Travel Scams
in Argentina

Argentina's most-reported tourist scam operates in two steps. First, an accomplice squirts mustard, ketchup, fake bird droppings, or water on you from behind — or drops it from above. Second, a "concerned local" immediately approaches to help you clean up. While you're distracted, one or more accomplices rifle through your bag or pick your pockets. The whole operation takes under 60 seconds. It is most active on Florida Street (pedestrian shopping street), in San Telmo, and around tourist-heavy plazas.

• If anything lands on you: do not stop, do not look down, do not engage with anyone who approaches. Walk away immediately to a secure location.
• Wear a cross-body bag worn in front — not a backpack — in all tourist areas of Buenos Aires.
• Keep your phone in a front trouser pocket or inner jacket pocket rather than in your hand.
• Walk with purpose and awareness in tourist areas — distraction criminals look for people absorbed in their phones or maps.

Two or three men in plain clothes approach tourists, show fake police badges, and claim they are conducting a "routine drug check" or "counterfeit money investigation." They ask to see your wallet and passport. During the inspection, they swap cash, palm cards, or simply pocket items and return an "inspected" wallet with missing contents. A variation: they first warn you that "fake police are operating in the area" and offer to check your cash is genuine — then steal it themselves.

• Real Argentine police never conduct random wallet or passport inspections on tourists in the street — ever.
• Do not hand over your wallet, passport, or any cash to anyone claiming to be police on the street.
• If approached, say calmly: "I'll happily go with you to the nearest police station" (Vamos a la comisaría). Genuine officers won't object; scammers will leave immediately.
• If you feel unsafe, walk into any shop, café, or hotel and ask staff to call the police.

Ezeiza International Airport is a known hotspot for unofficial taxi touts who approach arrivals with inflated prices and, in some cases, have been linked to express kidnappings where passengers were taken to ATMs and forced to withdraw cash. On Buenos Aires streets, unofficial "pirate taxis" (remises without proper registration) overcharge and in some cases tamper with change. The currency "fast swap" — receiving change that appears correct but contains old invalid notes — occurs in taxis.

• At Ezeiza: use only the official Tienda León bus (to Madero or Retiro) or book a pre-paid transfer through the official airport transfer desk inside arrivals. Never accept offers from anyone in the arrivals hall.
• In Buenos Aires: use Cabify, InDrive, or Uber — all work reliably, show prices upfront, and eliminate cash disputes.
• If you must use a street taxi, only take black-and-yellow Radio Taxis called via phone or app — never flag one from the street in unfamiliar areas.
• Check change carefully before the taxi driver leaves — old ARS notes that are no longer legal tender look similar to current ones.

Street ATMs in Argentina have a significant card skimming and shoulder-surfing problem. "Helpful strangers" loiter near ATMs and offer assistance — then watch your PIN or distract you while an accomplice takes your card. Card cloning devices (skimmers) have been found on ATMs in tourist-heavy areas. In some cases a scammer will "accidentally" bump you as you withdraw cash, causing you to drop notes which they help "collect" — keeping some in the process.

• Use ATMs inside bank branches during business hours — never standalone street ATMs, particularly at night.
• Cover the keypad with your other hand when entering your PIN — every single time.
• Decline all offers of "help" at ATMs from anyone nearby — ignore anyone who speaks to you while you are at the machine.
• Use a travel card (Revolut, Wise) with instant transaction notifications — you'll know immediately if a fraudulent withdrawal occurs.

Some tourist-heavy restaurants in Buenos Aires show an attractive menu outside (or online), then bring a different, higher-priced menu once seated. "Cubierto" (cover charge) fees are legitimately charged at many Argentine restaurants but the amount is sometimes inflated on tourist bills. Bill padding — adding items not ordered, charging for bread that should be part of the cubierto, or including "service charges" not shown on the menu — is common near the main tourist corridors.

• Confirm that the menu you're handed matches the one displayed outside before ordering.
• Check the cubierto (cover charge) amount when you sit down — a standard cubierto in Buenos Aires is ARS 500–2,000 per person.
• Review your bill in full before paying and query any items you don't recognise.
• Avoid restaurants with aggressive touts outside who steer cruise passengers or tour groups in — they rely on volume over quality.

The street cry of "¡Cambio, cambio!" (exchange, exchange!) is still heard on Florida Street from unofficial money changers. With Argentina's exchange rate reforms, the premium they offer over official rates has shrunk dramatically — making the risk far less worthwhile. Street changers still use classic tricks: fast-counting, inserting old invalid-denomination notes into bundles, and short-changing on the total. You can also be set up for a robbery once you've exchanged and are visibly carrying pesos.

• With exchange rates now much closer to the official rate, street exchange offers minimal benefit — use official casas de cambio or bank ATMs instead.
• If using a casa de cambio, use well-reviewed, established operators in the city centre — never an individual on the street.
• Familiarise yourself with current ARS denomination notes before arriving — old invalidated notes are passed to tourists who don't know the difference.
• Count money carefully in the exchange office before leaving — never on the street where you are exposed.