These are the tourist scams Trzly has documented across México, grouped by destination. Each one is real, with a clear way to stay safe. Read before you land.
Cómo funciona: From the airport arrivals hall to the Hotel Zone, friendly 'greeters' and vacation-club salespeople (OPCs) offer free breakfasts, tours, show tickets or transfers in exchange for attending a short 'presentation'. The 90-minute pitch routinely stretches to four or five hours of high-pressure selling for an expensive timeshare.
Cómo evitarla: Politely decline anyone offering something free in exchange for your time. Never sign anything or hand over a deposit on the spot; walk away, and book tours and transfers through your hotel or a reputable operator instead.
Taxi overcharging and no airport Uber
Cómo funciona: Cancún taxis have no meters and set fares by zone, so drivers may quote tourists far above the real price — sometimes MX$800–1500 for a ride that should be MX$250–330. At the airport, taxi-union contracts mean Uber cannot reliably pick up at arrivals, and pirate drivers in official-looking gear approach new arrivals.
Cómo evitarla: Agree the fare before getting in and know the rough rate, or pre-book a fixed-price transfer. Use the cheap ADO bus from the airport, and in town use Uber (legal in the Hotel Zone) or ask your hotel to call a trusted taxi.
ATM skimming and dodgy machines
Cómo funciona: Card-skimming devices have been documented on standalone ATMs in tourist areas and inside some convenience stores, capturing your card details and PIN. Machines that aren't attached to a bank branch are the higher risk.
Cómo evitarla: Use ATMs inside a bank or your hotel lobby during the day, cover the keypad as you type, check the card slot for anything loose, and set up a transaction alert. Carry some cash so one blocked card doesn't strand you.
Fake tours and booking websites
Cómo funciona: Fraudulent websites mimicking real Cancún resorts and tour companies take full payment and then vanish, and street or beach 'agents' sometimes sell tours that don't exist or aren't as described. Authorities report many new fake hotel sites appearing each month.
Cómo evitarla: Book through well-known platforms or directly with established operators, check reviews and a real physical address, and be suspicious of prices well below the norm or demands to pay only by bank transfer or cash.
Dynamic currency conversion
Cómo funciona: When you pay by card, a shop, restaurant or ATM may offer to charge you in US dollars instead of pesos 'for your convenience'. This dynamic currency conversion bakes in a poor exchange rate and an extra markup, so you pay more than if you'd been charged in local currency.
Cómo evitarla: Always choose to be charged in Mexican pesos (MXN) and let your own bank do the conversion. Check the currency on the card machine before you approve, and decline any 'pay in USD' option.
Cómo funciona: Algunos cambistas callejeros o puntos de cambio informales dan un tipo de cambio desfavorable o entregan menos cambio a los turistas que no cuentan con cuidado, y algunos cajeros en zonas turísticas cobran comisiones excesivas o entregan menos dinero del solicitado.
Cómo evitarla: Retira dinero en cajeros vinculados a grandes bancos, dentro de centros comerciales o sucursales bancarias, cuenta el efectivo antes de alejarte, y evita por completo a los cambistas callejeros.
Riesgo de taxis callejeros no oficiales
Cómo funciona: Los taxis no registrados que se paran fuera de las zonas turísticas se han visto vinculados en ocasiones a sobrecobros o, en raras ocasiones, a incidentes más graves, especialmente de noche.
Cómo evitarla: Usa una aplicación de transporte compartido o pide un taxi registrado a través de tu hotel en lugar de parar un coche en la calle, sobre todo después de anochecer.
Extorsión de falsa policía
Cómo funciona: Personas que se hacen pasar por policías de civil o funcionarios detienen a turistas, alegan una infracción inventada y exigen una 'multa' en efectivo en el acto.
Cómo evitarla: Los agentes reales no exigen pago en la calle. Pide identificación, ofrece ir a la comisaría más cercana o llama a tu hotel o embajada en lugar de pagar directamente a nadie.
Sobreprecio en restaurantes de zona turística
Cómo funciona: Los restaurantes situados justo en las principales plazas turísticas a veces presentan una carta sin precios o añaden cargos de servicio inesperados una vez llega la cuenta.
Cómo evitarla: Pide siempre ver una carta con precios antes de pedir, y revisa la cuenta en busca de cargos añadidos antes de pagar.