10 Biggest Tourist SCAMS in Spain 

👉 I hope that was helpful! Get more safety advice in my Madrid city guide: swiy.io/MadridRevealed

The best way I've found to fight off scammers is simply to laugh when they approach me, shake my head and walk pass them. This signals that I know what they're doing and ythat I'm not going to fall for it. Every single time they change course and don't even bother with me. Another tip is to not make eye contact, if you accidentally look at them simply look away, laugh, shake your head and walk pass. Works like a charm every time.

These tips are applicable wherever you travel. The scams may change slightly, but overall they're the same throughout the world.

The bottom line is to ignore anyone who is nice to you for no obvious reason.

I was "scammed" at O'Hare Airport in Chicago while using a ticket machine. A big guy on the next machine asked me what I needed and paid for it with his own card. Then he said "welcome to America" It absolutely made my trip ❤

I learned a Hard lesson in Porto, Portugal. A taxi driver charged me with €75, he drove me a long way around. He drove stright to the hotel, when I started gps in my phone and told him that I have been driving small trucks in my home country. Next day I had to call for a taxi - it cost me €30.. same way back. Every time I get into a taxi now, I start my own GPS immediately.. Letting them know that I know too

I got caught with the Bracelet one while visiting Madrid (Right in Plaza Mayor where you opened the video actually!). My girlfriend and her mum were showing me around as that's their hometown. Got stopped by one guy who opened by complimenting my shoes, naturally I said thanks and that was it, I was in the conversation. Initially he told me the bracelet was free, then after I was trying to leave, he then changed his mind, asked for €10, then €5. Then tried to tell me he was trying to feed his kids. Thankfully he wasn't physically pushy or aggressive and my girlfriend and her mum knew exactly what was going on. You definitely have to know how to exit these conversations easily or completely avoid them. Thanks for bringing this up!

These tips are very good to remember but it is not only Spain it is all over the World.

Yeah! I got approached by the rosemary scammers in Sevilla. I bought a bocadillo with jamon and sat down to eat it by the Cathedral. As I was about to eat I got approached and she held out a rosemary. I said “no gracias”, but she was insistent. So I took it and from that point she asked for my hand to do a palm reading. After she was done she asked for money. I said I just have some change and she was like “ no, I only take paper. I’ll give you change” she said. I was like “well that’s all I have, you can take it or leave it.” Boy was she mad afterwards 😂😂😂

A big hotel on Venus beach in Marbella has fish prices listed on the menu (which you have to look up digitally as it's not printed on paper), but for tired tourists it's easy to miss the fine print which says that the prices are for 100 grams of fish (who eats only 100 grams of fish)??? We had to pay close to 100 Euros for that fish which wasn't even tasty. The smirking waiter looked like he was very proud of himself. We didn't go near that place again. I feel like this is a scam. Who puts fine print on a menu, and then makes you look at it on tiny phone screens?

If you would prefer not to spend anything on your museum tickets, go in the last two hours of the day. It's free at he Prado, Sofia Reina and the Thyssein-Bornemisza museums. That's long enough to walk around a museum and you can go back again the next evening to see another section.

James, I wish I had seen this before my trip! This is an important video for any travelers. May 25, in Seville, Jardines de Catalina de Ribera, I got hit by the bird poop pickpocket. That [glass bowl] sprayed a ton of stuff on my wife and me. I should have caught on, that there aren't eagles with upset stomachs flying around Spain. He took me for €150, plus two of my credit cards. Disgust is a powerful distraction.

I got honey trapped in a bar in Málaga on my first night of my holiday(I visit several times a year) I was held up at knife point on the way back to my apartment and he stole my bag with my money, phone & bank cards. I was lucky the police got me into my apartment where my iPad and other bank card’s were. I couldn’t cancel my bank card because I couldn’t call the bank, when I got home (the next day after paying a fortune for another flight) he had tried to withdraw money from my bank several times but got nothing! Cost me a fortune to be robbed for nothing of value 😮‍💨

Yes. Happened to my son in Berlin. A guy showing you a large paper , he put it on table and when we refused to give money he left picking up the mobile. They are always 2 or 3 od them.

Remember, you are never obligated to give money for an item, just ignore the scammers if they get too aggresive, if they attempt to hurt you that's harassment and physical abuse, and they don't want the police being called on them. Also, don't pick taxis, I know a few taxi drivers and they have modded taxi consoles which with a flip of a switch start charging double rate. They often use that with tourists or drunk people. Use an Uber or similar "pay before you ride" apps

Very helpful, every bit of this video. I used Welcome Pickups on my last trip to Barcelona at the suggestion of my hotel. Upon my arrival, the driver was in the Welcome area outside the baggage claim area with my name on his iPad, and the pickup was easy and pleasant. On my return, the Welcome Pickup driver arrived at my hotel right on time and was also pleasant and helpful. I paid for both trips in advance, and so no money was exchanged. I plan to use them again whenever I can.

We LOVE Spain! We had one issue with not one, but several added menu items being brought to us, along with "upsized" portions, resulting in an extra 50 Euros added to the tab. We enjoyed the food, but knew we had been "quietly" scammed. Now we know better 🙂

*I would definitely NOT ask for tap water in Spain - free or not.* I live in Southern Spain, and I have a water filtration system at home to take the 'impurities' out of the tap water. The state of the filters when I change them is disgusting...disturbing, even. If you need a drink of water - and in Spain during the summer, you'll need lots - always, _ALWAYS!_ go for bottled water...whatever the cost. _The locals drink bottled water - you should too._

When we went to Spain, 2 years ago, we were almost scammed/robbed in Barcelona (Madrid was perfect) - first in the subway, a lady tried to get my husband's wallet from his front pocket. I raised my voice and ensured everyone knew she was a pickpocket, she got out swiftly at the first station. Then a taxi that picked up at the train station to our hotel tried to shortchanged me for 10 euros. I live in Mexico and know that one very well lol - so I took the change and the time to count it very clearly in front of the driver before putting it in my bag, he went "oh sorry!" and gave me my 10 euros. :D

My advice (for the first scam on this video): Say "No Gracias" to the scammer, don't make eye contact and KEEP walking, the scammer needs you stop moving to steal your wallet or ask you for money/info. Say "No Gracias", and keep walking without making eye contact.

My family and I visited Madrid late May 2024. Luckily, we were forewarned about pickpockets. I carried my passport and money in a pouch under my t shirt and basically, hugged my handbag. I had just handed 50 Euros to my sis. Subsequently, an old gypsy approached my mum and sis, asking for a donation, going very near them. Being vigilant, I automatically shouted at her in order to alert them. The old lady quickly went away towards her "boss". We then decided to get coffee. While we were distracted with our orders at the counter, I turned around and saw that she had followed us. She was going very near to my sis and mum again. I shouted once more and the old lady pretended to turn around and ask other patrons for money instead. None of the other customers seemed bothered about the commotion at all. Luckily, there were no more such incidences after that.

All GREAT tips!!! Just shared this vid w/ my sister who leaves w/ her fam to Spain tomorrow 😅

Whenever traveling, I only have the things in my wallet that I need. Meaning, if I don’t drive a car, I don’t bring my drivers license. And I don’t keep all my credit cards in my wallet. Sometimes I even keep a little cash in my wallet, and my credit card in another pocket. Occasionally, if I go to a disco, where you have a drink card and pay at exit, I put a large bank note into one of my sock (in case I lose my wallet) Discos are notorious for pickpockets.

Sounds like some good advice James. Thank you for sharing👍❤️

A guy came up to me and my buddy's table while we were drinking beers on La Rambla, was very smooth when he chatted and placed a bracelet on my wrist - I was impressed by the boldness - luckily I have no awkwardness to call people out on their strange or abnormal behavior, and thought it was quite funny actually. I think he knew I wasn't going to accept or budge on his attempt and he quickly left. I did respect his hustle, but I will never pay for something I don't want

Barcelona last year in May was hell. Police every day chasing thieves all over the city. In Madrid (past April) we felt very safe allover the city.

There's the one you may encounter while driving your car: people waving at you from another car as if something is wrong with it, and gesturing to follow them to a parking lot. What happens next can be guessed...

Hola Jaime, I'm a coffee addict and would love to see a "Places to have good coffee" in Madrid and other major cities like BCN, Valencia and Sevilla. I don't want to default to Starbucks as a known quantity vs risking a poor coffee somewhere.

In Barcelona there's also quite a bit of violent robbery, where you're just pulled into an alley and robbed at knife point. Particularly in Barri Gotic, Rambla region. Don't walk there with a flashy watch or purse.

Finally some really helpful taxi and restaurant tips! 9:42 What about tap water in three/four star hotels of Spain? Is it drinkable? They filter and reuse the shower water, hence the question.

It's common practice to steal phones and bags. The burglars are waiting, checking tourist all the time. It's the full time job for them.

James, the quality of the photography in your videos has improved a lot! Congratulations to you and your team!

Great advice. As far as carrying cash, I’ve noticed that most of the restaurants I’ve been to in Spain will take a credit card but I’ve been into a few in Portugal that didn’t. I brought some friends to a small local spot and when the bill came, luckily I had cash on me because no one else did. And until here recently, I’ve always had to carry cash for taxis in places like Seville.

The water tastes like pool water in the Barcelona area

As an FYI, this is not unique to just Spain but these scams are quite common to a lot of the popular tourist cities across Europe

I am in Spain now, and will add some tips. I bought a neckless band to my phone, because I "allways" dropped it on floors/ground, with broken glass. But a plus is, that thieves cannot take it either. I am a woman, but I bought a sling bag for men. They are made stronger. I use it like a regular purse, but it hangs forward, diagonally from the shoulder

9:42 It took me so long to figure out how to ask for non-bottled water. Asking for "un vaso de agua" will do the trick, but just "agua" refers to bottled water. Not the case in the US or France.

The clipboard scam I've seen in Madrid is when you're approached to sign a petition (no money involved). The scammer then passes you the clipboard AND a pen. While both of your hands are occupied the scammers hand is (unknowingly) in your pocket These people are true artists when it comes to pickpocketing. That's Madrid. In Barcelona,my favourite city in the country,unfortunately you have to be on your mettle at all times. I am an experienced traveller to the city but that hasn't stopped me being robbed several times. Almost everyone I know has either been robbed or had an attempt made on them. I was mugged several years ago on La Rambla. Not a pleasant experience. It doesn't stop me loving Barcelona but it's sad that this type of behaviour is so commonplace. Easily the worst city for thievery. Best tip is to carry the bare minimum. Cargo shorts are a must for men. If they get one card/phone/cash they won't get everything. And it sounds obvious but ladies have to be vigilant with handbags. Don't leave them hanging on a chair or on the ground. Thankfully these days many tapas bars have hooks at the bar.

I was sitting at a table inside a restaurant in Tenerife and this guy came in asking for money with a little shitty piece of paper. I was already annoyed because we had been waiting over an hour for our food ( which we never received and got a full refund and on the drinks because I complained) and I angrily said to him 'Estás de coña? Estamos comiendo, largate.' He definitely got the message. Another time in Benalmádena a guy tried to give me a bracelet ( you know the ones...) and he said you're my brother take it, I said to him, 'I'll take it, but you're getting no money' he pulled it off my wrist very fast and proceeded to his next victim.

ATMs are fine if you decline conversion, you'll just pay your own bank's fees. At least if you're using a US bank and have a travel card, it's the cheapest way to get cash. I tend to keep about 200 Euro or so and never exchange it back to USD. I like having some paper money in my pocket as soon as I land and not having to get to an ATM in an airport or the like.

My wife got scammed in Maastricht in the market she gave stall holder 50 euro for a top that was 10 euro he went off to get change and didn’t come back another man came no English pretended he knew nothing 😡

Occasionally, in restaurants - they just put prices on the menu with the mark "tax not included" at the bottom using the smallest font possible :) Also, charging an extra % when sitting on the terrace is common in tourist places.

In addition to the pay by card advice, my tip for those in the UK and other countries where Santander bank operate is to get their basic account and use it to transfer cash to from your main account and withdraw from Santander ATMs - perfect MasterCard rate and no ATM owner fees.

Thanks James! Great tips and as other commenters have mentioned, these apply whether your are travelling in the world. ❤ to you, Yoly and the little one!

Look at 9.00, the Lady in the background placed her Packpack over the chair😂

Nobody can grab valuables from your backpack, because there aren't any in it. A bottle of water, a map of town, paper handkerchiefs, those are the only valuables. Passport, wallet, money, phone, are in your pockets or smarter in an old-fashioned soft pencil case with a zipper and a strap to run the waist belt through, keep it *inside* your trousers or your dress or skirt. Good luck.

Sooo good that you create this video scam dictionary 👍❤ For me also car rentals are wide ocean...

We got "scammed" by the flower guy last weekend in the Plaza de Santa Ana. Saw it coming, but his unique approach still got us. In the end we were out 2 Euros (which he probably needed more than we did) and went home with 2 plastic flowers. And I agree, very little need for a ton of cash now adays. Ten years ago, sure, but COVID helped change that. Just keep enough to pay for those less than 5 Euros cafe bills.

Taxis are a mafia in Spain and NYC

I had a rosemary scam in Madrid & Andalusia.

Just wondering why you blurred the faces of the scammers? Should they not be shown as what they are doing is wrong? Why are they getting privacy and respect for scamming tourists? If there's a reason I've not considered, I would honestly like to know.

James, the camerawork has gone up a notch in this video and so has the editing. Is it a new team working with you? Kudos guys.

Yep, happened to me in Madrid last month, I told her/them to fuck off, in ENGLISH. They understood.

For spending,one card isn't enough. For cash machine withdrawals in Spain,I use a UK Santander debit card as this allows free withdrawals (at the prevaling exchange rate,without a loading fee) at their machines which are very common in all parts of Spain. Otherwise,I use Starling,as that charges no fees either to withdraw or loading anywhere in the world (unless as above the local ATM provider charges). Wise is not the worst but these are better

It's a useful video; and I had the subway ticket scam pulled on me in Paris - I was only saved by my friend. These days I don't travel... especially in tourist hot-spots. As Miyagi-san said in Karate kid, "Best defence - no be there".

I also thought Spain was a safe country until I experienced the corrupt and liar police in Spain. Crime can happen in any country but what matters is the role of the police there. At the airport in Valencia, under many CCTV cameras, a group of Eastern European men and women stole our bag and a woman hid in the toilet with our bag, while most of the group members were sitting outside the toilet. I started calling the police for help but my screams were completely ignored and the police did not come to help. Finally, my wife and I ran to the police office which was located on the second floor. The door of the police office was locked from inside. When I rang the doorbell, two policemen came out angrily and started scolding us for no reason. The behaviour of the police was disrespectful to us as if we had committed a crime by coming to the police office. We requested the immediate help of the police as it was possible to nab the gang of thieves and recover the stolen bags with quick action by the police. But the police made a condition for immediate help that until we write the details of the crime, the details of the stolen goods and the details of our identity on the paper provided by the police, the police will not help. Instead of helping immediately, the police were wasting time to give the group of thieves a chance to escape. When my wife told the police that the thieves would run away, a policeman very rudely scolded her to keep her mouth shut. After writing all the details on two papers, instead of giving practical help, the police ordered that now the office hours are over, leave the office. The police have received the report of the theft and now the police will inform us after completing the investigation. I asked the police to show me the CCTV recording so that I could tell the police who was in the group of thieves. It was important to identify the thieves. The police said it is impossible to show the CCTV recording for the next 24 hours. Come back after 24 hours to see the CCTV recording. After 24 hours when we reached this police office, instead of showing the CCTV recording, they picked up a CD and pretended to go from one room to another, but we remained seated despite waiting for a long time, finally. The police said that the CD of the CCTV recording is defective, so come again sometime. We returned to Denmark from Spain. In our bag were two iPhones, an iPad, about 5000 Euros, bank, credit and ID cards etc. A few days later, when our correspondent in Spain reached the police office, the police told him that the police had the CCTV recording of the crime and that the police had identified the criminals and were now looking for them. The police cannot show the CCTV recording because the police are afraid that we may not detect any harm to the criminals. Now there is no need to come to the police office about this case again. I wrote to the Valencia Airport authority about this CCTV recording and they replied that on that date no such crime was reported. And nor the police asked them for this CCTV recording. And now this CCTV recording is not available as they had deleted it. After knowing that the police were lying, I wrote a complaint to the Ombudsman. The Director General of the Police replied to the Ombudsman that police are investigating the crime according to the law and no one is allowed to interfere or instruct in the police investigation. After this reply from the Director General of the Police, the Ombudsman in Spain finalize the complaint without identifying the Corruption of the police. #VisitSpain #Spain #Policia #Valencia

I went to a restaurant and gave the lady our credit card. I said I’d like to pay with euros and she insisted we had to pay in US dollars, saying the restaurant would have to pay fees if we paid with euros. Is that legal? Great video as always.

Sometimes I just look at their eyes with a blank stare without saying a word and walk pass them...

You pulled your phone out of your back pocket multiple times in this video lol. Good stuff!

Así es, mucho. Cuidado, y no vayáis por zonas solitarias.

Luckily I don’t carry any cash nowadays and as a general rule I never give any stranger money anyway

Very good tips, thank you, but sometimes they are washed with every waters, as we say in Germany, means they know every trick to get you. I´m very careful, but years ago i stumbled about the rosemary trick, but at that time with roses. They got only some coines but it make me angry. Greetings from Hamburg

Just found and subscribed... I did chuckle at the lady at 9:02, putting her rucksack over the back of her chair in the restaurant... she obviously doesn't watch the channel 🤣🤣

Try not to look like a tourist, socks with sandals, hats and caps, safari bermudas, etc...

This people is from leste countries like Romenia , hungria ,etc ....

1:55 Sometimes the people asking for the charity donations are scammers. Any money you give them will never be passed to a charity but end up lining their pockets.

Just returned from Barcelona. We took a taxi from the airport to our hotel. He ended up telling us "something" appears wrong with the car and needed to get it checked and also gas. Took him 10 min to get gas and kept the meter running. We were told it would be $40 to get to our hotel. So, when we pulled off to the gas station, the meter read $7.90. When we got back on the road, it read $12.95. When we were 14 min from the hotel, he said that he would stop the meter and charge us what it said. He stopped it quick and cleared it, it showed $26 and some change, he grabbed his credit card machine and put $33 in it and the wife paid it. I wasn't happy about that whole situation but was cheaper than what we were quoted. Not sure why he didn't stop the meter at the gas station but was quick to stop it 14 min away from the hotel. I felt scammed but can't figure out how...

I saw Colleen from Les Frenchies in the video

And number 11: Paellador. Avoid like the bubonic plague, which might be one of its ingredients.

11) Romanian pick pockets (Best in the world)

We in Lihuania normally calling for taxi firm, never using taxis which just stay somewhere. Except you are very rich.

Learned of my girlfriend. You say " nein" aggressively. They leave you alone instantly.

Great video with tons of useful tips. Thanks for sharing

Excellent recommendations!!! I will review it again!

Uber didn't work in Alicante last year. We booked through a local taxi app to go to the airport at 4am & they cancelled late evening before & we had to catch last bus to the airport around midnight for 6am flight. Not a scam but very frustrating! Alicante Airport said shuttle bus to city was 24 hours, it wasn't!

Don't make eye-contact. Keep on walking. My impression is that couples are more vulnerable to scams than solo travellers. You both need to be aware of potential scams.

Great watch as always and very useful 👊🏿

Buenísimo!

Hello James, woah, yeah, the old Rosemary and Petition scammers! Happened to me 15 years ago!

I've probably encountered worst organized scams in Athens (around Monastiraki Square) in all of my trips in Europe so far. Although i was well aware about of these types of modus. The worst one i've experienced was someone poured a liquid cosmetic on my shirt and then someone was quick to approach me to help me clean it up with a napkin. I freaked out and shouted at him "don't touch me". He panicked and walked away. I also witnessed those scammers doing it to other people. They are mostly migrats or illegal refuguees. Not say that all migrats are bad.

Very interesting video 😊

Love your videos, but was that Colleen from Les Frenchies in your clipboard shot?

Same in Philippines...

As I'm watching this when a woman has put her backpack on the back of her chair.... behind you in the restaurant at around 8:51 time stamp .. you see her do it again at 9:00... something you just warned people not to do a few minutes earlier in the video!😅

I never leave home cause I hate to get scammed.

He's neglecting to tell you that the large majority of these are not Spaniards... They're foreigners.

Thank you very much excellent tips ❤❤❤

Oh.. yes , we have some problems and its no a solution. 😅. Greetings from Spain

Hey James. Great video overall since these things happen all over the world and can be applied as well. Just on a typo note, "agua del grifo", not "de grifo". But you can ask your wife to see if it can be said both ways:)

Just ignore people who approach you. Period !!!!!!!

The poop thing actually happened to a friend of mine in Milan, they were so angry lmap

Only ask for tap water if you see others doing it. In Catalunya and Comunidad Valenciana the flavour is awful. Some places now have filtered water but they charge as it was a bottle of water.

General rule of thumb. If they approach you first, it's a scam

Another excellent video! What sorts of videos are coming soon? I'll be in Madrid in August (I know how hot it'll be!)

'Ask for a receipt' ? ... yeah right. Good luck with that !!!.

great advice, I would definitely recommend getting a Wise card and air tags.

Thanks James for information 👍❤️

Great video! Thank you.

Excellent "dynamic summarising what to come introduction walking towards the camera and the camera backs" to the background of Plaza Mayor! Bonsoir from Paris, where the same advices are applicable 10/10

Living in Spain is hell, lots of desperate people stealing from you. People living on the street.