13 Common Tourist Scams to Avoid in Ireland
From heritage and nature to the best coffee in the world, Ireland has a lot to offer to travellers. Exhibiting a lot of the unique Irish charm, these fascinating Emerald Isles are a paradise of fun experiences and sights for the people visiting here.
According to Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, almost 1.7 million international visitors came to Ireland this year.
Ireland is a safe, friendly country, but no country is without crime, as you will always find a few people with different intentions. To remain cautious, keep reading about the most common tourist scams in Ireland.
List of 13 Most Common Tourist Scams in Ireland
Knowing about common tourist scams always helps a lot. Below is a list of 13 tourist scams in Ireland you must know about to keep guard when visiting Ireland:
1. ATM Help Scam
One of the common tourist scams in Ireland is the ATM help scam, where a person approaches you suddenly when they find you have an issue with the ATM card. However, their true intention is to scan your credit/debit card with a card skimmer.
After that, they will drain your account. Always refuse any help at an ATM and approach the bank directly if there is any issue.
Common Around: Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick.
2. Picture/Photography Scam
One of the popular scams in Ireland, in a busy tourist spot, a friendly person will request you to take a photo of them or their friends. As you click the picture and hand the camera back, that person will purposely fumble and drop it, breaking the equipment. Blaming you for destroying the camera, they will demand you to pay for it.
Common Around: Dublin, Cork, Sligo, Galway, Donegal and Londonderry.
3. Taxis Overcharging Scam
Taxi overcharging is another popular scam prevalent in most foreign lands. Some taxi drivers deliberately take the longest route or the wrong route so they can overcharge you. Also, they will tell you that their meter is not working or that they do not receive credit cards and will overcharge you unnecessarily.
Common Around: Dublin, Cork, Donegal, Shannon and Kerry Airport.
4. Fake Beggar Scam
In this fraudery, you will find people posing as fake beggars approaching you to seek money. Fake beggars typically convey a sad story and might even pretend to be injured or disabled to evoke sympathy. They usually choose high-traffic areas where they can approach tourists.
Common Around: Dublin, Cork, Donegal and most tourist spots in Ireland.
5. Friendly Bar Friends Scam
This is another popular scam prevalent in Ireland. You will find two friendly people approaching you and inviting you for a drink as they become 'friendly' with you. They will ask you to join them at a bar nearby (which they are partners with).
After a couple of shots, you will end up paying more than the standard rates.
Common Around: Throughout Ireland, especially in areas having cafes and restaurants - Dublin, Cork and Galway.
6. Throwing Waste Scam
In this tourist scam, you will find someone suddenly throwing a bit of waste at you from behind. Suddenly, a 'friendly' local appears from nowhere and suggests helping you. While they help clean you and talk with you about the incident, they also pickpocket you by distracting you.
Common Around: The alleys of the most popular tourist places in Ireland are prone to this scam.
7. Guessing Game Scam
While walking the streets of Ireland, you will witness a man/magician showing games or magic on the streets and several people surrounding that person. As one of the individuals in the group guesses the correct answer, the man/magician hands him money as a prize.
Automatically, this commotion attracts more people to come and see this street performer. As you become part of this crowd, people pickpocket your valuables (they are in the crowd).
Common Around: Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick
8. Parked Car Thefts
Mostly prevalent in rural locations, parked car thefts are dangerous tourist scams in Ireland. Several visitors hire cars to drive in and around this location. As they visit tourist spots, they leave suitcases and their valuables inside.
This allows an advantage to the thieves who can easily break into these cars and steal their valuables.
Common Around: Downtown areas of popular tourist cities such as Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast, Cliffs of Moher and the Ring of Kerry are hubs of parked car thefts.
9. Pickpockets
This scam includes a team of pickpockets lifting your valuables in a crowded public place, especially a famous tourist spot. Purposefully, they create a crowd and use it as an advantage to grab your things.
Several tourists in Ireland and in other places in the country have been victims of such pickpocketing every year. On such occasions, travel insurance with delayed or baggage loss cover can help.
Common Around: Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast.
10. Fake Artefacts
In this scam, people selling fake artefacts or coins will approach you, claiming these items are authentic and has historical importance. This popular tourist scam is prevalent in historical and archaeological sites.
Fraudsters will insist you purchase these items, and by the time you know they are fake items, it is already too late.
Common Around: Newgrange, Hill Tara, Glendalough and such archaeological sites in Ireland.
11. Fake Parking Tickets
One of the most dangerous tourist scams in Ireland is a fake parking ticket scam involving a group of people approaching you for parking tickets at a popular tourist site. They will provide you tickets printed with QR codes that take you not to the legit payment site but to a fake site that only approximates the real thing.
When you pay, you are not only giving extra money but also providing your personal details, unknowingly putting yourself at risk further.
Common Around: Mostly around the popular tourist places in Ireland.
12. Tax Refund Scam
This is another popular scam prevalent in and around Ireland. Here, scammers will pretend to be Irish tax officials and try to approach you to grab your money or personal information. Please remember that this is a major scam, as the Irish tax office will never contact tourists and ask for money or personal details.
Common Around: Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick.
13. Solo Traveller Scam
One of the popular tourist scams in Ireland, this scam mainly targets solo travellers. A man or a woman travelling solo is suddenly approached by a local who tries to be extremely friendly. Then this person pretends to be in love with you, eventually scamming you.
These scams extend to internet crimes where this fraudster gets hold of your bank accounts and other personal information.
Common Around: Throughout Ireland.
How to Avoid Tourist Scams in Ireland?
Try to avail yourself of travel insurance to Ireland before you begin your journey to this destination. This will ensure you/your family and your financial safety if there is an unexpected occasion arising in a foreign land.
Ensure to always cover the number pad at an ATM while entering your pin code.
In case you lose your passport, get it replaced by the Indian embassy in Ireland.
Always refuse to take anyone's picture when they approach you with their mobile or camera (especially at a tourist spot).
Whenever you choose a taxi in this place, ask them to turn on the meter. Always choose licenced taxis or pre-paid taxis and research the standard fares, routes, etc., before opting for a taxi service in Ireland.
Be extremely cautious of your surroundings, and don't give money to suspicious-looking people asking for charity.
Avoid taking suggestions from strangers about eateries around the destination. You can find the best bars, cafés, and nightclubs on popular websites or research them yourself.
Always purchase artefacts from licenced dealers who have excellent reputations in dealing with such products.
Always keep your wallet in the front pockets, wear your handbags close to you and carry backpacks on the front of your body to avoid pickpocketing.
Keep your debit/credit card in a secure place to avoid pickpocketing. Choose travel insurance with financial emergency cash cover that rescues you in emergencies.
Emergency Resources for Tourist Scams in Ireland
If you face any unforeseen situations when in Ireland, you can always contact the Ireland Tourist Assistance Service by dialling 1890 365 700.
Here are some more necessary contacts which are useful to have in case of any emergencies:
Police – 112
In case of medical treatment and ambulance assistance – 112 or 999
Embassy of India, Dublin, Ireland - 00353-1 2604806
These are some common tourist scams in Ireland that are also popular in other foreign countries. However, authorities and the government have taken several steps to curtail such scams in and around the location. It is for us to be very attentive to our valuables when touring any foreign city. In case there is any situation, or you require emergency help, you can always contact the local embassy.
Read More About Ireland
FAQs About Tourist Scams in Ireland
How does taking a map along with me help me prevent the taxi scam?
If you carry a map during your journey before entering the taxi, you know the time the trip can take. So, you are confident about your journey and the routes and can guide your taxi driver accordingly. You can call the police in case you feel that you are being scammed by the taxi driver.
What must I do if a local in Ireland asks me to join them in singing?
This is possibly a scam as the stranger is trying to distract you by allowing you to be a part of a crowd. As you sway away in the beautiful Irish song, they will lift your valuables. Try to politely decline this person and move away from that place immediately. Also, keep your valuables close to you.
Is it risky to become friendly with the locals in Ireland due to scams?
You must not become paranoid and become unfriendly to locals while touring in Ireland. The point is just to be cautious about you, your family and your valuables. That includes keeping an eye on your beer or glass of wine to protect against drink spiking when you are visiting restaurants and cafes.
How to save myself from fake parking ticket scams?
Best practices to avoid fake parking ticket scams are to research the available and local parking requirements, examine the citation carefully, and check the recipient if you have the option to pay with cash. Try to pay with a credit card. Payments made with a peer-to-peer app, debit, cash, or check are almost impossible to recover.
Is Dublin in Ireland safe to travel?
Generally, Dublin is a safe city to travel to. However, visitors are advised to be cautious and take some necessary precautions to avoid pickpocketing and other forms of petty scams. Try not to be too friendly with the local people and indulge in partying with the unknown.