Would you like a drink bar scam in Turkey

Last updated on 24 Jun 2019

Turkey

Alanya, Antalya, Istanbul, Van

How it works:

Situation: this is a common scam in Eastern Europe, where bar owners, bar girls, employees and sometimes even police officers are involved.
Opening: a stranger asks if you have a lighter or ask for directions. He/she then asks if you would like to grab a drink together. If you accept, you will be brought to a “highly recommended” bar.
Set-up: there, girls will join and drink on your tab. When the bill comes, it can be as high as 1,000 USD. If you do not have enough cash, you will be escorted to an ATM by a group of hooligans.

Places to beware:

Alanya
Antalya
Istanbul: Taksim square, Topkapi Palace, Istiklal Street, Sultanahmet District, Beyoglu
Van: Cumhuriyet Caddesi

What to do:

Avoid: heading to a suggested bar together with a random stranger.
If not, consider: does the bar seem legitimate? Are there customers? Is the stranger evasive about things? Is he/she only bringing you to a particular bar?
Test your new “friend”: pretend you have company by suggesting to go another place where you have friends at. Ask for prices before ordering. Take a photo together.
If scammed: pay with a credit card but call the bank to dispute the charges immediately. Keep a separate bank account with not much cash inside to limit your losses if threatened. Make a police report.
Alternative: GetYourGuide (best day tour platform in Europe) has a pub crawl.

Tell us your story

10 user stories related to this scam

Be very careful around Taksim and Beyoglu

oozgen 20 Jun 2019 2 1

This happened to my friend around Beyoglu area. He was invited to a small club like place by a friendly girl. They charged $40 for a bottle of beer, probably the most expensive beer he ever drank. They threatened him when he refused to pay. Be very careful around Taksim and Beyoglu since lots of scammers hunting around these areas.

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Forced to have a drink

Prathibha Madushani 19 Jun 2019 2 0

Same here! I was forced to have a drink with one girl whom I met at the museum. First, she was so nice, talked and showed me the town and then asked to have a drink in her uncle’s bar. I refused to say that I don’t drink on religious reasons. Then she forced me to come with her to see her uncle.

I was alone, so I agreed. But once we arrived at the bar, it was a night club with expensive drinks. I felt that it was a scam, immediately left and escaped into another small restaurant until she couldn’t find me back. If any stranger trying to buy you a drink, just refuse and walk away. There are a lot of scammers in Istanbul.

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Dirtbag scammers

faizan 5 Mar 2019 4 0

Such a beautiful city Istanbul but them dirtbag scammers made it the filthiest place on planet to visit. Been there and got scammed never again and will not suggest any one to visit.

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To save my life and since the place was full of the body guards I had to pay

Roni 23 Dec 2018 4 0

I was stopped by a man asking me if i want to have good time with girls, and i refused

He insisted and told me come and check only it is free of charge. I followed him (my mistake), that was in the middle of Taksim. We got into a small bar full of girls, all of them were old and dirty.

I told him i am not interested, so i left the place, at the door while going out one big bodyguard said you have to pay 450 Turkish lira for the drinks, I refused. We had long debate bnd he started to push me and trying to search for the money.

I refused to pay him, he dragged me in and started to kick.. to save my life and since the place was full of the body guards I had to pay, since I was carrying over 1000 usd, and I was afraid that they will take them … Never again… I have lost 450 tl…

Please be aware of these people. It is a scam

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Didn’t touch anything but they still wouldn’t let me go

Ravi 12 Nov 2018 2 1

Yes, happened to me. I was in Istanbul and a “friendly tourist” from Cyprus asked me to take some photos of him and then chit chatted me to get a drink with him at a bar his friends had recommended to him.

I reluctantly accepted and we walked in after a 5-10 min walk to the place. As soon as we sit down, a bottle service was brought after which I immediately left, but not without paying half the bill of 1600 lira. I didn’t touch anything but they still wouldn’t let me go.

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Don’t trust Turkey police

Alex_McMillan 7 Mar 2018 4 0

Also keep in mind Turkish police is also part of the mafia. Never trust them. In Turkey, you are alone. Anything can happen to you. It is much smarter and better to go to a more civilized country than Turkey.

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2000 tl for 2 beers and some juice

vincent 2 Nov 2017 3 0

That just happen to me yesterday. 01/11/2017 I been in a bar with a friendly guy to have some beers. Then girl joins us and chat with us and drink some juice on your arms. Until I had enough and decide to leeve.

The bill climb to 2000 tl and I refuse to pay that much for 2 beers and some juice. They were very menacing and I start to think about fight but they was like 10 in the bar. That was’nt a good idea.

Then I start to talk about police and they sudantly let me go without paying.. I try to take somme pic but they dont let me do it of course..

But the best part is, I been to the police and they refuse to be involve because it dose’nt cost me any thing.. Crasy world man.. Be carefull

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Bill sky rocketed

lucio_tan 9 Sep 2017 2 1

it happens just now ( sept 09,2017) a guy approach me and giving a friendly talk and drink and the bill sky rocketed to 9,000 lira..

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Around Mercure Hotel Topkapı Istanbul area

Paul_Thompson 4 Jun 2017 5 0

If your staying ın the Mercure Hotel Topkapı Istanbul Be aware of a slım guy wıth gray haır casualy dressed callıng hımself Alexandro sayıng he,s an armenıan natıonal who ıs ın the constructıon busıness and works ın Iraq.

Thıs guy wıll pretend to be your frıend and wıll offer to show you around town and drıve you to a small bar ın K.M Celebı Mah Buyukparmakkapı sok no 30A beyoglu owned by ABDULLAH NURCIN who ıs also a scammer.

The bar wıll be full of russıan bouncers and have some woman and thıs guy Alexandro wıll ınvıte them to your table and offer them a frıendly drınk but you wıll be made to pay for the bıll and ıt wıll cost you thousands of dollars whıch you wıll be forced to pay or you wıll be assaulted and taken to a cashlıne and. made to wıthdraw money.

Thıs Guy Alexandro ıs ınvolved and works for these people and wıll say he’s payıng but when the bıll comes he wıll say for you to pay half whıch ıs a large amount of money. Do not get ınvolved wıth thıs guy or these people as they are scammers.

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