Travel Scams
in Cambodia

Cambodia's tuk-tuk commission network is the backbone of most tourist financial traps. Drivers earn commissions from guesthouses (bringing a new guest), restaurants (bringing diners), silk and gem shops, tailors, and "cultural show" venues. The scam takes several specific forms: the guesthouse you booked is "closed," "full," or "moved" — and the driver takes you to an alternative where he earns a commission; the restaurant recommendation leads to overpriced tourist-facing menus; the "free" city tour ends at commission venues. Drivers are not malicious — they are operating a rational economic system. But their financial interests are not aligned with yours.

• Use PassApp or Grab for transport in Phnom Penh — both apps provide upfront pricing with no commission incentives to route you elsewhere.
• In Siem Reap, agree a daily rate with a tuk-tuk driver for Angkor temple touring (USD 15–20/day is standard) and be explicit that you will choose your own restaurants and accommodation.
• If a driver tells you your booked guesthouse is closed, full, or moved — go there anyway. It is almost certainly open, and the driver earns a commission from the alternative he suggests.
• Ignore all recommendations from drivers for gem shops, silk shops, or tailors. These are always commission-based and never in your financial interest.

Angkor tickets are one of the most counterfeited documents in Southeast Asian tourism. Drivers and street sellers near Siem Reap offer discount tickets claiming they have legitimate access to reduced-price passes — these are either forgeries or stolen blank passes that will be rejected at the temple gates. The official ticket centres are clearly marked on the main approach road to the complex; there is no legitimate way to buy Angkor tickets anywhere else. Prices are USD 37 (one day), USD 62 (three days), and USD 72 (seven days). Your photo is taken at the ticket centre and printed on your pass — any ticket without your photo is invalid.

• Buy Angkor tickets only at the official Angkor Enterprise ticket centres on the main approach road — there are two (one on the way in, the main centre near the east entrance road). No other source is legitimate.
• Your photo is taken at the ticket counter and printed on the card — this is standard procedure, not an optional extra.
• Do not buy from tuk-tuk drivers, guesthouses, street sellers, or any online source claiming to offer discount Angkor passes.
• Tickets are date-specific — a three-day pass has three separate days stamped on it and must be used on the dates selected at purchase.
• The official Angkor Enterprise website (angkorwat.org) does not currently sell tickets online in advance — purchase is in person at the centres.

Cambodia's gem scam is among the most elaborate in Southeast Asia. It begins with a friendly local — often a well-dressed woman claiming to be a nurse, teacher, or government employee — who strikes up conversation, establishes trust over hours, then reveals that a family member works at a gem export business where tourists can buy gems at wholesale prices to resell at profit in their home country. The gems are worthless. Losses of USD 500–5,000 are documented. The card game variant involves being invited to a family home to play a "lucky" card game — you win the first hands, then are encouraged to bet large amounts before the host's relatives clean you out. Both scams rely on extended trust-building that makes them feel genuine.

• Anyone who approaches you on the street and builds unusually warm, personal rapport very quickly is very likely running a scam — the time and effort invested in friendliness is the investment before the ask.
• There is no legitimate opportunity in Cambodia to buy wholesale gems for resale at profit in your home country. This scenario does not exist.
• Never enter a private home with someone you met on the street, regardless of how friendly and genuine they appear.
• The "my cousin/brother/family member works at a gem export business" framing is the standard setup for this scam in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand — recognise it immediately.

Drink spiking in Cambodia's tourist nightlife areas is documented by multiple embassies and is not rare. The typical scenario involves a person who befriends the tourist at a bar, buys or handles a drink, and adds a sedative — typically scopolamine, GHB, or a similar agent — that causes rapid and severe disorientation or loss of consciousness. The victim is then robbed of their phone, wallet, and valuables. Some incidents involve being taken by the perpetrator's companions to ATMs while sedated. Phnom Penh's riverside bars and Street 51/Pontoon area have the highest documented concentration of incidents.

• Never accept drinks from strangers or leave your drink unattended. If you step away from your drink — even briefly — consider it compromised and order a new one.
• Never accept opened bottles, pre-poured drinks, or cocktails you did not watch being made at the bar.
• If you feel unexpectedly and rapidly intoxicated after one or two drinks, alert a companion or bar staff immediately. Don't leave alone with anyone you just met.
• Go out with people you trust and establish a buddy system — agree that no one leaves alone and that check-ins occur at regular intervals.
• Stick to reputable, well-lit bars with genuine security staff rather than moving through multiple unfamiliar venues in one evening.

Bag snatching from motorbikes is Phnom Penh's most common violent crime against tourists. A rider (sometimes with a pillion passenger) targets people walking on the pavement carrying bags, phones, or cameras. The snatch is fast — the bike is alongside before the target can react, grabs the strap or device, and accelerates. Injuries occur when victims hold on — broken wrists, shoulder dislocations, and falls onto the road are documented consequences. Phone snatching has increased dramatically with smartphone prevalence — anyone using a phone visibly while walking is a target.

• Carry bags on the building side of the pavement, not the road side — the strap should be across your body with the bag away from traffic.
• Do not use your phone while walking on any Phnom Penh street. Step into a shop, café, or enclosed space before taking out your phone.
• Keep cameras inside a bag rather than hanging from your neck when walking between sites.
• If a snatch occurs, release the bag immediately rather than resisting — the physical risk of being dragged is greater than the financial loss.
• Use PassApp or Grab for even short distances in tourist areas rather than walking with valuables along the riverside.

Cambodia has numerous shooting ranges that offer tourists the chance to fire military weapons — AK-47s, M16s, and RPGs. Many of these operate legally or semi-legally. The scam component involves price manipulation: tourists are quoted a per-bullet price and encouraged by staff to fire additional rounds beyond what they planned, running up bills far above the initial quote. Some ranges also add "handling fees," "safety fees," and other charges that were not mentioned. More seriously, some ranges operating outside formal oversight have safety issues — improperly maintained weapons and inadequate supervision.

• Agree a total price for a specific number of rounds before picking up any weapon — do not agree to "per bullet" pricing without a cap.
• Confirm all fees in writing or on a clearly displayed price list before starting.
• If staff encourage you to fire more rounds or upgrade to larger weapons, this is upselling at your expense — decline firmly.
• Use only ranges with formal safety procedures, hearing protection provided, and clear range master oversight.

Cambodia's land border crossings — particularly the busy Poipet crossing from Thailand and the Bavet/Moc Bai crossing from Vietnam — have a documented practice of unofficial "processing fees," "overtime charges" (even during normal business hours), and demands for additional payments beyond the official visa fee. Officers sometimes claim a document is wrong or missing, requiring a "fine" to process. Unofficial "helpers" near border crossings also offer to assist with paperwork for fees — they provide no genuine service. The official visa-on-arrival fee is USD 30; no additional fees are legitimate.

• Apply for the Cambodia e-Visa before travel at evisa.gov.kh for USD 36 — having approved documentation reduces leverage for unofficial fee demands at the border.
• The official visa-on-arrival fee is USD 30. Any additional "processing fee," "overtime charge," or "stamp fee" is unofficial and not legally required — though paying USD 1–2 to move along is a practical decision many travellers make.
• Decline all offers from "helpers" near border crossings — they take money and provide no service that you cannot perform yourself.
• At Poipet, the main Thailand-Cambodia crossing, casino towns on the Cambodian side create a particularly aggressive tout environment — move through quickly and go directly to your onward transport.

ATM card skimming — attaching overlay devices to card slots with pinhole cameras to capture PINs — is documented in Cambodia, particularly on standalone ATMs away from bank branches. Cambodia is a primarily cash economy and ATM use is high among tourists, creating incentive for skimming operations. A secondary risk is the "helpful local" who assists with an ATM transaction and observes the PIN.

• Use ATMs only inside bank branches or in well-lit, monitored locations — ANZ Royal, ABA Bank, and Acleda Bank ATMs inside branches are the safest options.
• Cover the keypad with your hand when entering your PIN every time without exception.
• Check the card slot and keypad for any unusual fitting or overlay before inserting your card.
• Withdraw sufficient cash for several days at a time to reduce ATM exposure — Cambodia is cash-heavy and USD is accepted everywhere.
• Decline all unsolicited assistance at ATMs regardless of how helpful it appears.