Avoiding Scams in Cuba

There are a number of common scams tourists fall for in Cuba, and here is a rundown so you know what to look for.

One of the most frequent scams is overcharging for drinks in a bar some new “friends” recommend. Some young couples befriend tourists in the street and offer to show them a trendy bar around the corner, which is in fact run by an accomplice who vastly overcharges for a round of drinks.

Another scam is the young mother with a hungry child who asks for some money to buy a bag of milk powder. On occasion tourists have been taken to a nearby shop and overcharged for milk which is then swiftly returned to the shopkeeper, who splits the money with his accomplice.

Other scams include selling fake products such as cigars and rum. Many tourists are surprised that the emblematic Cuban cigars are, in fact, quite expensive, and are tempted to buy from touts who promise more affordable prices. While they might cost less, the cigars don’t actually contain any tobacco at all.

While it’s not strictly a scam, you should also be careful when handling change in Cuba. The country operates two different currencies, the peso and the convertible peso, and unscrupulous traders occasionally take advantage of tourists by giving them change in the far less valuable peso. Get familiar with the coins when you arrive and always check your change before you walk away.