The incident happened on the streets of Ubud. They were originally planning to exchange money at the hotel-recommended ‘BMC,’ but on the way, they passed a money exchange shop advertising a rate of ‘16675,’ which was significantly higher than the normal rate of around 16325 that day. One of the group members thought it was a rare opportunity and went in to exchange money. Everything seemed normal at first. But when other group members went in to exchange money, the nightmare began…
The Magic Trick Revealed: How Our Fellow Travelers’ Money Was Stolen!
The scam was quite sophisticated, and the group members only realized what had happened afterward:
- One group member who exchanged $500 had 2 million IDR (approximately USD$130) stolen
- Another group member who exchanged $1000 had 4 million IDR (approximately USD$260) stolen
How did they do it? Here’s how the process unfolded:
- The staff first counts the money in front of you
- You then count the money yourself to confirm
- While you’re busy counting, the staff ‘helpfully’ stacks the money neatly
- In that moment of stacking the money! The bills are magically stolen!
- The whole process takes less than three seconds, as fast as a magic trick
Netizens’ Blood and Tears Experience: This Is Not an Isolated Incident!
網友血淚經驗談：這不是單一事件！
After my friend posted their experience online, many netizens also shared their own or their friends’ painful experiences:
Group Member A:
“Last time when we were in Ubud and wanted to exchange money, our tour guide specifically warned us that money would be taken away, especially at street-side stalls without a proper storefront! The amount counted and handed to you on the spot would be less, so you must be extra careful!”
Group Member B:
“I personally experienced this trick 20 years ago in Bali! Later, I insisted on keeping my eyes and hands on the counter and recounted it myself. After going back and forth twice, the other party got angry and refused to exchange with us!”
Group Member C:
“Yesterday, I encountered a similar situation in Canggu! I exchanged $100 for 16 bills of 100K and 2 bills of 20K. The clerk counted them in front of me and spread them on the table for me to check. After I finished counting and placed the stack of 100K aside, just as I was about to take the 2 bills of 20K, he pretended to help me tidy up the money (it really was just a moment!). When I recounted, there were only about 10 bills left! I stared at him, and only then did he take the whole stack and recount it, and it magically became 16 bills again… it was like a magic trick!”
Group Member D:
“Last October, I was also tricked by a magic hand! I exchanged $200 for 3.3 million Indonesian Rupiah, and the exchanger gave me all 50,000 denomination bills, divided into four stacks: 20, 20, 20, and 6 bills. There was no bill counter in the shop, so he asked me to count each stack and put it back, chatting with me to distract me, like asking where I was staying, etc. The total should have been 66 bills, but he cleverly took away 20 bills!!! It wasn’t until later when I went to pay for something that cost over 1 million that I realized, ‘What the heck! How come there’s only this much left?’ 🥲🥲🥲 I lost about $58-65, and I can only say it was a lesson learned the hard way…”
Group Member E:
“On the way back to the hotel by bike, I stopped by a money changer to exchange some cash. My daughter and I counted the money together to confirm it was correct. Before leaving, I counted it again and found that 10 bills of 50,000 IDR were missing—there were only 23 bills instead of the expected 33. When I questioned the staff, they pretended to help recount but secretly held the missing 10 bills in their other hand, which I caught red-handed. I took all the money back, insisted on recounting it myself, and only then did the amount match. The staff tried to reach out again under the guise of recounting, but I immediately refused and warned them!”
Bali Money Exchange Safety Tips: Protect Your Hard-Earned Cash
Based on suggestions from fellow travelers, here are some safety guidelines:
Choose Reputable Money Changers
- Many recommend “BMC” or “Central Kuta” money changers. While the exchange rate might not be the best, trust and safety are paramount (look for stores with the green “PVA Authorized Money Changer” sign).
- Some regularly go to “MPB” for exchanges, where staff might even offer rates better than the listed price (e.g., listed as 16325 but given 16500).
- This kind of scam isn’t new, so don’t chase overly attractive rates. Always count all the money yourself, and don’t let the staff touch it again after you’ve counted. Stick to well-known chain stores!
Observe the Store Environment
- Always choose a physical store with a glass window.
- Avoid street-side stalls or small alley shops with suspiciously good rates.
- Compare several places to understand the normal exchange rate range for the day.
- Stores with average rates along the way are relatively safer.
- Make sure it’s a “no commission” shop without hidden fees.
Insist on “Eyes on the Money, Hands on the Counter”
- No matter how “helpful” the staff tries to be, firmly refuse their assistance in organizing the bills.
- After counting yourself, recount once more before putting the money in your wallet.
- Don’t give up your vigilance just to avoid feeling awkward.
How to Handle Suspicious Situations
- If something bad happens, remember: don’t be afraid to make a scene!
- Shout loudly to attract attention from passersby
- In Indonesia, if you make enough noise to draw a crowd, people will naturally come to your aid
- Call the Tourist Police for assistance:
(+62) 361 224 111or(+62) 361 759 687 - If you’re scammed while exchanging money in Bali, you can call the police, and the Tourist Police take such incidents that damage tourism very seriously. Based on current cases, although these scams (sleight of hand, shortchanging) usually involve small amounts, threatening to call or actually calling the police often has the following effects:
- Recovering losses: Many scammers operate on the assumption that tourists won’t bother making a fuss. When you call or threaten to call the police, most illegal money changers will immediately return your money to avoid being shut down or jailed.
- Blacklisting: Bali authorities have been cracking down hard on illegal money changers in recent years. Your report can get these shady establishments blacklisted or even shut down.
- Recommended SOP if scammed If you find that money is missing, follow these steps:
- Stay calm and don’t leave the scene: It’s hard to prove they shortchanged you after you’ve left.
- Record evidence: If possible, start recording during the argument, capturing the shop’s sign and the staff’s face.
- Protest firmly: Point out directly that the amount is incorrect. If they refuse to make up the difference, call immediately and tell the staff: “I am calling the Tourist Police now.”
Editor’s Honest Words
Bali is truly beautiful - Ubud’s cultural arts, Kuta’s beach sunsets, Seminyak’s Instagram-worthy cafes… but don’t let a bad money exchange experience ruin your wonderful vacation.
Although our group lost some money this time, fortunately it was discovered immediately and didn’t affect the rest of the trip. They also hope to remind everyone through their experience: those shops boasting “exceptionally good rates” are often traps. Rather than risking it for a few hundred thousand extra IDR, choose safe and reliable official money changers. After all, the most important things when traveling abroad are happiness and peace of mind, right?
Authorized money changers will have a green shield-shaped PVA Berizin (full name Pedagang Valuta Asing Berizin) sticker on their glass doors, indicating they are certified and safer.
We hope everyone can leave Bali with wonderful memories, not painful lessons about being robbed or scammed! Remember, in Bali, “super high exchange rates” that seem too good to be true are 100% scams. If you’ve had similar experiences, please share them to help others avoid being tricked!
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