Destinations › Israel › Tel Aviv › Scams
Tel Aviv, Israel
10 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Tel Aviv, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.
Drivers refusing the meter and quoting fixed fares well above it, particularly from the airport and at night. The meter is compulsory when requested.
Dating-app contacts steering matches to particular bars where an inflated bill is produced at the end.
Aggressive cosmetics kiosk sales in shopping centres using free samples to draw visitors into high-pressure pitches at inflated prices.
Counterfeit branded goods and 'Dead Sea' cosmetics sold at market stalls as genuine at premium prices.
Short-let apartment listings taking deposits for properties that are unavailable or materially different on arrival.
Theft from bags and phones left unattended on beaches and at pavement café tables.
Unlicensed exchange counters advertising strong rates then applying undisclosed commissions during the count.
Beachfront and tourist-strip restaurants adding undisclosed service charges and items not ordered to bills.
Airport transfer touts inside the terminal offering rides at several times the rate of the licensed rank or train.
Unlicensed guides at heritage sites charging for commentary on publicly accessible areas.
