Summary
- Taksim Square in Istanbul is a tourist hotspot, but it is also a place where many scams occur, such as the infamous bar scam.
- The bar scam involves luring unsuspecting travelers into a bar, where they are then hit with an exorbitant bill and threatened with violence if they refuse to pay.
- To avoid falling victim to the bar scam, travelers should remain in control, suggest a different bar or restaurant if the scammer resists, and mention the presence of friends to deter scammers.
As a traveler, safety concerns are in the back of my mind at all times, despite the desire to simply enjoy experiences as they come. Aside from worries like direct robbery or assault, there can be tricky scenarios where even the best anti-theft travel gear will prevent nothing if one is being coerced to hand over their money after falling victim to a scam, whether knowingly or not.
10 Of The Most Common Scams In Asia And How You Can Avoid Them
Traveling through Asia can be a truly great and memorable experience, but be aware: there are plenty of scams that you should try to avoid.Istanbul, a massive tourist destination famous for mosques, bazaars, and more, is sadly also a place full of these scams. One particularly egregious one has been a stain on the city's reputation for years, but many of those who orchestrate it are clever enough to continue catching people off guard. Unfortunately, I very nearly became a victim despite having read all about it beforehand. Here is the story of how I escaped Istanbul's infamous bar scam along with some personal insight on how to avoid it entirely.
Taksim Is Where Tourism And Scammers Thrive
Taksim Square and its surrounding area is a tourist haven, but travelers should proceed with caution
Taksim Square, along with nearby Istiklal Avenue and the Byzantine Galata Tower, brings droves of tourists through the area, and with great numbers of tourists come great numbers of aspiring scammers. A notorious bar scam here continues to trick unwitting travelers, and those who lure victims to the bar can be very good at their job.
The bar scam can have variations in delivery and style, but the general situation is the same. The face of the operation picks out a viable victim from the street and lures them to the establishment behind it all.
After sometimes as little as only one drink, the victim is slammed with an outrageously large bill often reaching hundreds of dollars. When victims resist, they tend to be cornered and coerced by serious threats of violence until they give up the money.
How I Was Fooled Into The Bar Scam
Just a side street away from the shopping hysteria of Istiklal Avenue is Nevizade Street
As I walked alone not far off from Nevizade Street, a popular hangout for both tourists and locals, a sharp-dressed stranger introduced himself as Angelus, a chemical engineer from Cyprus visiting Turkish family (it turns out this is a common script used as an icebreaker). He asked if I could help him find a cool bar he had heard about, and even asked random people on the street the same question in Turkish before they would gesture, further selling his whole act as something legitimate.
Angelus was masterful in how he would not ask me too many direct questions, but just enough to discern if my profile was susceptible to the scam. He even physically distanced himself more than once, which encouraged me to drop my guard further. The next thing I knew, I was convinced to sit down for a quick beer.
The moment we were seated, red flags began flying wildly.
- Bad acting: Angelus' demeanor dramatically changed after we entered the bar. He became extremely cold and would hardly respond when I spoke to him.
- Being served unsolicited drinks and food: Waitstaff brought drinks and food to the table entirely unrequested (more justification to drive up the bill).
- Fast "friends": A couple of charming women suddenly spawned at the table and, along with backup from the waitstaff, encouraged a merry night of drinking with my new best Turkish friends. This was the exact moment I knew I had been tricked.
After refusing to order drinks for myself or the planted support actors, awkward tension at the table was palpable. I had read how this can end horrifically for some who resist, so I thought it best to reverse course and play the part of an American idiot. I told my new acquaintances it was time to party and chatted with them for a moment before knocking back a glass of raki that I had never ordered, and everyone relaxed.
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Sadly, while reporting this to the police is not entirely a bad idea, many anecdotal reports show it can sometimes make matters worse. In situations with a heavy language barrier, the truth can be manipulated by native scammers, and sometimes the local police are corrupt to begin with. Proceed with vigilance.
How To Dodge Scammers In Istanbul
The bar scam can be avoided altogether with a few easy defense mechanisms
Not every friendly stranger is a scammer. I have spent time with some wonderful people all over the world on my travels, with the initial meetings being not so different from this one. All it takes is some extra care to run a few "tests" before agreeing to sit down anywhere with anyone on a whim, as I did in this instance.
With just a bit of due diligence, these scammers can be easy to deflect.
- Remain in control: Suggest a different bar/café; if they strongly resist, that is a red flag that they are luring you to a specific place for a reason.
- Call upon friends (even if imaginary): Mention that you have friends in town you are meeting up with later or that might even join you both. The idea of controlling multiple people in a scam will not be appealing to them.
The next day, I surprisingly saw Angelus (if that is his real name) while walking through a packed Friday afternoon crowd on Istiklal Avenue. He was observing it all from atop a small set of stairs when a striking three or so seconds of eye contact connected us through the sea of shoppers and gelato eaters.
I pretended to be just another tourist taking a selfie, but I was really looking through the crowds behind me to see if he might decide to follow me. He remained at his post, and I never saw him again.
My favorite part of long-term solo traveling is its jumbled mixture of the good and the bad, and the stories and lessons learned from it all. Istanbul is a fascinating city of awesome street food, culture, and sightseeing and I would still urge anyone to visit at least once, especially since US tourists no longer need a visa. I simply leave all with a warning not to trust the first snazzy, turtlenecked "chemical engineer" who presents himself.
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January 04, 2024 at 05:30AM
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How I Escaped Istanbul's Infamous Bar Scam With Tips To Avoid It - TheTravel
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