Common Moscow Scams

Awareness of some commonly found scams with tourists is needed to safeguard the travel experience:

A. Photography Scam:

Locals requesting tourists to take their photo. They give their camera to the tourist, and after the photo is taken and the camera is returned, they intentionally drop it.
Then, they falsely accuse the tourist of breaking the camera and demand payment for damages. It's advisable to cautiously decline requests to take photos of strangers, especially if you suspect they might be locals.

In busy tourist areas like The Red Square or museums, be cautious as pickpockets may be around.
Keep an eye on your belongings, store valuable items securely, limit the amount of cash you carry (credit cards are widely accepted in Moscow), and guard your travel documents carefully. You wouldn't want to spend a day at your embassy obtaining a temporary passport.

While waiting in line outside a museum, you may encounter a guide claiming to have a valid license and offering to take you on a tour. These guides often charge high prices, and the tour quality may not meet expectations.
Exercise caution if you consider accepting their offer. Acquiring a tourist license involves attending lectures and passing exams, so it's not easily obtained. For a quality experience, it's advisable to choose a qualified guide who has put in the necessary effort to become certified.

Scammers may place skimming devices on ATMs to steal your card information and PIN. Therefore, always cover the keypad when entering your PIN and check the ATM for any signs of tampering. If you suspect that the ATM has been compromised, use a different machine.
Use ATMs located inside banks or other secure locations. Avoid using standalone ATMs on the street.

Scammers posing as police officers will approach tourists and ask to see their passports and wallets. They may claim that there has been a crime in the area and that they need to check for stolen goods.
Ask to see their identification and call the real police if you suspect that they are not legitimate. Do not hand over your passport or wallet.
Be wary of anyone who approaches you claiming to be a police officer. Real police officers will always have identification and will not ask to see your wallet or passport.

Scammers may offer to exchange currency on the street at a favorable rate. They may use sleight of hand to trick you into accepting less money than you are owed.
Only exchange currency at official exchange offices or banks. Count your money carefully and be wary of anyone who tries to distract you.

Scammers may pose as hotel staff and ask for your credit card information or passport.
Always ask to see identification and call the hotel to confirm that the person is legitimate. Do not hand over your credit card or passport.
Only provide your credit card information or passport to official hotel staff. Be wary of anyone who approaches you claiming to be hotel staff.

There has been an increase in a particular type of scam on Russian dating platforms recently. Should you decide to use dating apps while visiting, be aware of potential fake profiles.
These profiles often use stock photos of models and may seem untrustworthy. They typically avoid in-person meetings and may ask for financial assistance during conversations.

You need to fill out applications to get a Russian travel visa (voucher). As the process is not simple, cyber crooks create fake Russian consulate websites and have the victims send their credit card numbers and personal information via these bogus pages.
Weeks after, applicants don’t receive anything since the consulate websites are fake. Meanwhile, their credit cards got charged.

Last updated 1 year ago