Another way they can take some of your money at the money exchange is to count it out in front of you. Correct amount? Yes. Then they pick the bundle up and tap it a few times on the counter to make it neat. They do this close to their edge of the counter and allow some of the bills to fall down into the open drawer just below. They hand you back the reduced bundle. Watch carefully and count the bundle yourself before you leave. Cheers Blake Morrison
I only went one time to Bali but immediately picked up on this when they didn’t want me to count the money they gave me back in front of them 😂. They just gave me my money back instead and refused to exchange.
I got done like that when I changed £1000. I realised 5 mins later so I went back to the shop and threatened the guy. He paid me back. I was so disappointed
I’ve also been warned by my Indonesian sister in law that in some sight seeing places, locals will stand and ask for an entry fee when the place you are visiting is actually free and they’re literally just trying to scam you out of some cash .
I think it's also good to report about the various scams to the consulates in each countries. So that they take it seriously and try to prevent at the government level. I reported once to the Indonesian consulate in Korea after my Bali trip. If it doesn't change for the better, it will only damage the turism eventually. Thanks.
It's possibly a good idea. I fear it won't have any impact though. The authorities already know that it's happening and on a local level the authorities are often at best very aware and at worst, in on it. It can't hurt to try though!
Every country has scammers. In Australia we call that “government” but their scams are classed “legal” but Australia and Singapore has many of the ilegal type also. It’s not a Bali or Indonesia thing.
Oh for sure mate. Certainly not singling out Bali as the only place on earth this stuff happens. These are just the common ones in this particular part of the world to keep an eye out for.
report scammers as much as you want....the reality is that in SE Asia any foreigner is a potential target to all locals....including the officials, therefore your complaint will be instantly dismissed a soon as you walk out the door. Example ..... bullet scam at Manila airport, everyone knew that the Xray baggage scanners added the bullets to get 'money 'from the foreigner.....nothing changed regardless of how much bad press it got worldwide.
Been to Bali more than a few times now and it is actually not that hard/difficult to exchange your money...The trick is and i learn this from my driver the first time i was there is when looking for a Exchange then only pick one on the main road as said in the video but only the ones that have a Government issued licens, it will always be a serial number printed on their sign in the front....Follow that and you will never have any problems, i never did :)
Yeah....we know about that. Back home one is blooming charge some Oz 5 for each transaction. Banks are legal thieves: A FACT. Finally one gets a better deal once in Bali and NOT from the many counters find at various Int airports. ALL CONS
That’s so informative mate! I’ve seen people talking about that infamous money exchange scam in the other videos previously, they can easily rip you off and make you confusing with many zero by the local currency.
I got into a "BALI TAXI", and I kept my eyes on the meter, I think it was adding up every 50 meters (AFAIK it should be every 100 meters), googled the going taxi rate in Indonesia and found that it was manipulated, So I just asked to be dropped at some random restaurant and just made an excuse that I was hungry, and wanted to eat first.. Remember, that if you are an international tourist, and they are locals, tourists always lose in these situations even in front of the law (at best, they just dismiss it, at worst, its the tourists fault).
I have been to Bali 29 times the taxi should use is the blue bird it’s light blue always use them also money changers don’t take your eyes off their hands they try and say look behind you at something on street don’t just keep your eyes on the money 💰
When you hire a motorbike or scooter take photos of any pre-existing damage with the hire place clearly in the background so that proves the damage was there when you picked it up. Make sure that the owner or worker at the hire company sees you taking phiotos.
Not if you have the appropriate licenses. Most travel insurance these days have an option to check that you are going to ride a scooter and they charge a little more for the privilege
@@tileux It won't void you travel insurance if A, you actually have a real motorcycle licence and B, you opted for the cover from your travel insurance company. Seriously.
Never use the freestanding ATMs that aren't at an actual bank here in Bali, go to a BNI or BCA bank that has ATMs either just inside or in a separate room just outside, they have security guards and cameras watching the whole time and also if there is a problem and the machine eats your card you can easily get it back again.
@@RoryandCaseyNo worries, I'm from Aus (NZ originally) but I live in Bali. I've never had a problem with using my Aussie cards at ATMs here in Bali or anywhere else in Indonesia, debit or credit, but I always use machines at a bank to be safe, my bank in Aus gives me the current exchange rate and charges me $5 per withdrawal regardless of amount. I'm not sure why so many people choose to bring wads of their home currency that they have to hide somewhere in their room and change with the dreaded money changers 🤷♂️
100% when we travelled for a year it was almost all withdrawals through local ATMs and like you say being careful to use ones that were obviously legit. I am still a fan of having a cash reserve when travelling just in case something was to happen to my cards.
@@RoryandCasey Absolutely, I keep a spare card stashed away safe. Another thing you can do in an emergency is jump online and go to Western Union or Worldremit and transfer yourself some cash, then you can just go into a post office (kantor pos) here with ID and pick it up, usually immediately.
Bluebird has an app that allows you to prepay fares too as well as having pre-ageeed fares that you pay upon arriving at your destination. You pay a tiny bit more than you might if you go by the metre but the difference is cents, not dollars.
if one day there is a policeman who asks for money, video with your cellphone then the police will let you go..police in Indonesia are very afraid of video cameras
Honestly mate I just want to help people. I make these videos because I enjoy making them. They are meant to be informative. I’m not out for anything more than that.
I unfortunately just got scammed with the money exchange here in Ubud. I am short around 1.4 Million Rupiahs or about $93 USD. Found out about it too little too late as it is already almost midnight here but I'm definitely going to that place first thing in the morning. And you're so right about them using all 50k bills, they did the same to me. Was just one person's job, too. What a shame. Thanks for putting this up as a warning sign for tourists in Bali.
Good luck I hope you get it back. Be firm and threaten to go to the police. If it's near your hotel ask the hotel security to help you out as well, noone actually wants these guys ripping tourists off.
@@RoryandCasey Update: I actually went to the money exchange booth around 7AM today. They weren't open yet so I went straight to the police station. They took down all the information they needed, called the scammer to come to the police station, and he gave all my money back.
It doesn’t need to be constant fear. It’s just about being careful for a few things. Like I said 99% of people all through Asia are so so friendly and trustworthy. It’s just the 1% that mean you need to use a bit more caution in some places.
I thought i was pretty savvy and have never been ripped off with exchange…but this time in SANUR guy tried to rip me off by doing the last count AFTER I had ALREADY picked it up and counted it out myself. I then recounted it to find he somehow had taken $10 bux back!!!!! I immediately challenged him and he gave it back. MAKE SURE YOU ARE THE LAST ONE TO COUNT IT.
I think it's important to point out most people are inherently good people. It's the very small minority that are bad but they can ruin a person's trip if they get scammed
Re Bali money changers we had $100 turn into $70…He must have been a magician too. After a second short change count we got the right money & he couldn’t get us out of the shop quick enough. It was the only time I ever used an unauthorised money changer. Simple message stick with authorised agents. It was in Sanur.
It's actually very impressive how they do it. They use distraction and slight of hand but even when i knew about it I was watching for it and they still managed to pull it on me a couple of times after the first time (but luckily I never left without a final count in my hand so never got done again!)
BMC definitely trusted. They aren't the only trustworthy ones thought! Ubud Valasindo is trusted too which is in both Ubud, Legian and down in Bingin (which has no BMC or any other 'trusted' money exchange at the moment, although a lot of the smaller dodgy looking ones being run out of shops in Bingin actually give you the right money, just not the one beside brother mart)
You're unlikely to experience many. The video isn't meant to put you off but rather to know what to look out for. If you know the situations then you can avoid getting into them 😊
100% and they are common all over south east asia. My hope is that someone who may have never been watches this before they get ripped off. I have friends who have sworn off going back to different countries because they have been scammed one way or another and it tarnishes their entire view of the country which is a real shame.
the reality is that Singapore is the only place where you don't get scammed by a taxi driver .. the money people are to good you should change the money at a bank b4 you travel if you don't want to get ripped off
I'd consider myself an experienced traveller. I've lived in South East asia for over a year at one point and multiple trips overseas often 1-2 times a year before and after that (with the exception of covid) and I NEVER get done... like I literally sat in the middle of a busy road in Cambodia once arguing my way out of paying a bribe to the police when I should have just paid the $5. It can happen to anyone!
I was scammed at Western Union in Kuta. An American friend was giving a Bali local a loan for $1,200 USD and wasn’t able to receive it, so she asked me if she could send it to me and give it to the local person. I said sure. I went to WU in Kuta, what looked like received all the money. It was a ton of 100,000 IDR notes. I gave the money to the Bali friend and they counted the money and was short 900,000 IDR. They notified me and the next day I went back to the same WU and talked to the manager. He looked at the video and seen that the guy did rip me off. He called him up and made him return to the WU and give me the 900,000 IDR back. I recorded it so the local friend didn’t think I tried to rip them off. The young guy who ripped me off said, “I tried to call you to notify you that you were shorted by 900,000 IDR but you didn’t answer”. I checked my phone and I had not received and calls except from local friend to tell me she was short by 900,000 IDR. Morale to the story: Just because they are a world wide company (WU) don’t assume they don’t hire thieves as well. Always count your money throughly before leaving the bank. Even though it may look like they counted it fairly for you. They somehow slip the money off the table when you are not looking. I will always count the money myself before I leave the place.
Do not rent a scooter or bike without reading your holiday insurance details ever. If you don’t follow them and have and accident you could be liable to huge amounts that will follow you for ever.
Third time in Bali and this time I got scammed by a free standing Money Exchange. Avoid them even if it offers more than others. Go for proper Exchange Office with digital signboards and big office. ATM, I always go for MAY Bank or other banks and never a free standing ATMs. Scooters, use the one the hotel/villa hires out. More expensive but no scams.
And the exchange rate at the May Bank ones is usually better, the ones in Circle K etc are usually fine, but more expensive. If you are in a decent restaurant usuallt credit cards are just as good as a decent ATM rate, and you earn points towards your next trip.
I'm already since 12 years in Bali and never heard from this scams. About changing money, I agree. But when you change money always count it by yourself and put it immediatly away, else you are just stupid if you return it first again.
Wow Thank you so much I am so lucky to come across your Channel today & subscribed ..👍👍 This is so helpful as we are heading to Bali next 2 weeks It’s freaky n scary as this is my 1st Bali visitor Thanks again so much 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Don't be scared! Bali is a beautiful place with beautiful people. Wherever tourists go there will always be people trying to take advantage of them. Hopefully this can help you spot these people out and simply walk away
Been going to Bali since the mid 1980,s and you never let a small time money changer touch your exchanged cash after you have counted it! If they do touch it or re count it then you re count it again and continue doing this until they give up or say they no longer want to exchange the money You can actually have some fun doing it.
Rory, I am confused. I have an unrestricted motorcycle license in Australia. A person commented that an International driver’s license obtained in Australia is not acceptable in Bali . This person said you have to go to a Police station to get a temporary license What is the right thing to do please
I've always been fine with my international permit. From my reading technically Indonesia isn't a signatory to the Geneva convention on road traffic but the police do honour international driving permits. I know my insurance still covers me providing I have an international permit. Bali's new list of 'do's and donts' put out by the government also mentions that you should have an international driving permit
Are you here to talk about taxi fare of the beauty of Bali?have you ever driven a taxi ?how do you know what is fare and what is not.please remember these poor guys need to make a living my man & need feed there families we can’t always safe and not think about the locals
I am 100% behind the taxi drivers that make an honest living in Bali. The ones that do the right thing deserve to be successful. My issue is with the ones that do the wrong thing and while that isn't many of them it's smart for tourists to be aware so they can avoid people doing the wrong thing so that the honest taxi drivers can keep working. I'm sorry if that didn't come across. I'm just trying to help people avoid people who do the wrong thing.
Your title should be more general. For someone who probably never been to Bali, it'd make them insecure when they want to travel here. You said it yourself it's not just Bali, so be fair in the title to avoid unfair judgement
Definitely. I never expected this video to be seen by as many people that have seen it. I'll consider changing the title! It's certainly not my intention to scare people off of Bali. It's a beautiful island with beautiful people
I think if you are going to talk about police scams you need to advise everyone it’s illegal to ride a motorcycle without a proper bike license. It’s also unwise to suggest to your viewers that they should be offering illegal bribes to get out of illegal situations they have gotten themselves into.
Sorry if my information was misconstrued. I would like to assume that everyone is properly licensed if they plan on getting on a motorbike. I shouldn't need to tell people not to be stupid. I'm also not suggesting anyone offer illegal bribes. I'm saying keep seperate money so when you are asked to pay one you can show you only have a small amount of cash on you. This is pretty standard advice across the whole of South East Asia.
It shouldn't. Travel has always been the same. There is always someone somewhere looking to take advantage and that's the same now as it was 20 years ago when I first went overseas. It's just easier to find the information on how to avoid being scammed or ripped off now.
They just passed a new defamation law and anyone who can interpret this as such can report you. So be careful what you say and do in Bali especially as well as the rest of Indo.
Not sure what would be interpreted badly. I made a point of saying that 99.9% of people are great and won't try to take advantage of you. It's a very very small percentage of people who might try to take advantage
@@RoryandCasey I understand that, how ever, but things can be mis interpreted or even just getting offended . Many people have gotten in trouble including locals. Just be careful.
@@RoryandCasey I'm not trying to criticize you, I'm just saying, it's better for you, if you want to be and live in Indonesia, to make positive content and avoid anything that anyone could even microscopically would conceive as negative publicity towards Indonesia. Be careful!!
@@RoryandCasey : note that your country of origine and international driving licenses are not valid in Indonesia. As a visitor you must get a temporary license at the police station to start with then follow the rules and pray.
@@franciscouderq1100 Bullshit, you just need your IDP and real driver licence. Each to their own, but as crazy as the traffic is in Bali, you are riding at slow speeds, what's more dangerous? That or Western roads at high speeds where everyone fails to look for a motorcyclist because they are rare, 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. Motorcycling anywhere has inherent dangers. Wear kevlar jeans decent shoes, gloves and a helmet. I draw the line at a jacket in that heat.
This happened to me in 2012 - little stand offering an amazing rate for USD (Even though im South African) and in South Africa you assume everyone/most ppl are dodgy with money so i counted it and it was short. The little chap took it back and thrn acted like he put all thr notes down again and i recounted it again and it was short again. I got my 100 Dollar note back and went to an offical place. Great video, lots to relate on. Cheers. - Oh and im moving to Bali next month. Stoked. No more winter.
The easiest way to avoid any money changer scams is to be the last one that touches it AFTER you have counted it. If any money changer takes the money back for any reason after I have counted it, then I simply recount it........this does piss them off....but its my money so I do not care if they get annoyed. I have found many many times that it has been short if they touch it, AFTER I have counted it.
i got done with that slight of hand trick and i was looking for it,,they are good,,lucky not much money was involved went back to him next day and just had a laugh about it,, never let them touch the money after you have counted it
What about the scams at that Bekasih Temple . I got taken for ride there to .The place is full of them. It's not a temple it's a scammers paradise ..Even the kids are trained to do things . .
That' place is not a temple. That place is scamming temple . I left that place after I had to much to put up with it . Even little kids walk around trying to Rip u off ...
Yes we had the money exchange one once luckily like you we were able to go back and eventually by refusing to leave were given our aud money back since then always count it before I leave the shop to check
Issued in Indonesia as yr into license is not recognized here. Your insurance back home will remind you about that by not considering/covering a claim you might have.
Just be the last person to count the money, I go off to the side still in view of everyone and count it out one by one. Never had an issue, I really don’t see how anybody could be scammed at a money changer, you’re on a holiday, not in a rush, take your time, if you miscount start again. An extra couple of minutes counting saves a massive headache later on and wasting hours with police etc. Traffic scam ? You mean the old unlicensed tourist getting hammered by the polisi and they can say whatever because you’re unlicensed and shouldn’t be riding, get your bike license, get your IDP and it will be stamped correctly, show them and they’re always ecstatic to see someone finally following the rules. I’ve actually been thanked before for having everything in order.
Oh yeah 100% about the bike license. I should have said but I'm properly licensed and make sure I have the appropriate licensing when I travel and I've still been stopped by the police (in Cambodia) and they tried it on me. You're right though, if you have the right paperwork most police will let you move on quickly, but there are still lots that will not.
Out of curiosity why did they pull you over in the first place? Was it a random stop or is there something that can be done to avoid the stop? It's worth getting an international permit anyway. I have one, cost me about $20 and lasts for a few years. Just lives with my passport.
@@RoryandCasey there where 7 of us and a single policeman pulled us over on his bike. Gave no reason at the start the asked for our international driving licences .we said we didnt have them and he got angry and said follow me we are going to dempesar after 1 min riding he pulled me over separately and said if i gave him rupiah then we could all go. I asked how much and he said about 100 pounds worth i said i had 30 and he excepted that and we went our different ways. Quite funny to pay a bribe but also pretty poor taste in the mouth as it must go on alot. Same thing happened 2 years later and we didnt even haggle .just gave them some rupiah and left.
@@thecornishbiker9323 just get an IDP - its what they want to see over there and it is Law - the UK .gov website clearly states you cannot drive anywhere in Indonesia with a UK Driving Licence and an IDP is required?
@@nehemialalang7878 my point was that they took a bribe rather than enforce the law. And i have a full bike licence that is excepted around most of the world apart from asia it seems
no it won't work, they recognize the international driver license to be legal, but as far as I know some of them ( You know put some money) so they don't mind it when they know someone has a driver's license in their home country (although it's still illegal )
@@RoryandCasey why? We are planning a bali trip and have just 6 days.. Should we just stick to ubud and nusa and avoid kuta? We not beach or into partying
@@RoryandCasey oh so shud we just stick to ubud and nusa? We both are travelling for the first time and for honeymoon.. Is there any other place we can or shud go
Personally I would. I really like Ubud it's nice and relaxed and has a great vibe but it does get busy. Nusa Dua has more of a resort vibe and is perfect if you want to sit by the pool or the beach relaxing. I'd also look at Bingin/Uluwatu which I think is a perfect mix between the two with great food, amazing cliffs beaches bars and restaurants but also really relaxed
Lol. Tripadvisor still put Bali as the No.1 tourism destination in the world. Not Thailand, because Thailand full of scammers, even the woman are fake woman. Bali still the best despite minor number of scam that any country still have.
First trip to Bali, we hired a driver with car for the day. He was a local, very informative, cheap, so helpful and accommodating to our wishes. I recommend this. But ... he had a couple of little bundles of money in the centre console of the car and explained that he needed to have some "donut money", as the locals call it, for when police pull them over. Second trip was a day stop from the cruise we were on. Online quotes for taxi from Benoa to Seminyak were about USD10. There are many cars greeting the cruise lines, and there's a sandwich board with prices starting from USD35. I asked the obvious man in charge where I could get the USD10 taxi, and he tried to argue until I showed him the "official" web page. We ended up with a (not sure what to call it, but not a car) sort of cross between a tuktuk and small ute. Fabric walls and roof did not keep out the rain, and the driver spoke no English and had to pull over several times to ask locals for directions. Even I knew the way on main roads! That day I learned about Bluebird taksi.
Bali is a beautiful place but like anywhere else in the world there are bad people. I'm just trying to educate people on how to avoid the scams. I'd never advocate for avoiding an entire destination based on some scams.
I assure you it isn't. This is a video just meant to help people avoid the very very small percentage of people who are trying to do the wrong thing. If you have a different experience that's great and I'm glad noone has tried to scam you!
We had money changers try scam us at two places. As soon as we saw they were trying to take the money back we walked out. We asked them to leave it on the counter when they first counted it and we would just take from the counter and they were trying to do one of the take it back and take some cash back out of it, but we had heard of this type of scam so we refused to accept cash if they did not leave it on the counter and tried to handle it once counted in front of us. Especially as they had the higher and lower counter so they could take some back out of our eye line of sight.
I disagree. I’ve been travelling and have live in Asia for years… I’d consider myself a very worldly traveller not easily scammed. The slight of hand these money exchangers do is impressive they’d be at home on the Vegas strip if they weren’t ripping off tourists. Anyone can be scammed if they are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
What an ignorant person to say that. I’ve been 7 times and i nearly got scammed because they are so slick that you cannot actually see them do anything..just check your own count and don’t let them touch it again after your count
I have lived in Indonesia for 13 years and have never been scammed or paid a bribe. I have owned a few motorbikes and 2 cars and travelled thousands of kilometers around Indonesia. Loved every minute of it. I use ATM.
