Skip to content
Some scams

South America

Tourist scams in Argentina

Most visitors travel in Argentina without an incident, but petty theft and tourist scams are worth preparing for. Watch for pickpockets, distraction theft, taxi fare tricks and street money exchanges, especially in Buenos Aires and around busy transport terminals.
  1. 1 TheftCommonPickpocketingSomeone takes your wallet or other valuables from a pocket or bag. You may not notice until much later.Crowded city streets, the subway, public transport and busy markets. 2Read
  2. 2 TheftCommonDistraction theftSomeone distracts you while another person takes your belongings. Several people may work together.Buenos Aires 2Read
  3. 3 TheftCommonMustard or cream distractionOne person sprays mustard, hand cream or another substance on you. An accomplice offers to help clean it off while the group steals your belongings.Buenos Aires 2Read
  4. 4 TheftCommonBag snatchingA thief grabs a bag and leaves before you can react.Buenos Aires 1Read
  5. 5 TheftCommonSlitting handbagsA thief cuts a handbag to reach its contents without opening it.Buenos Aires 1Read
  6. 6 TheftCommonTheft from bags left out of reachA thief takes a bag or its contents while it hangs behind your chair or sits unattended. In Mendoza, thieves may take bags that arriving passengers put down.Cafes and restaurants across Argentina, and around Mendoza's bus terminal, especially after early-morning arrivals.Read
  7. 7 TaxisCommonTaxi detoursThe driver takes an indirect route to increase the metered fare. The guide describes this across Argentina, with specific warnings for Buenos Aires and La Plata.City taxi journeys, including pickups near tourist attractions such as the National Museum. La Plata's diagonal avenues can make unnecessary detours hard to spot. 1Read
  8. 8 NightlifeCommonFree presentation or massage trapA street recruiter offers an "apresentación" or a supposedly free encounter with massage girls. Inside, people physically block your exit until you pay a large sum.Buenos Aires 1Read
  9. 9 TaxisOccasionalTaxi meter left offThe driver does not start the meter and later demands a very high fare.Buenos Aires 1Read
  10. 10 TaxisOccasionalTaxi short-changingThe driver gives incorrect change or says they cannot change a large note.Taxi journeys, including tourist-area pickups. 1Read
  11. 11 TaxisOccasionalCounterfeit taxi changeA driver gives counterfeit notes as change. This is described as less common than unnecessary taxi detours.Taxi payments. 3Read
  12. 12 Changing moneyOccasionalStreet currency exchange rip-offsStreet currency dealers offer informal exchanges where you risk receiving the wrong value or questionable notes. Dealers are called arbolitos and may operate from cuevas. The guide also warns that money can be confiscated during police action.Street exchanges, especially Florida Street in Buenos Aires. 2Read
  13. 13 On the streetOccasionalUnasked-for cards followed by a payment demandSomeone hands you a card showing a horoscope, lottery numbers, a saint or a drawing. If you accept it, they ask for money.Streets and the subway.Read
  14. 14 On the streetOccasionalTraveller pretending to have been robbedA foreign traveller claims to have been robbed and asks to borrow money for a bus ride.MendozaRead
  15. 15 Buses and trainsOccasionalBicycle hire overchargingHire prices are negotiable, and operators may charge as much as they think you will pay. Some available bikes are old and in poor condition.MendozaRead
  16. 16 Fake officialsCommonTraffic-stop bribe requestsA police officer asks for a bribe during a traffic stop. The guide describes these requests as often occurring, though officers are reportedly not very pushy.Traffic stops. 2Read
  17. 17 TheftOccasionalMuggingAn assailant threatens you and demands your phone, wallet, jewelry or other valuables. Violent robberies are described as uncommon overall.Quiet streets, especially at night. Rosario also has reports of theft through direct confrontation in daylight. 2Read
  18. 18 Airport and borderOccasionalTheft from checked luggageAirport security workers were reported stealing electronics, sunglasses and jewelry from checked bags in 2007. The guide says there have been no further reports since then.Airports; no specific airport is named for this theft. 1Read
  19. 19 TheftOccasionalKidnapping for forced ATM withdrawalsIn past cases, victims were seized and forced to withdraw money from ATMs. The guide describes this as highly unlikely, especially for tourists.Buenos Aires 1Read

Where to stay alert

  • Florida Street, Buenos AiresStreet currency dealers operate here. It is also named for the free-presentation or massage trap.
  • Corrientes Avenue, Buenos AiresNamed for street recruiters who lure visitors into venues and demand money before allowing them to leave.
  • Lavalle Avenue, Buenos AiresNamed for the free-presentation or massage trap.
  • National Museum, Buenos AiresTaxis waiting outside tourist attractions such as this are linked to a higher risk of fare tricks.
  • San Telmo, Buenos AiresA specific warning covers handbag slitting in this popular tourist area.
  • Plaza Dorrego and Defensa Street, from Chile to San Juan, Buenos AiresSunday market crowds are thick, and visitors are warned to watch their possessions.
  • Retiro, Buenos AiresNamed as an area requiring extra caution. Train and bus stations are also settings for distraction theft.
  • La Boca, Buenos AiresNamed among neighbourhoods where visitors should seek local safety advice and use extra caution.
  • Villa Lugano, Buenos AiresNamed among neighbourhoods with safety concerns.
  • Villa Riachuelo, Buenos AiresNamed among neighbourhoods with safety concerns.
  • Estacion Terminal MendozaThe surrounding area is linked to fake robbed-traveller stories and theft of bags put down after early arrivals.
  • Maipu, MendozaNamed as a crime hotspot, with advice against wandering alone at night after wine tasting.
  • Las Heras, MendozaNamed as a crime hotspot. Local accounts place many problems east of the train line.
  • The villa between Vera Mujica and Av. Francia Bis., RosarioNamed as an area to avoid because of crime, near Alto Rosario shopping centre.

Habits that keep you safe

Taxis

  • In Buenos Aires, choose a radio taxi or use BA Taxi. Your hotel or restaurant can also call one.
  • Check the driver's displayed details and make sure the meter starts.
  • Carry small notes and count your change.
  • Check your route, especially around La Plata's diagonal avenues.
  • At Ezeiza, arrange a service taxi from the booth after customs or coordinate your ride-hailing pickup with the driver.

Money

  • Use banks or official exchange offices and compare rates.
  • Count and inspect notes whenever you exchange cash.
  • Avoid showing large amounts of money in public.
  • Go with someone when collecting money at Western Union.
  • Check the identification requirements before visiting an exchange office; do not assume a passport copy will be accepted.

Cards and ATMs

  • Choose an ATM inside a bank or at a bank branch rather than an independent machine.
  • Read the withdrawal limit and fee before accepting. High fees alone are not evidence of a scam.
  • Cover your PIN and keep your card in sight when paying.
  • Keep your card issuer's contact details somewhere separate from your wallet.

Your belongings

  • Keep bags in front of you on crowded transport and streets.
  • Keep your bag between your feet at cafes and restaurants.
  • Keep hold of luggage at stations, especially after overnight journeys.
  • Carry a copy of your passport for everyday identification and secure the original when it is not needed.
  • Pack valuables in carry-on luggage.

Nights out

  • Decline street invitations promising a free presentation or massage.
  • Arrange a taxi or ride-hailing trip for late journeys.
  • Ask trusted staff about a safe route before leaving.
  • Avoid walking alone through quiet or unfamiliar areas at night.

Tours and guides

  • If visiting a villa, go only with a reputable guide or tour company.
  • For bicycle hire in Mendoza, agree the total price and inspect the bike before paying.

Police and officials

  • Stay calm and polite during a traffic stop.
  • Ask for written details and the official process for any fine.
  • Record details of a questionable payment request once you can do so safely.

What travellers say about Argentina

Discussions on other sites, summarised in our words. Open a link to read the full thread.

Questions

Are scams likely to ruin my trip to Argentina?

Most visitors travel without an incident. Petty theft is a more likely concern than violent robbery. Keep your belongings close and be cautious with unexpected offers.

What should I do if someone spills mustard or cream on me?

Keep hold of your belongings, decline help and move away. Clean yourself somewhere safe. The spill and offer of help may be a coordinated theft.

How do I avoid taxi fare tricks?

Choose a radio taxi, check the driver's details and make sure the meter starts. Follow the route on a map. Use small notes and count your change.

Should I exchange money with people calling out on the street?

A bank or official exchange office is the safer choice. Street dealers, especially on Florida Street, carry a risk of being ripped off. Check the rate and inspect all notes.

Are high ATM fees a scam?

Not necessarily. ATMs can have high fees and low withdrawal limits for foreign cards. Read the displayed charges before agreeing and choose a machine at a bank.

Where should I keep my bag while eating?

Keep it between your feet and within reach. Do not hang it behind your chair. Use a bag clip if the chair provides one.

What should I watch for at Mendoza's bus terminal?

Keep hold of your luggage, especially after an early-morning arrival. Be cautious of strangers who claim to have been robbed and ask to borrow bus money.

Is a free presentation or massage invitation safe?

Decline street invitations of this kind. In central Buenos Aires, visitors have been lured inside and prevented from leaving until they paid.

What should I do during a mugging?

Hand over the requested belongings and do not resist. Leave the area as soon as you can, then contact police and freeze stolen cards.

Where can I get help in English after a theft?

Buenos Aires Tourist Police offers help in English at Corrientes 436. Call +54 11 4346 5748 or 0800 999 5000 within Argentina. For immediate danger, call 911.

Reviewed by