The summary
| Situation | The trap | The right habit |
|---|---|---|
| Money exchange | The cashier counts the notes several times and removes one or two | Use a licensed office, count yourself, avoid small kiosks |
| ATM | Skimmer on the card slot | Use a bank ATM, in daylight, and check your account |
| Taxi and transport | Meter refused, fake vehicles, fake Grab signs | App or official counter, check the plate |
| Scooter | Damage claim at return | Film the scooter before leaving |
| Tourist sites | Fake ticket booth, unrequested "guides" | Pay at the official counter, decline politely |
Money exchange
The most quoted trap is the count: the cashier pretends to count your notes several times and keeps one or two on the last pass. Indonesian authorities say licensed exchange offices display the Bank Indonesia logo and a QR code you can scan to check. Prefer an office in a proper building, count your money at the counter and do not fall for a rate that looks too good. Street kiosks without a logo are best avoided. For other ways to pay, see money in Bali: rupiah, ATMs and tipping.
ATMs
Guides report skimming cases, mostly at isolated machines on the street or in minimarts. A card reader that is too thick or that moves is a bad sign. Preferably use an ATM inside a bank branch during opening hours, and watch your account after every withdrawal. Refuse the conversion into your own currency offered by the machine: choose rupiah.
Taxis, ride-hailing and transfers
The problems quoted are taxis that refuse the meter, detours and fake vehicles imitating the colours of a known company. One guide also reports fake Grab signs at Ngurah Rai airport, with inflated prices. Use the official pick-up point outside the terminal, compare with the price shown in the app and check the plate and the driver's photo before getting in. If you feel uncomfortable in a vehicle, get out. For arrival options, see from the airport to Ubud, Canggu or Seminyak and private driver in Bali.
Scooters
Damage disputes at return are common according to the guides. Film the scooter from every angle before leaving, check the brakes and the helmet, and keep a copy of the contract. If you are not comfortable on a scooter, a driver is safer. See renting a scooter in Bali.
Tourist sites and "guides"
Near some sites, people offer their services without being asked. A site such as the Sekumpul waterfall is reported for fake checkpoints on the road: pay only at the official counter, near the entrance sign. At temples, the sarong is usually lent on site and the entrance fee is displayed at the counter. The monkeys of the Sacred Monkey Forest and the Uluwatu temple snatch glasses and phones: keep your belongings in a closed bag.
Online formalities
The arrival card is free and the tourist levy is a fixed amount: any site asking for more is a scam. Use only the official government sites. Details in before you go to Bali.
Health and alcohol
Avoid tap water and cocktails of unknown origin: poisoning from adulterated alcohol (arak) has been reported in Bali in recent years. Take travel insurance that covers medical care and the scooter if you rent one. The national emergency number is 112 (confirm before you go).
Going further
See travel budget in Bali for normal prices, and where to stay in Bali.
