Nobody likes to get scammed on vacation. If it happens, we often beat up ourselves for falling for a trick or scam. The solution is knowing about scams and possible scams, so you are prepared in all circumstances, so you protect your time and money while traveling. We also don’t want any of our readers to fall victim to some of the scams that people try in Playa Del Carmen and the surrounding areas. Here is our big guide to not getting scammed while on vacation or perhaps moving to the area.
Some of the things below are direct scams, some are sort of scams and some possible scams. We will differentiate in the descriptions.
Scams Aimed at Tourists
ATM Rip Offs
- We do not recommend using any ATM on 5th Avenue or stand-alone ATM that is not at a physical bank. The reason is these ATMs can be fitted with skimmers and your car information can be stolen. This happens in many touristy areas in the world. Banks have more security and more motivation to protect users from having their cards skimmed. This is not a direct scam but certainly creates a much greater chance of having problems by using these ATMs. Use Google maps and look for banks near to where you are and you are in a better position not to have issues.
- USD ATM machines. There are a few of these ATMS that give out USD and not Mexican Pesos near 5th Avenue and in some tourist resorts. The idea is you can get USD, and you don’t have to change the money back if you don’t use it all. This is not an outright scam, but you do pay a high rate for the conversion and get less for your money. It is better to calculate about what you will need and use an exchange place to get Pesos if you need them.
- ATM machines often will ask if you want to use their conversion rate. It can also be phrased as “charge in your local currency” or it is called Dynamic Currency Conversion. The answer is usually always “NO or Decline“. It is best not to accept this because it is the ATM and not your bank coming up with the rate to be charged. The ATM might also include fees in the conversion rate.
Paying with Dollars for things
Playa Del Carmen is a very touristy town, and people are used to tourists arriving with USD. To make it easy for people, many stores, tours and restaurants all accept USD. Stores set the exchange rate for the conversion to Pesos. This means if the official exchange rate is 19:1, a store might exchange at 14, 15, or 18. This is not a scam, but you can lose money on the exchange rate. It is best to exchange at official Casa de Cambios or at least check the exchange rate before you decide to pay in USD. For more about using Pesos or Dollars see our article here.
Items with no prices
In Mexico the law states that all items much have a price in Mexican Pesos and the price much include all taxes and fees. Prices can be listed in other currencies also but must have Pesos as well. Most stores follow the law for fear of getting reported and shut down or fined. Where you might have an issue with this is street sellers where no prices are listed. With no prices listed, this allows people to up the price or start high and maybe people can negotiate it down.
How to avoid this? There are similar items sold in stores that are also sold on the street. Check prices at stores before purchasing things that are unmarked or just shop at stores.
Going out of business sale
Often on 5th Avenue you will see a banner stating that the store is having a big sale because it is going out of business. This is not truthful because these signs are left up for months at a time and they do not close. It is a deceptive way to make you come into the store. the supposed sales are just the real prices. Real sales with discounts in Mexico are only a small fraction of the number of discounted sales in other countries. Usually, things are just full price in Mexico.
Tequila and Alcohol Stores
It is great people coming to Mexico and want to try some of the products and perhaps even take some home. You will find in touristic areas stores that mainly sell tequila or Mexican spirits. This is not necessarily a scam, but you do need to careful. Why? There are tequila producing regions of Mexico where you can go and buy generic tequila and get it labeled. So, if George goes to buy 50 bottles and he puts a nice label on it called Georges Fancy Tequila, he can sell it for whatever price he wants. He can claim it is the best tequila, and he asks $100 USD a bottle. Unless you are an expert and do a taste test, you don’t know if it is worth it.
Many shops that sell to tourists have mostly brands you have never heard of. You just might be buying a generic tequila and paying many times the value of it. How can you avoid this? There are liquor stores called La Europea in Playa Del Carmen. This is where restaurants buy their tequila and alcohol. They sell well know and some artisanal brands. See our article on where to buy alcohol in Playa Del Carmen.
2×1 Drink Specials
Usually around happy hours you find a lot of places offering two for one drink specials. This is a play to get people in the door when it is a slower time for the restaurant. This is not necessarily a scam, but often the drinks are made with cheap alcohol or watered down. |You usually don’t get good value, and you end up with a sugary drink rather than good quality cocktail.
“I am the waiter at your hotel”
This is a line you hear often on 5th Avenue as you walk down the street. The truth is, this is a line to get your attention and direct you into their store. These store promoters have all day to study the bracelets from hotels that guests where and might even name the hotel that you are staying in. This is not a direct scam, but it is not exactly an honest way to get your attention. You can just laugh it off now that you know the truth. I often step up behind these people they try this with tourist and say, ” You said you were the waiter at my hotel, so you work at two hotels?“. Then they know they are busted.
Distract and steal from you
Fortunately, theft and pickpocketing are not big issues in Playa Del Carmen and the Riviera Maya. There is however a common scam that happens, mostly in grocery stores that you should be aware of. This is how it goes. You are shopping and someone “accidently” spills something on you. Then they offer to clean it off. In the distraction and confusion, a second person steals your wallet or purse. To avoid this, be cautious of anyone approaching you to talk. If something is spilled on you, check your purse and wallet and back away. Don’t get distracted. If it is obvious this scam is going on, mention it to the store. Usually, the people that try this scam leave immediately after trying it.
Tax Free Shopping
This is sometimes a scam and sometimes real. We wrote an article about this years ago explaining how countries often give the tax back when you make large purchases on vacation. We had so much feedback of readers staying they never go the tax back. The official program is called “TaxBack” or “MoneyBack Mexico”, and it’s backed by the Mexican government. But not all stores participate in these programs but might say there is some discount you get, when in reality there is not. This would be an outright scam.
Others that follow all the directions and fill out the paperwork sometimes have fees to pay that cuts into the refund or do not receive the refund at all even after it is sent in. To protect yourself, realize that this program is not the easiest to comply with and sometimes stores use it as ploy to get you to buy more knowing that they don’t really participate in the program. In general, it is not a great idea to buy just because you get a discount via the refund.
Restaurant Bills
Here is where you have to be careful because you can get ripped off several ways in restaurants. Here is what to look for.
- The biggest thing to look for is if the tip is added to the bill. This is illegal in Mexico and a way to try to scam people into tipping twice. If you have a group, some restaurants will add a service fee. This is a grey area, so just check before you book a restaurant for a group what their policy is so you know in advance. Note: Some bills have the total of the food and a separate line of the tax that was already in the menu price. You are still paying the correct price; it is just itemized. This is not a tip.
- Check to see if the bill was added up correctly. This can be as simple of making sure the items listed are just the things you got. The other thing is not as obvious. Take all the numbers and total it. Make sure the total is correctly added. This happens mostly on handwritten bills. It is surprising how many times I have caught a bill that was not added up correctly and an extra 100-200 pesos was added in.
- At some touristy restaurants and beach clubs they have two menus with different prices on them. Usually, the Spanish menu has the lower prices, and the English menu has higher prices. This does not happen a lot, but asking for a menu in English and Spanish will eliminate any worries.
Picking the “Top” Restaurants, Hotels and Tours
When you are traveling you want to experience the best of everything that you can afford. This means looking online and reading reviews to get an idea of what things are top rated.
The not so scamy part is people honest opinions of places. However, for example, a Mexican chef and a first-time tourist to Mexico might have totally different opinions of a taco place, but the opinions are given equal value. So, the actual value of the ratings needs to be taken into account for this.
The scam part of ratings is when business pay or have people write positive reviews to boost their presence online. When you are a restaurant in the Top 10, you are golden! You will have customers looking for you every day because people assume you are really good. Hotels often have employees fill out reviews to bolster position as well. So, the lesson is, review sites are not a real as you think they are. It is better to get opinions from trusted websites or from friends.
Incorrect Change from Businesses
It is good to familiarize yourself with the bills and coins of Mexico. This way when people give you change; you count it and make sure you are getting correct change. When I catch people shortchanging me, they often play it off as a mistake. This can be an honest mistake, but it also can be a way people rip you off.
Rental Car Scams
With thousands of tourists coming daily, there is no end of potential customers to scam. This is why some of the same tricks and scams repeat over and over, just trying to make some extra money. Here are several issues that people can have with rental companies.
- The biggest is the added insurance. Many people see car rentals online for a few dollars a day and think it is a really good deal and book it. Then when you get to the rental agency, they require added insurance and other fees, making it about $50/$60 USD a day. This is a possible scam depending on the exact details. Mexico requires liability insurance on all car rentals. But what if your credit card covers this? This is where is gets complicated. You will need proof that your insurance covers you in Mexico. Some rental companies will require a printed page stating your coverage. In general, we recommend you buy it locally and expect to pay $40-$70 USD a day for a car rental. This is because if you have a serious accident, the police will hold you until proof your insurance company will pay out for the damage. Does your coverage have people in Mexico that can assist you immediately? Is there a high deductible? For peace of mind, having things covered properly is the best thing. Also booking with a reputable company is best.
- Charging you for damage to your rental. In many countries you return the car and unless you had a serious accident, they don’t examine the car for minor scratches or damage. Many times, I have rented a car in Mexico, only to have a person tell me I am responsible for a cigarette burn in the seat or scratch to the car. These were all scams to get me to pay more at the return. To avoid this, take photos of all sides and inside the car when you pick it up. Let them see you take the photos, so they know you are an educated consumer.
Scammed While Getting Gas
Gas stations in Mexico are well known for the scams that workers can pull. This is one place you have to keep alert. The top scams are overcharging customers and even switching money. There are several ways they can scam you into overcharging. One way is saying your credit card did not pass and asking for cash. When you leave you realized the charge went through and you also paid in cash. Another common trick is switching bills. This is common with older 500 notes and 50 notes that are similar and tourists might get confused and think they paid with a 50 Peso note.
A must read if you are moving to the area or renting a car is our article about scams at the gas pump. To avoid issues, stay alert, don’t get distracted, and pay in cash.
Taxis Overcharging People
One of the biggest complaints from people visiting the Riviera Maya is the taxis. Taxis in the area are not run by meters, so prices are set by zones or the destination. It can be hard for people to know exactly what the fare should be, so they are not overcharged. So how do you avoid these scams?
- You can ask at your hotel how much a taxi should be. Reception might know an approximation, but you still need to ask before getting in the taxi how much they will charge to your destination.
- Some apps are available in the Riviera Maya and Playa Del Carmen, so you can get an idea of how much a charge will be. Uber is still not available in Playa Del Carmen.
- Taxis from taxi stands do have posted prices. These prices are however higher than getting a taxi on the street since these taxis wait there for tourists to take their service.
- Often taxis say they do not have change. So, bring small bills in Pesos.
- If you have Dollars or they give you a price in Dollars, they set the exchange rate and you most likely will overpay.
See or article about Playa Del Carmen taxis for more details.
Timeshares and vacation clubs
Most people know that these are not good investments. It is possible to get caught up in the moment with the idea of having discount vacations in the future and being able to take advantage of the said benefits. However, you hardly ever hear a person say, “I love my timeshare or vacation club”. Whatever name they call it, these are notorious for hidden fees, maintenance fees, blackout dates, and are near impossible to sell or get out of contracts.
Some are legitimate packages you can buy and some are outright scams. Most people don’t know that you can cancel your contract within 5 days of signing to get a full refund. This is from Mexico’s Federal Consumer Protection Law (Ley Federal de Protección al Consumidor). You might have been pressured into buying into one of these plans, but you do have a short window to exit with no questions asked.
If you have bought into one of these timeshares or vacation clubs, you just might get scammed a second time when you want to sell it. We have more in our article about timeshares and vacation clubs.
Tour sellers
This is where some sketchy tour sellers on the street offer tours and take a deposit. Sometimes you are left with only a piece of paper as a receipt, but not a real tour to go on. This would be a direct scam. It is always best to research what tours you want to go on and plan on where to get your tickets. See our article on how to best buy tours and tickets to things in the Rivera Maya.
Another ploy some sellers use is the 2×1 ticket sale. This might sound great because you are saving 50% off. This is a lie and is not really a sale. They just compare a really good quality tour or park to a cheaper park and present it as if it was half the price.
Even if you are looking online at some popular booking sites, some tours are listed as “private tours” but are really small group tours. If you really want a private tour just for your family or group, see our article here on some recommended private tour companies to go with.
To avoid these problems, we don’t recommend buying tours on the street. The best place is online at the official websites of the tours or parks. Alternatively, you can buy them at the resort, but you should know that sometimes concierges only sell some tours and not all of them. They do this because of sales agreements. Also, many times you are pushed toward tours that give the best commissions.
Scams targeting those living or staying a while
Below are a few things to be aware of if you are going to be living or staying in Playa Del Carmen.
Rental Scams in Playa Del Carmen
If you are coming for a few months or even longer, renting is usually where people start. There are not a lot of great websites for rentals and most of it is piecemeal. Many people turn to Facebook and groups where rentals are offered. This is where a lot of scammers look for victims. The most common scam is offering an apartment that is not real or not theirs to rent.
There are some very notorious people that have dozens of Facebook profiles (that look real) and contact people or post places to rent. The scam is they take a deposit, and you are left with nothing. They might even show you the apartment in person, usually it is through photos and try to have you make a quick decision. They might offer it as a really good price as well.
So how can you avoid this scam? By dealing with recommended rental agents is a good start. See our article and video about renting in Playa Del Carmen here. If you decide to rent direct from an individual, check to make sure they are the owner. You can do this by looking at the electric bill in their name. This can be hard though since many people hire management companies or persons to manage their rentals. People get scammed every week in Playa Del Carmen by people trying to rent places. Make sure you do your research before you part with your deposit.
If you are looking for a vacation rental in Playa Del Carmen for a few months, we recommend you read our article here for more tips.
Immigration trickery
It feels bad to say this, but people really should not pick immigration help off of street pole ads. Around Playa Del Carmen you see some posters for immigration help. You also see some names passed around on Facebook that offer “fixers” of immigration issues. Often these stories end with customers getting screwed out of the money and the immigration help never coming. They also might do something that is not 100% legal and you might have issues at a later time.
To avoid issues, you can do the process by yourself (although it can be intimidating doing this for the first time) or using a recommended immigration facilitator. One of the top persons that many of our readers use is Milly Arceo. Here is an article about this immigration specialist in Playa Del Carmen that can help with all issues.
Bait and Switch Properties for Sale
Many people that are looking to buy something in the area start online. They search places for sale and will contact people that have something interesting to them. This is where problems start. Some people list properties at a lower price than what is being asked only to get a lead. Then they inform you that that property is not available and, surprise surprise, they offer you something else.
The second part of the trick is taking all your contact information and listing you as a client. An unscrupulous person will claim you as a person they have worked with and if you go to buy with another agent, they ask for their cut of the commission. This makes it hard to work with other realtors because there is a database of registered clients. So how do you avoid all these issues? It is fine to look online to get a sense of how much properties are and what is available, but you should pick one good realtor to work with. When working with one realtor they know that you are a serious client and will work hard for you to find you a property that you like.
See our article on how to get off on the right foot with a realtor in the Riviera Maya.
Door to Door Fumigation Services
If you are living in Playa Del Carmen, for sure at some time there will be someone coming to your door offering fumigation services. This can be very convenient and necessary since the tropics creates a good environment for termites and other insects. This is a possible scam because there are unscrupulous people that spray your home with something, get paid and leave. This can be watered down chemicals or some cheap spray. To avoid this, only use recommended fumigators or one that has been around a while and has an office or website.
It should also be noted that allowing people into your home can open you up to being robbed later. Some service people screen places for future plans to come back. Another reason to deal with professionals only.
Conclusion
This article might scare you a little and you might be concerned about all the possible scams that could happen in Playa Del Carmen. You should not be too worried because when you know about scams and possible scams you are prepared to deal with them. The area is not the worst when it comes to scams, but it is good to be aware of all the possibilities, so these things don’t happen to you.
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