams in Croatia
1 1How 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. Set-up: Version 1: adding hidden…
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Fake beggars in Croatia
1 0How it works: In Europe, there are syndicates which smuggle fake beggars around the continent. Croatia is no exception due to the great number of tourists. Places to beware: Zagreb…
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Taxi scams in Croatia
1 0How it works: Version 1: claiming that the meter is broken, and then quoting an inflated flat fare. Version 2: rigged meters which jump too much or too fast. However,…
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