Scams in Cuba

[Scrubber]

Article on common scams in Cuba.

http://mobile.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/conned-in-cuba-the-simple-scams-tourists-are-falling-for/story-fn6yjihw-1227603773372#itm=newscomaum%7Chome%7CNCAM-homepage-above-mrec%7C1%7Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Ftravel%2Ftravel-advice%2Fconned-in-cuba-the-simple-scams-tourists-are-falling-for%2Fstory-fn6yjihw-1227603773372%7Chomepage%7Chomepage&itmt=1447195835694

Articles like this continue to be written so I guess people must still fall for these types of scams. These scams are pretty much in practice in every poor country in the world so the advice would apply to most countries not just Cuba.

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[DropTopDee]

She's complaining about a $5 cocktail???

[Scrubber]

Haha I had a laugh at that too. I wish I could get a cocktail for $5 at any tourist spot in the world.

Also, I've heard stories from friends who got stung with $800-$1000 bills for buying drinks in Thailand.

I think a lot of people leave their common sense at home when they travel abroad or just don't have any to begin with.

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[JohnS]

Good article. Of course, many of us are familiar with the common fake cigar scam, mentioned in this article, and the importance of buying only from LCDHs in Cuba too.

[JohnInCleveland]

Got scammed when I was in Cuba. Not with cigars (I'm a bit too well versed for that), but I got snookered into going to a bar with live music and they charged $8 a drink (the place was a dive, should've been $3-4 tops). I was nervous so I paid a $142 Tab with no tip and boogied.

It's a shitty feeling getting ripped off when I try to be generous and kind, but $142 will mean a lot more to them than me, I suppose. Still not a pleasant feeling though.

[Ryan]

At the bureau de change at the airport, always count out your cash before you hand it over and don't get distracted.

If you hand over 2,000 and they tell you you gave them 1,900, there's no point asking to see a manager.

[Ryan]

Here's another one.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2331789/another-canadian-comes-forward-with-story-of-being-detained-in-cuba/

The gist of it: on the last day, tourist gets arrested and told he can't leave the country until he pays for damages at a hotel or casa particular.

A $5 cocktail is nothing on that one.

If you get arrested in Cuba or have to deal with the police, unless you're very lucky, there's nobody to turn to except your wallet.

If you're staying at a casa particular, at least read some reviews first or get a recommendation.

[LGC]

This is what sucks about traveling to poor countries. It might be inexpensive once you get there; but I can't stand having to be "on guard" all the time. I got ripped off in Indonesia once. While trying to get through customs, we had to pay fines because they purposely stamped our visas for a shorter stay than requested. They were quick to show us the ATM conveniently placed right by the gates. I'd rather order my cigars and stick to beach towns in the US.

[joeskow]

With US travel restrictions easing and the embargo soon to end this is only going to get worse.. Us Americans can be so gullible sometimes.

Before I knew anything I once bought 3 Cuban cigars for $20 in the Bahamas at some side street gift shop. Doahhh

[RijkdeGooier]

Some people might reconsider travelling.

[AussieCanuck]

$5 drinks.....that's a scam ? Seems I'm getting scammed every weekend

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[Guest rob]

On my trip last November, I became extremely agitated when a Cuban national looking after our group offered to assist in changing my Euros over to CUC. I felt it was a scam, or at the very least at high risk of being one.

There were long queues at all the official money exchange centres and he offered to collect all the money from the people in our group to go and have it changed over by someone he "knew out back". Handing over 1500 euros to a stranger did not sit comfortably with me.

When he returned with the CUC, I asked for the receipt.

It ended up being perfect to the dollar, and I was suitably relieved.

I guess that whilst that instance was a good experience and outcome, I will continue to be wary about being scammed whenever I travel to a foreign place.

I know it's nothing personal, but desperate people can be forced to do desperate things.

[Baldy]

WOW a lot of pretentious privilege first worlders being snotty nose against those born less fortunate. On the other hand glad to know that scams do not exist in first world countries. I should keep that in mind.

[Guest rob]

WOW a lot of pretentious privilege first worlders being snotty nose against those born less fortunate. On the other hand glad to know that scams do not exist in first world countries. I should keep that in mind.

Appreciate your thoughts.

[Orion21]

Scams exist everywhere. I do not excuse poor people for cheating people just because they're poor. I especially loathe those adults who put children out on the street to do it for them. If you are going to a poor country for the "deal" then the onus is on you to make sure you know what you are paying and for what. If something doesn't seem right, leave. There is inherent risk venturing outside your own house. If you go to a third world country where you don't speak the language, know the customs or have local friends you run the risk of being taken advantage of. That being said . . .

I would jump at the opportunity to visit Havana. I would just prefer to travel with people like Rob or Nino that know the country better than the average tourista!

[Smallclub]

WOW a lot of pretentious privilege first worlders being snotty nose against those born less fortunate.

Seriously? Tourists (specially those that look like tourists) are scammed everyday on the french Riviera, in Italy, in Russia, Asia, etc. by people that are not exactly "less fortunate"…

[semifan1]

I got scammed once in all my travels, usally since I'm always on guard I don't fall for it. It was when I went to Egypt. Guy said he worked at my hotel and it was his day off since he was hanging in the parking lot I fell for it. He suggested he could show me around being I wanted to see Luxor more I agreed. Nothing happened except for me paying a lot more for items that I could have gotten cheaper.

Had a guy in Thailand try to tell me the mall closed at 2pm for cleaning and he could take me to one that wasn't closed in his tuk-tuk. I told him go find somebody that belives that.

[Ryan]

WOW a lot of pretentious privilege first worlders being snotty nose against those born less fortunate. On the other hand glad to know that scams do not exist in first world countries. I should keep that in mind.

Cubans are generally less fortunate than people in the first world. Having to buy a round of drinks or some "milk powder", it's no big deal to most tourists, it's $20 maybe. Buying fake cigars, most people buying them wouldn't know the difference anyway, so they saved money.

Tourist gets overcharged $20 by a taxi driver. Not a big deal either. That happens everywhere. However, these things can add up to the point where people will reconsider a trip to Havana. That's when taxi drivers and waiters and bar tenders will feel it.

However there are scams that exist in Cuba that do not exist in the "first world". Where a B&B owner or a hotel manager colludes with local police to confiscate your passport and your cell-phone until you pay a fine they make up for damages they make up, with no recourse and no access to a lawyer.

Every cop, like every other state worker in Cuba, has to supplement their income somehow, to eat.

[MPS]

At the bureau de change at the airport, always count out your cash before you hand it over and don't get distracted.

If you hand over 2,000 and they tell you you gave them 1,900, there's no point asking to see a manager.

The airport is awful. I always go to the cadeca on la rampa.

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