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Chile
13 scams
Stretching for some 4,000 kilometers,Chile has some of the most diverse and beautiful landscapes in the world.
The country is also one of the safest countries to visit in South America though there are some low level crime and scams to be wary of.
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.
Alert: anti-government protests sprung up in October 2019 and shows no signs of abating. Check out “Violent crime, hazards in Chile” for more information.
Emergency number
- Police: 133
- Ambulance: 131
- Fire: 132
- Mountain rescue: 136
Travel guide
Chile-Peru border card scam in Chile
5 0How it works: Opening: there are taxi drivers who tell tourists whom they drive to the Peru border that they need to buy an expensive “tourist card”. Set-up: he then…
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Fraudulent tour operators in Chile
5 1How it works: There had been cases of fly by night operators or operators whose businesses have already closed down but still collect payments for non-existent trips. There have also…
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Pirate taxis in Chile
6 0How it works: Version 1: At airports, you see touts carrying cards with the word “Oficial” or “TAXI” posing as official employees of the airport with official looking taxis. One…
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Currency switcheroo in Chile
5 0How it works: Version 1: you hand a 10,000 Chilean pesos note over. The cashier/driver swaps it to a 1,000 Chilean peso note, claims that you have confused the two…
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Donation scams in Chile
3 0How it works: Version 1: a friendly local resident engages you, claiming to be a student at a local private university where fees are expensive. He then gives you a…
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Restaurant, food stall scams in Chile
2 0How 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: advertising cheap…
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Snatch thefts in Chile
2 2How it works: Motoclock: snatching your watch/phone/bag, then escaping on a bike. Maletazos: they wait at hotels for you to unload your luggage from a taxi/van. Once you do, they grab…
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Bird poo scam in Chile
2 1How it works: Opening: A scammer first squirts a substance resembling bird droppings or mustard onto your clothing without you realizing. Next, accomplices point it out to you and attempt…
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Pickpockets in Chile
2 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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Taxi scams in Chile
2 1How it works: Version 1: all taxis must use the meter except at the airport. However, there are some who will claim that the meter is down and hence charge…
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