Paraguay Travel Scams
Paraguay is genuinely safe for travelers who stay alert, but Asuncion and the border city of Ciudad del Este have well-documented traps. This page covers taxi meter rigging, bag snatching, and counterfeit goods, with real prices to check against.
Paraguay Scam Overview 2026
Asuncion is where most visitors spend the bulk of their time, and it's generally considered the most straightforward city in the country to navigate safely. The historic center around Plaza de los Heroes, the Costanera waterfront, and the Villa Morra and Carmelitas neighborhoods are popular with tourists and reasonably well-policed, though parts of the riverfront and the area around Mercado 4 carry a higher petty-crime risk, especially after dark. Ciudad del Este, the country's second city and a major commercial hub on the Brazilian border, draws shoppers for its discount electronics market and carries its own specific set of overcharging and counterfeit-goods risks.
Paraguay's tourist scams fall into three categories. The first is transport overcharging, mainly rigged or unmetered taxis, common in traffic-heavy zones leading into Asuncion. The second is opportunistic street crime: motochorros (motorcycle-based bag snatchers), distraction-based pickpocketing in markets and bus terminals, and ATM skimming. The third is commercial overcharging and counterfeit goods, most visible in Ciudad del Este's shopping district and at tourist-facing vendors along Asuncion's Costanera. All three are well documented and manageable with ordinary street awareness.
Armed robbery and motorcycle-based muggings occur in Asuncion and Greater Asuncion. Tourists aren't usually targeted specifically, but opportunistic incidents happen.
The most consistently reported tourist scam, especially on routes leading into Asuncion from the airport.
Motorcycle-based snatch theft is specifically named by government advisories as a recurring tactic in Paraguayan cities.
Concentrated at Mercado 4, bus terminals, and crowded markets in Asuncion and Ciudad del Este.
Paraguay Safety at a Glance
Asuncion Scams
Asuncion splits cleanly between well-policed, tourist-friendly neighborhoods and areas that carry genuinely higher crime risk, sometimes just a street or two apart. Knowing the difference matters more here than in most other capitals on this site.
🏍 Motochorro Bag Snatching
A motochorro is a thief operating from a moving motorcycle, a tactic specifically named in government travel advisories for Paraguay. Riders pull up fast alongside a pedestrian, sometimes flashing a weapon, and grab a bag or phone before speeding off. It's usually over in seconds and isn't typically violent beyond the initial grab, but it's startling and effective.
Keep your phone out of sight while walking rather than holding it openly, and wear a crossbody bag positioned away from the street rather than a shoulder bag that can be grabbed easily. Avoid walking close to the curb on quieter streets, and stay especially alert in the city peripheries and lower-income surrounding municipalities, where this tactic is more concentrated.
👷 Mercado 4 Distraction Theft
Thieves work in teams at Asuncion's dense Mercado 4 market and around bus terminals, distracting visitors with a question about directions or a staged spill, then lifting a wallet or phone from a bag while attention is diverted, often near food stalls where crowds are densest.
Keep bags zipped and worn in front of your body in crowded market areas, and be cautious of unsolicited help or sudden distractions, especially if a second person seems to be positioning themselves nearby. Avoid the area entirely after dark.
🍹 Costanera Tourist Overpricing
Some vendors along the popular Costanera promenade charge tourists noticeably more than locals pay for the same item, tereré (Paraguay's iced yerba mate drink) being a commonly cited example, sometimes justified with a claim of a "special tourist blend" or vague signage.
Buy from established stalls with clearly posted prices, which are common along the promenade and often accept card payment. Observing what locals are paying nearby, or simply asking the price before ordering, avoids most of this.
🛡️ Service-Person Impersonation
Not strictly a tourist street scam, but worth knowing if you're staying in a rental or longer-term accommodation: government advisories note that robbers sometimes dress as service people, repair technicians, utility workers, to gain entry to a home or unit.
Don't let anyone in claiming to be a service worker unless you have a confirmed, pre-arranged appointment, and verify through your host or building management if anything seems unannounced.
Ciudad del Este & Border Scams
Ciudad del Este, near the Friendship Bridge connecting Paraguay to Brazil, is a major shopping destination known for discounted electronics and goods. The tourist-facing commercial district is generally manageable, but it carries its own specific set of overcharging and counterfeit risks, separate from the more serious organized-crime concerns affecting the wider tri-border region.
📱 Counterfeit Electronics
Vendors in makeshift stalls sell counterfeit phones, cameras, and other branded electronics as genuine at a discount, with quality and authenticity that often falls apart shortly after purchase.
Verify serial numbers and original packaging before buying anything, and check products against official importer lists where possible. Stick to established, well-reviewed shops rather than the cheapest informal stall, and be skeptical of any deal that seems too good for a major brand.
💳 Unofficial Border "Assistance" Fees
Unofficial guides near the border crossing offer "assistance" with customs paperwork or border procedures, charging significant fees for forms and processes that are actually free, sometimes claiming a mandatory tip or expedited-service charge.
Handle border crossing procedures independently using official kiosks or apps, which provide free guidance. Decline unsolicited offers of help near the crossing, and report persistent or aggressive solicitation to border police, who patrol the area.
🎉 Counterfeit Carnival Tickets
During Encarnacion's annual Carnival, reportedly Paraguay's largest, scalpers near the main venue sell counterfeit tickets that get confiscated at the gate, catching out visitors unfamiliar with the event.
Buy tickets only from official booths or the event's official website in advance, where secure online options are typically available.
Booking through GetYourGuide means a licensed operator and a fixed price agreed before you go, removing the negotiation around an unsolicited offer near the border.
Taxi & Transport Scams
Taxi overcharging is the most reliably reported tourist scam in Paraguay, and unlike many countries, the issue here is as much about rigged meters as it is about unlicensed drivers refusing to use one at all.
🚕 Rigged Taxi Meters & Route Padding
Some taxi drivers in urban areas run meters rigged to climb faster than they should, turning a standard fare into double the expected charge, a pattern particularly noted on highways leading into Asuncion from Silvio Pettirossi International Airport. Others simply don't use a meter at all and negotiate a flat rate, or claim they can't provide change for a large bill once you're committed.
Agree on a fixed fare before getting in, using a simple phrase like "Cuanto cuesta hasta [destination]?" to confirm in Spanish or Guarani. Opt for registered taxis with visible company logos, or use a ride-hailing app like Bolt or inDriver, which show a fixed price upfront and operate in major cities. Carry small-denomination notes so a driver can't claim they have no change for an inflated amount.
🚌 Unregistered Taxis Near Bus Terminals
Drivers operating unmarked vehicles near bus terminals approach travelers offering rides at a "discounted" rate, then demand double the agreed price on arrival. Australian and Canadian government advisories also specifically note that passengers have been robbed in unregistered taxis that merely appear official.
Use only registered taxi companies or ride-hailing apps that keep a record of the driver. Book taxis through your hotel or by phone, especially after dark, rather than accepting an offer from someone approaching you directly near a terminal.
🚌 Bus & Long-Distance Transport Pickpocketing
Buses are cheap but often poorly maintained and a known target for pickpockets, especially on crowded city routes. The Canadian government specifically warns about elevated theft risk during bus transit through higher-crime areas.
Keep your phone and valuables in a front pocket or zipped bag rather than visible in hand or in a back pocket while riding crowded buses, and stay alert during boarding and alighting, when distraction theft is most common.
Money & ATM Scams
Paraguay uses the guarani (PYG). Counterfeit banknotes are specifically flagged by more than one government advisory, and ATM-related theft, both skimming and opportunistic robbery after a withdrawal, is a recurring concern in Asuncion.
🚴 ATM Skimming & Post-Withdrawal Robbery
Skimming devices are attached to ATMs in high-traffic areas to capture card details and PINs, with older, less-monitored machines being the typical target. Separately, and arguably more concerning, armed robbery occurs with real frequency around ATM locations and shopping centers, with Paraguayan police logging over 1,200 armed robbery incidents in greater Asuncion in 2025 alone, a meaningful year-over-year increase.
Inspect the ATM for loose parts or overlays before use, and cover the keypad when entering your PIN. Use ATMs inside banks or malls during business hours, where security presence is typically better. Withdraw modest amounts rather than large sums, put cash away immediately rather than counting it in public, and consider cardless withdrawal apps from local banks where available, which are less prone to skimming.
💰 Counterfeit Banknotes & Street Exchange Tricks
Counterfeit banknotes are common enough that the Australian government specifically warns about them. Street money changers, particularly in Ciudad del Este, sometimes offer attractive rates but use sleight of hand or pass counterfeit notes during the exchange.
Use only registered banks or licensed exchange bureaus to change money, never an informal street changer regardless of the advertised rate. Count and inspect any cash you receive before walking away.
Universal Prevention Guide
Paraguay rewards ordinary street awareness more than almost any other precaution on this page. The risks here are predictable and concentrated, not random.
Agree Taxi Fares in Advance or Use an App
Confirm the price before getting in, every time, or use Bolt, inDriver, or MUV for transparent, fixed pricing shown before you book.
Save Emergency Numbers Before You Go
911 covers police, fire, and ambulance nationwide. Note that emergency response can be slower outside Asuncion's central areas.
Keep Your Phone Out of Sight While Walking
Motochorro snatch theft specifically targets visible phones. A crossbody bag worn away from the street and a phone kept in a zipped pocket address most of the risk.
Avoid Mercado 4 and the Riverfront After Dark
These specific areas carry a real elevated risk at night. Stick to well-lit, populated central neighborhoods after dark instead.
Withdraw Cash Carefully and Discreetly
Use bank or mall ATMs during business hours, withdraw modest amounts, and put cash away before leaving the machine rather than counting it in public.
Avoid the Five Border Departments Entirely
Amambay, Alto Parana, Canindeyu, Concepcion, and San Pedro carry a Level 4 US advisory due to organized crime and trafficking. This isn't part of any normal tourist itinerary, but worth knowing if your route comes near them.
Solo Women Travelers
Asuncion is manageable for women traveling alone, but it's not a destination to treat with full casualness; most independent assessments rate the risk for solo women as medium rather than low.
Catcalling is common and cultural norms around it can feel outdated to visitors from elsewhere, but it's generally more opportunistic than aggressive. The same precautions covered above, a crossbody bag, a phone out of sight, avoiding isolated streets and Mercado 4 after dark, address most of the realistic risk for any traveler. Using a registered taxi or rideshare rather than walking home alone late at night is the sensible default, the same as it would be in any city carrying a medium street-crime profile.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Paraguay, but homosexuality is not widely socially accepted, and public displays of affection are not socially comfortable outside the most cosmopolitan settings. LGBTQ+ travelers should factor this into how openly they present in public, particularly outside central Asuncion.
Reporting Scams in Paraguay
If you are the victim of a scam or theft in Paraguay, reporting it creates a record that supports insurance claims and card disputes, though it's worth knowing that Paraguayan police, while strict, are often underfunded and reactive rather than preventative.
Step-by-step: What to Do if You're Scammed
Paraguay is Worth It for the Curious Traveler. Stay Sharp in Asuncion.
Most visitors to Paraguay come away talking about how little it felt like anywhere else they'd been: the Jesuit ruins, the shaded plazas, the slow reveal of a capital that doesn't perform for tourists. The scams documented here are real and worth taking seriously, more so than in many of the safer European destinations on this site, but almost all of them come down to a handful of habits: agree your taxi fare, keep your phone out of sight while walking, and steer clear of Mercado 4 and the riverfront after dark.
Paraguay rewards a traveler who treats Asuncion like the real city it is rather than a sleepy backdrop. Get the basics right, and one of South America's most overlooked countries delivers a trip that genuinely doesn't feel like anywhere else on the continent.