7 Common Tourist Scams to Avoid in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a kingdom brimming with adventure, captivating deserts, rich culture, and many more. The ornamentation of the metropolis city of Riyadh and the natural beauty of the outskirts attract hundreds and thousands of tourists from across the world. 

If you plan to visit Saudi Arabia anytime soon, know that many tourists fall into the trap of scammers and lose their money. 

Keep reading to learn about the common scams in Saudi Arabia and ways to avoid them. 

Visiting Saudi Arabia for your upcoming vacation is ideal. However, it is beneficial for tourists to stay alert during their journey to steer clear of any scams in Saudi Arabia. 

Here is a list of some top scams that tourists may encounter during their visit to Saudi Arabia:

1. Picture Scam

This is one of the most popular scams in Saudi Arabia, as most tourists reported. Scammers will ask you to take their pictures and will hand over their cameras to you. When you return the camera, they will intentionally drop this device and will aggressively demand money from you for breaking it. 

Common around: Near streets of Riyadh, & Mecca 

2. ATM Scam

Like the previous scams, ATM scams are widely famous, where scammers will malfunction the insert card slot in different ATMs. When you insert your card for withdrawal, eventually, it will get stuck, and the money will come out. 

Once you leave the ATM to seek help outside, scammers will come back and steal your card. 

Common around: Across the country 

3. Guessing Game Fraud

This is a magic trick performed by a group of scammers near some of the crowded places in Saudi Arabia. You will find a group of people gathered around a man showing a magic trick with boxes and offering them to guess which one has a ball. When someone from the group answers it correctly, the performer will give him money for right guessing. 

This way, the performer will gain the trust of the crowd and will attract more people for his stunts. His pals, mixed in the crowd, will take advantage of this stunt and will pickpocket tourists while they are busy guessing the ball. 

Common around: Riyadh 

4. Bird Poop Scams

This fraudulent act is popular in Riyadh, which is executed by a group of scammers. Here, someone will throw a compound of white paste on the shoulder or hand, which will naturally look like bird poop. Suddenly, another person will approach you and offer his or her help in cleaning the dirt. 

In the end, these scammers will end up pickpocketing you through distraction during this cleaning process. 

Common around: Across the country 

5. Scams in Pubs or Bars

This Saudi Arabia scam is famous in other countries where a group of young men or women will attract attention with small talk. These scammers eventually lure the tourist to a pub or bar for drinks, assuring that they would chip in some contribution. 

Upon accepting their offer, you will eventually pay a much higher amount than the actual cost of drinks. 

Common around: Riyadh 

6. Taxi Scams

When you are not using Uber or any other alternative means, be sure to ask the taxi driver to turn on the metre so that the fare is calculated as per the same. In some cases, one can ask the taxi driver how much they will charge for a particular trip before boarding the vehicle. 

Being one of the popular scams in Saudi Arabia, taxi drivers have the tendency to overcharge for a particular trip or take the longest route to reach a destination. 

Common around: Across the country 

7. Sob Story Scam

In the bustling streets of Riyadh, you might encounter a lousy person who will refer to himself as homeless and his other deprivations. This person will try to convince the tourist that he or she requires money for food or treatment and even show his or her forged medical reports. 

Being convinced by his sob story, the tourist falls for this trap and ends up giving some money. 

Common around: Meccas and other religious places 

From the above-mentioned list of scams in Saudi Arabia, you can understand that proper awareness and knowledge of avoidance are important for tourists to know. Moreover, tourists must take the first step towards their safety by obtaining Travel Insurance in Saudi Arabia, which will ensure to protect them financially. 

In addition, one must abide by the following tips and tricks while travelling to Saudi Arabia, as mentioned below: 

• Ensure to have a thorough look at the prices listed on the menu whenever you visit any restaurant in Saudi Arabia. If the server or attendant refrains from showing you the menu, immediately leave the restaurant. 
• If you are strolling through some of the busiest streets of Saudi Arabia or sightseeing, keep a close eye on your belongings or valuables, as scammers can be everywhere. Travel insurance that offers financial emergency cash can be beneficial and will cover you during any emergency. 
• Choose Uber over private taxis whenever going out in Saudi Arabia. If you have to take a taxi, ensure the fare is calculated per the metre. Furthermore, turn on Google Maps to locate the best or shortest routes to reach the destination. 
• Whenever you see any stranger approaching, it’s better not to make any eye contact with the person. In addition, refrain from accepting any discount vouchers or items from strangers. 
• Ensure to check the website's authenticity and hotel reviews before booking the same. You must choose a reliable hotel where your belongings and documents will be safe. In case of loss of passport or any other important documents, contact the Embassy of India in Riyadh without any haste. 

Apart from getting overseas trip insurance, here are some of the emergency helpline numbers that will offer help during any Saudi Arabia scams: 

• Embassy of India, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: 8002471234 
• Consulate General of India, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: 00966-12-2614093
• Police Support: 999
• Fire Department: 998
• Traffic Police: 993
• Ambulance/Medical Emergencies: 997 

Now, you may have gained a vivid idea of the popular tourist scams in Saudi Arabia and tips to avoid the traps. To obtain a hassle-free holiday with your family and friends, understanding the intensity of these scams is important to avoid them. Hence, by staying alert, one will be able to enjoy a glorious vacation in the deserts of Saudi Arabia.