Bottom line: Be wary of street-side money changers advertising rates significantly above the market (e.g., 16675 vs. the normal rate of around 16325)—this is the bait for scams. In real cases, exchanging $500 USD resulted in a loss of about NT$4,000, and $1,000 USD lost about NT$8,000. The trick: while you’re focused on counting, the clerk ‘helpfully’ stacks the bills and secretly swipes some away in under three seconds. Only exchange money at hotel-recommended or government-certified outlets, and always keep your eyes on the counting process.
A friend who just returned from Bali last week shared their group’s money exchange scam experience in our Bali community. After hearing the whole story, I felt it was necessary to write this down to warn all travelers heading to Bali: when it comes to exchanging money, never fall for the temptation of a good deal!
The incident happened on the streets of Ubud. They were originally heading to the hotel-recommended ‘BMC’ exchange, but passed by a money changer advertising a rate of ‘16675’—significantly higher than the day’s normal rate (around 16325). Someone in the group thought it was a rare good rate and went in first. Everything seemed normal. But when the others went in to exchange, the nightmare began…
The Magic Trick Exposed: How Their Money Was Stolen!
This shady money changer’s technique was incredibly slick. Looking back, the group pieced it all together:
- One member exchanging $500 USD had 2 million Indonesian rupiah (about NT$4,000) stolen
- Another exchanging $1,000 USD lost 4 million Indonesian rupiah (about NT$8,000)—even worse
How did they do it? Here’s the step-by-step breakdown:
- The clerk first counts the money in front of you
- Then you count it yourself to confirm
- While you’re focused on counting, the clerk ‘helpfully’ straightens the stack
- In that split second of stacking, the bills vanish without a trace!
- The whole move takes less than three seconds—it’s like a magic trick
Real-Life Horror Stories from Travelers: This Isn’t an Isolated Incident!
After a friend shared their experience online, many netizens chimed in with their own or their friends’ cautionary tales:
Traveler A:
“Last time we were in Ubud and needed to exchange money, our guide specifically warned us that cash could be skimmed, especially at street-side stalls without a proper storefront. The amount they count and hand you can be less than what you’re owed—you really have to watch out!”
Traveler B:
“I personally experienced this trick in Bali 20 years ago! Since then, I’ve insisted on keeping my eyes and hands on the counter and recounting the cash myself. After going back and forth twice, the clerk got frustrated and just refused to exchange money with us!”
Traveler C:
“Yesterday in Canggu, the same thing happened to me! I exchanged $100 USD for 16 notes of 100K and 2 notes of 20K. The clerk counted them in front of me and even spread them out on the counter for me to check. After I finished counting, I set the stack of 100K notes aside and was about to pick up the two 20K notes when he pretended to tidy up the pile (it happened in a split second!). When I recounted, there were only about 10 notes left! I stared right at him, and he took the whole stack back, counted again, and suddenly there were 16 notes again… It was like magic!”
Traveler D:
“Last October, I was also tricked by a ‘magic hand’! I exchanged $200 USD for 3.3 million Indonesian rupiah, and the money changer gave me all 50,000 denomination notes, split into four stacks: 20, 20, 20, and 6 notes. There was no bill counter in the shop, so he had me count each stack one by one and put them back, all while chatting to distract me—asking where I was staying, etc. The total should have been 66 notes, but he cleverly swiped 20 of them! Later, when I went to pay for something costing over 1 million rupiah, I realized, ‘What the heck?! There’s only this much left 😭😭😭’ I lost about $60 USD. All I can say is, it was an expensive lesson…”
Group Member E:
“On the way back to the hotel by bike, I stopped at a money changer to exchange some cash. My daughter and I counted it together and confirmed it was correct. But before leaving, I counted again and found 10 notes of 50,000 IDR missing—only 23 instead of 33. When I questioned the staff, they pretended to help recount, but secretly used the other hand to hold the 10 notes they had taken. I caught them red-handed. I took all the money back, insisted on counting it myself, and then the amount was correct. The staff tried to reach out again to fake a recount, but I refused on the spot and warned them!”
Bali Money Changer Safety Guide: How to Protect Your Hard-Earned Cash
Based on advice from netizens, here are the key safety rules:
Choose a Reputable Money Changer
- Netizens highly recommend “BMC” or “Central Kuta” money changers. While their rates may not be the best, trust and safety come first (look for shops with a green “PVA Authorized Money Changer” sign outside).
- Some people regularly use “MPB” for exchanges, and the staff even offer better rates than the posted ones (e.g., listed at 16,325 but actually give 16,500).
- This kind of scam isn’t new—just don’t fall for flashy rates. Either count all the money at once, or never let the other person touch the cash you’ve already counted. Stick to large chain stores for exchanges!
Check the Shop Environment
- Always look for a physical store with a glass window.
- Avoid street vendors without a shop or stores in alleys offering suspiciously good rates.
- Compare a few places to get a sense of the day’s normal exchange rate range.
- Shops with average rates along the way are generally safer.
- Check if it says “no commission”—make sure there are no hidden fees under fancy names.
Insist on “Eyes on the Money, Hands Off the Counter”
- No matter how “helpful” the staff seems in offering to organize your bills, firmly refuse.
- After counting it yourself, count it again before putting it in your wallet.
- Don’t give up your insistence just because you feel embarrassed.
What to Do If Something Goes Wrong
- If something bad actually happens, remember: swallow your pride and don’t be shy!
- Shout loudly to attract attention from passersby.
- In Indonesia, if you’re loud enough to draw a crowd, locals will naturally step in to help.
- 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 damage to the tourism image very seriously. Based on current cases, while these scams (like sleight of hand or shortchanging) usually involve small amounts, reporting or threatening to report often yields these results:
- Recovering losses: Many scammers assume tourists won’t bother with the hassle. When you call the police or threaten to, most illegal money changers will immediately refund the money to avoid trouble.
- Blacklisting: Bali authorities have cracked down hard on illegal money changers in recent years. Your report can get the shop blacklisted or even shut down.
- SOP for Handling a Scam
If you realize you’ve been shortchanged, follow these steps:
- Stay calm and don’t leave the scene: Leaving makes it hard to prove they shortchanged you.
- Record evidence: If possible, start recording during the argument, capturing the shop’s sign and the staff’s face.
- Protest firmly: Point out the amount is wrong. If they refuse to make it right, call immediately and tell the staff: ‘I am calling the Tourist Police now.‘
Editor’s Honest Take
Bali is truly beautiful—Ubud’s art and culture, Kuta’s beach sunsets, Seminyak’s Instagram-worthy cafés… but don’t let a bad money exchange experience ruin your perfect vacation.
Our group member lost some money this time, but luckily caught it in time without affecting the rest of their trip. They want to share their story to remind everyone: those shops boasting ‘especially good rates’ are often the traps. Instead of risking it for a few extra hundred thousand Indonesian rupiah, it’s better to choose safe, reliable, official money changers. After all, traveling is about having fun and peace of mind, right?
Authorized money changers display a green shield-shaped PVA Berizin (full name: Pedagang Valuta Asing Berizin) sticker on their front glass, indicating they are certified and safer.
We hope everyone leaves Bali with wonderful memories, not stories of being cheated or ripped off! Remember, in Bali, ‘super high rates’ or rates that seem too good to be true are 100% scams. If you’ve had a similar experience, feel free to share it to help others avoid falling for the same tricks!
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