Cambodia is generally a safe country for tourists, but like any popular travel destination, it has its share of minor scams and overcharging schemes aimed at visitors. None of these are dangerous, but knowing about them in advance saves both money and frustration — see our Is Cambodia Safe for Tourists guide for the broader safety picture.
Tuk-Tuk and Taxi Overcharging
The most common scam tourists encounter is simple overcharging for tuk-tuk or taxi rides, particularly from drivers waiting outside airports, bus stations, and major tourist sites who quote inflated prices to visitors unfamiliar with local rates. Agree on a price before getting in, or use a ride-hailing app where available, which shows the fare upfront and removes any ambiguity. Asking your guesthouse for a rough estimate of a fair price before heading out is also a simple, effective safeguard.
Fake or Inflated Temple Ticket Sellers
Around Angkor Wat and other major sites, unofficial vendors sometimes approach tourists offering to sell tickets or skip-the-line services — always buy Angkor passes directly from the official ticket office, never from a street vendor or unofficial tout, since tickets sold this way may be invalid or overpriced.
The Closed Attraction Trick
A well-known scam involves a tuk-tuk driver or a stranger informing you that your intended destination (a temple, border crossing, or tourist site) is closed today, then offering to take you somewhere else — often a shop or a different attraction where they receive a commission. Verify closures independently through your guesthouse or a quick search rather than taking a stranger’s word for it, especially if the suggestion conveniently redirects you to a specific shop.
Currency Confusion
Cambodia uses both US dollars and Cambodian riel, and change is sometimes given in a mix of both at an unfavorable exchange rate for the tourist. Familiarize yourself with the rough riel-to-dollar exchange rate before your trip, and count change carefully, particularly at markets and with street vendors.
Overpriced or Fake Goods at Markets
Markets in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh sometimes sell items marketed as genuine antiques or handicrafts that are actually mass-produced reproductions at inflated prices. Bargaining is expected and normal at most markets, and treating quoted prices as a starting point rather than a fixed price is standard practice throughout Cambodia.
Border Crossing Scams
At land border crossings, particularly with Thailand, unofficial agents sometimes offer to expedite visa processing for an extra fee, or direct travelers to a fake visa office before the real border. Use only official government visa channels — see our Cambodia visa guide for the legitimate process — and be wary of anyone approaching you before you reach the actual official border checkpoint.
General Precautions
Keep small bills handy for minor purchases to avoid change disputes, use ATMs attached to reputable banks rather than standalone machines in less secure locations, and trust your instincts if a deal or offer seems unusually good or a situation feels rushed and pressured.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cambodia safe from scams for tourists?
Yes, most scams in Cambodia are minor overcharging schemes rather than serious crimes, and being aware of the common ones significantly reduces your risk of falling for them.
How do I avoid tuk-tuk overcharging in Cambodia?
The Friendship Bracelet and Begging Children Scam
In heavily touristed areas around Angkor Wat and Phnom Penh, some children are sent out by adults to sell trinkets, friendship bracelets, or postcards, or to ask for money directly, often as part of an organized operation rather than independent activity. While it can feel harsh to decline, giving money directly to begging children can perpetuate this practice and keep children out of school — donating instead to a reputable local charity working on child welfare is a more effective way to help.
The Broken Meter or No-Meter Taxi
Some taxi drivers, particularly around airports, claim their meter is broken or simply refuse to use one, then negotiate a fare well above the standard rate once the journey has already started, when the tourist has less leverage to walk away. Insisting on the meter upfront, or agreeing to a fixed price before departure using a rough sense of the standard rate, prevents this from becoming an issue mid-journey.
Fake Monk Blessings
Occasionally, individuals dressed as monks approach tourists offering a blessing or a small gift of beads, then request a donation — sometimes an aggressive one — afterward. Genuine Buddhist monks in Cambodia do not solicit money from tourists in this way, and politely declining and walking on is the appropriate response to this particular approach.
Overpriced SIM Cards and Airport Services
Vendors immediately outside airport arrival areas sometimes charge significantly more for SIM cards, currency exchange, and transport than official counters or in-town shops. Where possible, wait until you reach an official telecom shop in town, or research typical SIM card prices before arrival so you can recognize an inflated quote immediately.
Staying Alert Without Being Paranoid
None of these scams should discourage a Cambodia trip — they are minor, well-documented nuisances rather than serious threats, and the vast majority of interactions with tuk-tuk drivers, vendors, and locals are entirely genuine and friendly. A little awareness goes a long way, and most travelers who read even a brief scam overview before their trip encounter few if any issues during their visit.
If something does go wrong — an overcharge you cannot resolve, or a more serious dispute — Cambodia’s tourist police, present in major destinations like Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, are generally helpful and used to handling exactly these kinds of minor tourist complaints, and involving them is a reasonable step if a situation cannot be resolved directly.
Agree on a price before getting in, use a ride-hailing app where available, or ask your guesthouse for a rough fair-price estimate beforehand.
Should I buy Angkor Wat tickets from street vendors?
No, always buy Angkor passes directly from the official ticket office to ensure they are valid and correctly priced.
What should I do if someone tells me an attraction is closed?
Verify independently through your guesthouse or a quick online search before trusting a stranger’s claim, especially if they then suggest an alternative destination.