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Tag: Yangon
Pickpockets in Myanmar
1 0How 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….
Snatch thefts in Myanmar
1 0How it works: Situation: snatch thieves here are generally drug users. This is exacerbated by the lack of strong police presence: e.g. only ~1,300 police officers for more than a…
Street tout money exchange scam in Myanmar
1 0How it works: Version 1: they first offer you a good rate to tempt you. Once you hand your notes to them, they claim that the serial numbers on your…
Shop money exchange scam in Myanmar
0 0How it works: Version 1: the money changer hands you half the bills to count. They offer to hold the other half for you as it is a large stack….
Fake monks, nuns in Myanmar
1 2How it works: Version 1: offering amulets/blessings in exchange for donations to help the temple they claim to be from. Version 2: some even double up as unofficial guides and…
Taxi scams in Myanmar
1 1How it works: Version 1: taxis are un-metered and drivers can overcharge you with inflated fares. Version 2: at the Ayeyarwady River, as you disembark, “helpful” locals will grab your…
Rickshaw scams in Myanmar
2 0How it works: Version 1: claiming that it is 500 kyat for a trip, only to change it to 5,000 kyat at the end. Version 2: boarding a bus telling…
Foreign currency collector in Myanmar
2 0How it works: Step 1: a local claims to be a collector of foreign currency and asks where you come from. He then offers to exchange kyats with notes/coins from…
Counterfeit currency in Myanmar
2 0How it works: In late 2018, there was a spate of cases involving counterfeit 10,000 kyat notes resulting in some retailers refusing to accept the bill. Places to beware: Anywhere…
Price quote scams in Myanmar
2 0How it works: Version 1: as many stalls do not list prices, they can overcharge tourists with inflated price quotes. Version 2: they may offer a cheap price to tempt…
Restaurant, food stall scams in Myanmar
3 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: some restaurants…
Fake rubies, silver, textiles in Myanmar
5 0How it works: Situation: Myanmar is famous for gemstones just like Thailand and Sri Lanka, but this also means that “fakes” (synthetic, or heat treated rubies with glass filling) are rife. Set-up:…