Cambodia Travel Scams

Tuk-tuk drivers in Cambodia often take tourists on unnecessarily long routes to pass by shops or attractions where they earn commissions, such as weaving villages or gem stores near major roads. For example, a driver from Phnom Penh's Riverside to the Royal Palace might add a 10-15 minute detour via a silk shop, claiming it's a 'scenic route,' and then pressure riders to stop and buy, inflating a standard 5,000 KHR (about $1.25 USD) ride to demand tips or extra payments up to $5 USD.

In public areas like parks or temples across Cambodia, individuals dressed as Buddhist monks approach tourists asking for money or donations, but many are imposters not affiliated with any monastery. They might hand over a bracelet or amulet first, then demand payment, such as 10,000 KHR ($2.50 USD) in Phnom Penh's Wat Phnom, exploiting cultural respect for Buddhism to guilt tourists into giving.

Scammers in Cambodia install skimming devices on ATMs in tourist areas like Phnom Penh's street-side machines or Siem Reap's Pub Street, capturing card details while tourists withdraw money in USD or KHR. For instance, a device might be placed over the card slot, leading to unauthorized withdrawals of up to $500 USD, often combined with hidden cameras to record PINs.

Vendors at Phnom Penh's Central Market (Psar Thmei) target tourists by quoting exorbitant prices for items like souvenirs or silk scarves, starting at $20 USD when locals pay $5 USD, then using aggressive haggling to make buyers feel they've won a deal, often backed by claims of 'special tourist price' amid the market's bustling stalls near the dome.

In Phnom Penh areas like the Riverside, individuals posing as police officers stop tourists for alleged minor infractions, such as jaywalking, and demand on-the-spot bribes of $10-20 USD, using fake badges and uniforms to intimidate, especially near the Royal Palace where real police presence is high.

At Siem Reap's Angkor Wat complex, unlicensed guides approach tourists near the main entrance, offering 'free' tours but then demanding excessive fees, such as $50 USD for a 2-hour walk, far above the official $20-30 USD rate, and may push for tips or additional purchases like overpriced water at $2 USD per bottle from vendors inside the site.

In Siem Reap's Pub Street, bars add phantom charges to bills for drinks, charging $5 USD for a beer that should cost $1-2 USD, by claiming 'service fees' or miscounting items, targeting intoxicated tourists late at night amid the street's lively music and lights.

On Sihanoukville's Otres Beach, masseuses offer quick massages but extend sessions and demand higher payments, such as $15 USD for a 30-minute service that locals get for $5 USD, using persistent pressure in tourist-heavy areas with deck chairs and vendors.

Along Sihanoukville's Serendipity Beach, agents sell boat trips to islands like Koh Rong but cancel or switch to inferior boats, charging $30 USD per person but providing unsafe vessels without life jackets, then demanding extra for 'delays'.