Last Updated
Cancun is a popular vacation destination that gets a lot of media attention regarding the safety of tourists visiting the Mexican Caribbean hotspot.
The truth is, Cancun is actually quite safe, as long as you don’t get caught up in wild partying, drugs, or any other illegal activity, which are all things you want to avoid in any vacation destination.
But, not unlike anywhere else, tourists visiting the Mexican Caribbean are often targeted by scam artists, so we’re going to tell you about the top 5 scams that tourists need to watch out for when visiting Cancun.
Avoiding Scams
Most of the scams that Cancun tourists might have to face are more or less avoidable.
The main thing is to always consider the golden rule, if something seems too good to be true, it most likely is.
The other important thing to remember is that you have to do your own due diligence to protect yourself from the many different scams out there.
@ericmartinmoney Are time shares worth it? #cancun #cancunmexico #cancunvacation #xcaret #xcaretmexico #timeshare #timesharesrscams #timesharetravellers #scams #scammers #scammed #scammeralert #scamalert #vacationscams #vacationtips #cancuntips #mexicotips ♬ Suspense, horror, piano and music box – takaya
Airport Transportation Scam
The first very common scam you will see when visiting Cancun will be before you even have a chance to get out of the airport.
Just before getting outside, you’ll walk through an area called “the shark tank,” where hoards of timeshare agents are waiting to scam you into attending a presentation.
They are even known to outright lie about being your transportation to get you into their vehicles.
Simply keep walking until you are outside, politely refusing to interact with them because outside is the only place your real transportation will be waiting.
Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans For 2023 Starting At $10 Per Week
Easily Earn Points For Free Travel
@traveloffpath Don’t fall for this airport scam! . #travel #mexico #mexico🇲🇽 #traveloffpath #fyp #foryoupage #cancun #airport #scam ♬ Primal Fear – Drama Effect – Dave James
The Bill Swap Scam
If you’re going to use pesos while in Cancun and you’re not used to them, you’ll want to be careful.
A common scam is for a shopkeeper, vendor, taxi driver, or someone else who collects money to say that you gave them a lower bill than what you did.
This is particularly common with the 50 pesos and 500 peso bills because they look very similar, so be sure to tell them what you’re handing them as you’re doing it, as it will make it more difficult for them to pull off this scam.
@destinyezurs Let your friends know if they plan on going to Mexico ….#scam #mexico #cancun ♬ Sunroof – Nicky Youre & dazy
Tour Scams
When booking tours online, it’s important to book them through a reputable company because it isn’t uncommon for tourists to think they booked a great tour only to find out the company doesn’t even exist.
Read reviews, look up tour company ratings, and even call if you have to, especially for high-priced tours, like a luxury yacht sailing excursion.
If you’re unsure, you can always book through a travel tour website like Viator that you know can be trusted.
@rachfurshort when you make your friends wake up at 6AM for a 90min sales pitch. #scam #cancun #lessonlearned ♬ Oh No – Kreepa
Travel Agency Scams
The travel agency scam is similar to the tour scam because it involves sending money to a company that isn’t really a company at all but rather a scam artist.
If you find a deal online, through Facebook or some other social media outlet, that seems unbelievably good, think twice about it before sending any money.
If the deal were legitimate, everybody would be getting it rather than paying more to book through a resort or an online travel agency.
@erineaufraiche I’ve stayed in cleaner motels for 1/10th of the price. This place is a scam and I’m disputing it on my credit card 😭 #vacationfail #cancunmexico #vacationnightmare ♬ original sound – Erin
Taxi Scams
Taxi scams are one of the most common types of scams tourists run into in Cancun, and there are a number of different ones, most of them involving overcharging.
Sometimes they will tell you a price in pesos and then claim they quoted you American dollars. Other times they will simply tell you a different price than what they quoted you when you get to your destination.
The best way to avoid this is to firmly agree on a price before you get into the vehicle, including the currency that you’re being quoted in.
@dejajaquille You not scamming me today buddy I got $20! 🤣 #WomenOwnedBusiness #SeeHerGreatness ♬ Ah ah ah – kriptozavr 🌐
Scams can be found in any city in the world, so it’s important to always be on the lookout for scam artists.
When visiting Cancun, these are the ones to avoid, so you don’t end up having any bad experiences during your Cancun vacation.
Plan Your Next Cancun Vacation:
Traveler Alert: Don’t Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip!
Choose From Thousands of Cancun and Riviera Maya Hotels, Resorts and Hostels with Free Cancellation On Most Properties
↓ Join the community ↓
The Cancun Sun Community FB group has all the latest travel news, conversations and tourism Q&A’s for the Mexican Caribbean
Subscribe to our Latest Posts
Enter your email address to subscribe to The Cancun Sun’s latest breaking news affecting travelers, straight to your inbox.
Byron
Friday 23rd of June 2023
asdasdWhen you travel outside your country, it is always a risk to be exposed to this type of scam, however, my last trip to Cancun, I tried to take my transportation service with a company that some friends recommended to me, its name is joy ride destination, I thought that it had nothing to do with it. different from other companies but the truth is that I was impressed because their drivers speak native English and it is easier to talk to them and they are very friendly sometimes it was annoying that they spoke in another language with other people it was scary not to understand what they were saying but with them always There was a lot of trust and security. If you are interested, I will leave your contact information at joyridecancun.com. I really recommend them so that you do not have that fear or waste time looking for reliable companies.
My Fiona
Saturday 25th of March 2023
I think if u r using a children’s app like Tik Tok to show yourself off ( I mean offer advice 😂) I will pass reading it! Btw u know the biggest scam? China using their apps to steal your information… idjits
Sharon
Thursday 23rd of March 2023
In the US, almost every time our phone rings it is some kind of scam, not to mention multiple emails and text messages every day. And none of the people creating these cons, are ever caught or prosecuted.