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Common in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Scam in Bosnia and HerzegovinaBuses and trains

Inflated or unreceipted station tax in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo East Bus Station, also called Istočno or Lukavica.

How it works

Staff ask tourists for twice the station tax or collect the money without issuing the proper receipt and keep it themselves.

Warning signs

  • You are asked for more than 2 KM per person for the station tax.
  • Staff do not provide a receipt showing the 2 KM charge.

How to avoid it

  1. Ask for the station-tax amount before paying.
  2. Insist on a receipt showing 2 KM per person.
  3. Keep the receipt with your travel ticket.

If it happens to you

Ask staff to explain the charge and provide the receipt. Keep any payment evidence and report an unresolved dispute to station management or police.

  1. Move somewhere safe. Do not chase a thief or continue an argument if you feel threatened.
  2. Check what you have lost. Freeze missing cards and contact your card issuer about disputed payments.
  3. If your phone was stolen, use its lost-device tools and contact your mobile provider to block the SIM.
  4. Save receipts, tickets, messages and payment records. Write down the time, place and any vehicle or person details.
  5. Report theft, fraud or threats to police. Ask for a report number or written record for your insurer.
  6. Contact your insurer if you have cover. Contact your embassy or consulate if your passport is missing or you need consular help.
What it can costThe station tax is listed as 2 KM per person as of July 2024. Some staff ask twice that amount.
Where it happensSarajevo East Bus Station, also called Istočno or Lukavica.Sarajevo

What travellers report

Posts about this scam on other sites, summarised in our words. Open one to read the original.

More scams in Bosnia and HerzegovinaPickpocketing: how to avoid it

Questions

What is the inflated or unreceipted station tax scam in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Staff ask tourists for twice the station tax or collect the money without issuing the proper receipt and keep it themselves.

How can I spot it early?

You are asked for more than 2 KM per person for the station tax. Staff do not provide a receipt showing the 2 KM charge.

How do I avoid inflated or unreceipted station tax in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Ask for the station-tax amount before paying. Insist on a receipt showing 2 KM per person. Keep the receipt with your travel ticket.

What should I do if it happens to me?

Ask staff to explain the charge and provide the receipt. Keep any payment evidence and report an unresolved dispute to station management or police.

Where in Bosnia and Herzegovina does this happen?

Sarajevo East Bus Station, also called Istočno or Lukavica. It has been reported in Sarajevo.

How much can it cost me?

The station tax is listed as 2 KM per person as of July 2024. Some staff ask twice that amount.

How common is this scam in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Common. Most transactions in Bosnia and Herzegovina are honest, and violent crime is uncommon. Taxi scams are common in Sarajevo, especially at the airport and main stations. Other concerns include pickpockets, inflated market prices, inflated station charges and pressure for police bribes.

Who can I report it to?

Police: call 122 for police help. For a non-urgent theft or fraud report, visit a police station with your evidence and ask for a written record. Cantonal Police Station / Policijska stanica Centar, Sarajevo: the listed address is Augusta Brauna 5. Telephone: +387 33 226 676. Email: ps.centar@mup.ks.gov.ba. Card issuer or bank: use your banking app or the issuer's official contact number to freeze a stolen card and report disputed transactions. Taxi operator or station management: report an overcharge with the receipt, journey or ticket details, time and vehicle plate where available. Embassy or consulate: use your embassy's or consulate's official contact details for a lost passport or consular help after a serious incident. Travel insurer: contact the claims service and keep police records, receipts and proof of the loss.

What number do I call in an emergency in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

General emergency: 112, Police: 122, Fire: 123, Ambulance: 124.

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