Currency Changers
How the scam works:
One of the most common travel scams is pulled when tourists change their currency at local exchange offices, vendors, or simply with individuals.
In Bali and Indonesia for example, not only is the conversion rate incorrect, but the scam actually works by the crooks handing you a calculator, to do the math yourself. What you don’t know is that the calculator is rigged, registering less Rupiah than you should get.
In Cuba, there are two currencies: the National Peso (CUP) – not used by the tourists and the Convertible Peso (CUC), which is what travelers use. The exchange rate is 25 CUP to 1 CUC – so you can imagine how many tourists could be scammed.
How to avoid:
Never change your currency in shops, markets, or with people hanging out in front of different stores. Always use official exchange centers.
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