Coin fraud mode targeting foreign tourists in Bali is in the spotlight, here are the facts

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An Australian tourist shares an unpleasant experience while in Bali.

Recently, an Australian tourist revealed a shocking experience about a fraudulent mode targeting foreign tourists in Bali. In a local travel group, he warned prospective travelers about the increasingly rampant 'coin scam'.

Her post has garnered more than 1,200 likes and many comments from other Australians sharing similar experiences. In the story, she explains that a family who were not local to Bali approached them and asked to see their money, while trying to steal their wallets.

"The man approached us and asked about a good Italian restaurant. I tried to remember one near our hotel," she wrote. When he asked, "Are you not Indonesian?" and she replied, "No, we are Australian," the man then asked to see their Australian dollar coins.

Feeling suspicious, the woman refused the request. "We will not show you our money, my friend. We have heard about this scam," she said. The man left with his group without them having time to take a picture.

He said the scam took place at a mall in Badung, Bali. "He was very friendly and convincing. If you don't know about this scam, you might be happy to show it to him," he added.

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Luckily, she got information about this fraud from the Bali Bogans Facebook page, which made her more alert. According to her, the fraudster came from Saudi Arabia, and her husband also saw the fraudster wearing Arab clothes and makeup.

"I didn't see him because he was behind me," he said. His story also received a response from another Australian who almost fell victim to a similar scam in Legian. "They also approached us at Circle K near Stones Hotel, Legian. He claimed to be from Saudi Arabia and with his daughter," the man explained.

The man continued, the scammer showed his gold watch and asked about the time in Australia. "He took out his wallet full of money and asked to see our money. Luckily, I said 'no' and we left. They left the shop pretty quickly after that," he said.

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However, not everyone is so lucky. Another woman said she was scammed by the same pair of scammers in Sanur at night. "They wanted to know what Australian money looked like. While my husband showed me the money, I lost 100 Australian dollars. I immediately posted about it," she said.

Todd Nelson, director of Cover-More Australia, stressed the importance of Australians being aware of common scams before they go on holiday. This will help them avoid similar problems. While violent crime is low in Bali, tourists are often targeted by pickpockets and petty theft in urban areas.

Angus Kidman, Finder's travel expert, adds that keeping your wallet and cash close at hand is essential wherever you travel. "If someone asks to see your Australian money, the simple answer is: 'Nothing, mate. Don't need Aussie currency here,'" he adds.

Hand sanitizer brand Antis and tiket.com collaborate to support the government's program to restore the tourism industry. (doc. Unsplash.com/Jeremy Bioshop)

However, Kidman also urged potential tourists not to be paranoid, but to simply prevent crime with common sense measures. According to Cover-More, other common scams in Bali include taxi drivers and monkey thieves at popular temples.

"Avoid negotiating fares with unlicensed taxi drivers as they may use tactics such as broken meters or charging well above the going rate. Opt for reputable, licensed taxis," advises Cover-More.

He also warned tourists to be wary of naughty monkeys who often snatch tourists' belongings. Often, locals will 'help you retrieve your belongings' ... but for a fee.

Currency exchange is also a frequent source of fraud, so tourists are advised to be wary of fake money changers. "Use an ATM or travel card whenever possible to avoid being scammed," he added.

(brl/red)