What are the possible scams in the Philippines? Traveling in the Philippines is safe, and we, who have been to more than 70 countries, can tell you with total certainty that it is one of the calmest places we have traveled. However, as happens in any corner of the planet (even where we live), it is necessary to stay a little alert because there can always be the odd opportunist who might take advantage of your status as a visitor.
It should be noted first of all that Filipinos are generally very honest people; they will try to help you as much as possible altruistically, and thefts or pickpocketing are quite rare (they occur mainly in very crowded areas or on public transport in big cities). In fact, it is very common to find posts in local Facebook groups about lost wallets/backpacks with all the documents and money inside, looking for their owner without asking for anything in return.
However, with our experience living/traveling around the country since 2010, we have grouped together some scams in the Philippines that we have personally experienced or that our readers have told us about over the years and that we believe can be useful so you do not end up having a bad time.
1. Taxis in the Philippines (especially in Manila)
Something that makes us really angry when arriving in the capital of the Philippines is its taxi drivers. As you know, we have lived a long time in the city, so we have had to suffer on multiple occasions their attempts to scam us. The most common is when they refuse to turn on the meter and try to charge you a fixed price they just “pull out of a hat.” Although it is common on any type of journey, this has happened to us more frequently during heavy traffic periods (from 8:00 to 10:00 and from 16:30 to 20:00, especially on Friday afternoons) and right at the airport, where we have had to get out with all our luggage after the taxi had already started moving.
How to avoid the situation? Always ask in advance or, if you forget, be very insistent that they turn on the meter. Many times they claim there is a lot of traffic, and it is true that the meter does not move much when the car is stopped and that it could be unfair, but the reality is that it almost always happens when they see you are a foreigner and can take advantage. In Cebu City it is much less frequent, and we suggest you try ordinary white taxis without worry.
Another common situation is that they try to add a surcharge of 50 or 100 pesos (“plus 50”) to the meter because there are many traffic jams. They usually tell you at the start of the ride, typically when they do not want to turn on the meter, so it is up to you whether you want to accept it or not.
As also happens elsewhere in the world, it may happen that a taxi driver takes you the long way to charge you more. Therefore, it never hurts to turn on Google Maps and see where they are taking you. If you are leaving from or heading to Manila airport, they may offer to take the Skyway, which is a toll road. You will have to pay for this yourself (around 25–30 pesos and they give you a receipt), but it is usually worth it because it tends to have less traffic.
One way to avoid this type of taxi scams in the Philippines is to use the app Grab, which is like Southeast Asia’s Uber, or, if you are coming from the airport, the yellow taxis. In this case, rides are roughly 25% more expensive than a regular taxi, but you do save yourself the hassle. If you are traveling solo, you can also use habal-habal (motorbike with driver) apps like Angkas, Move It, or Joyride.
In that sense, a comfortable and safe option, if you want to have someone waiting with a little sign with your name when you land, is to book your transfer in advance. The two most popular in the Philippines are KLOOK and Civitatis:
Manila airport transfer to your hotel with Civitatis
Airport transfer to your hotel with KLOOK
Finally, although it has never happened to us and we believe it is by no means common, we have heard of taxi drivers who drive off before you have time to grab your luggage. That is why, when there are two or more of us in the vehicle, one usually stays inside paying while the other takes the luggage out. There is no need to be paranoid, but if possible, it does not hurt to err on the side of caution. In addition, if you can take a photo of the license or plate number or write it down somewhere (it is usually also indicated in the glove box), even better.
Since we have focused on Manila, you can read about the city and how best to allocate your time there in our guides:
2. Airport middlemen
Although you surely already know this and avoid it, it is better to turn a deaf ear to anyone who approaches you at the airport as soon as you arrive, because it is common that they do not have very clean intentions. In the case of Manila or Cebu airports, it is quite normal for intermediaries or the taxi drivers themselves—or even unauthorized vehicles—to come to you offering to take you to your destination in the city.
Of course, these prices tend to be double or triple what the ride would normally cost. How to avoid this scam in the Philippines? You just need to go to the official taxi lines or request a Grab car. For more information, we suggest reading our guides Cómo ir del aeropuerto de Manila al centro and Cómo ir del aeropuerto de Cebú al centro.
3. Tricycle or tuk tuk drivers who want to take advantage
We have a “crusade” against taxi drivers, but something we frequently struggle with during our explorations in the Philippines is that they try to charge absurd amounts for tricycles or tuk tuks and, to a lesser extent, habal habal.
Although in almost every corner of the country there are established fares by distance or municipal limits—and in many cases there is a small board hanging that indicates them—being tourists it is complicated to know them and not overpay. For this reason, in almost any Viajar por Filipinas guide you will find estimated costs of the most common routes. Personally, what we usually do is ask at accommodations or local Filipinos on the street what they usually pay, and that gives us a number to negotiate with.
Keep in mind that the price you are told may be for a shared ride, since most of these transports operate like a “line,” following established routes and picking up lots of people going in that direction along the way. Therefore, if what you want is a private ride or “special trip,” it is normal to pay a bit more.
4. “I don’t have change”
Although over the years we notice it a bit less—and although in many cases it cannot be considered a scam in the Philippines—we still experience the “don’t you have a smaller bill?” when we hand over a 500 or 1,000‑peso bill to pay. Whether you have to pay 100 or 800 pesos, it is possible they pull a face and try to make it your problem to sort out a smaller bill. So we suggest you collect small‑denomination bills and coins to have them when needed.
This is no big deal and can even be anecdotal, but it is not so funny when you are in a taxi and they say they have no change just to keep the difference. Sometimes it may be true, but in any case, we recommend you stand your ground and demand the change that is yours.
5. Watch your change
It almost never happens to us, but some travelers have told us that one scam in the Philippines they have encountered is not giving them the change they were owed when paying at an establishment. It is common sense—and you surely already do this—but check the change you are given carefully.
6. Watch the restaurant bill
Likewise, it is worth paying attention to restaurant bills and checking carefully the drinks and dishes they want to charge you for. Without falling into paranoia—because it is not that common—it is worth keeping an eye out so you are not overpaying.
7. The SIM card stalls at the airports—one of the most frequent scams in the Philippines
In recent years we have seen the SIM‑card “mafia” at Manila and Cebu airports grow enormously. Some time ago we would arrive, buy our SIM card and top‑up cards to activate ourselves the cheapest Globe or Smart phone plans; but nowadays it is almost impossible for them to offer you this option, only giving you plans that rarely go below 1,500 pesos (versus the 40 pesos a SIM costs and the 300 pesos for 24 GB).
For this reason, we recommend you read our guide Internet en Filipinas carefully and stay alert so you do not overpay.
8. The “obligation” to check in luggage at Bohol port
This Filipino scam really gets us very $%$ because it has been happening for many years and we still do not understand why it has not been fixed. The issue is that the Oceanjet company forces you (although we are not entirely sure whether they can really do this or not—that is another dispute…) to hand over your large luggage (not carry‑on) before entering the terminal building. All fine so far, but we suggest you pay attention to what they want to charge you because it tends to be more than double what is established.
That is, for a regular‑sized suitcase or backpack (including very full 70‑liter backpacks) they must charge you 50 pesos. However, as soon as you arrive they will tell you it is 100. Stand your ground again; say you make this trip often and you know that is the price.
9. Inflated hospital bills
It is sad, but hospitals usually charge astronomical amounts when it comes to foreigners. What in Spain would be “free” (which it never is because we pay taxes for that) or relatively cheap, in the Philippines can cost you a pretty penny.
Unfortunately, after several serious hospitalizations here and many visits to specialists for various reasons, we have received long bills (22.000 euros when Jairo spent three weeks hospitalized in Manila). We have never had to pay out of pocket because it never crosses our minds to travel without insurance that covers this kind of thing. In addition, our insurance also covers the necessary medications, since in the Philippines antibiotics are absurdly expensive for a population that in most cases does not earn more than 200€ a month.
You can read more about this in Seguro para viajar a Filipinas and get a 5% discount on your policy by clicking this link.
10. Hidden fees on tours or at hotels
Filipinos are generally honest people, but there can always be someone who wants to be clever and overcharge you by hiding fees you have to pay or even inventing some that do not exist.
Having to pay fees, much as it may annoy us, is super common in the archipelago for cultural or organizational reasons. Instead of adding them, as in other countries, to the ticket price, to the excursion, or having the hotel cover them, you will usually have to pay them separately at a dedicated window. Therefore, when arranging a tour with a person or agency, we recommend that you explicitly ask about the fees you will have to pay in addition to the price they are giving you. This way you will not be upset later. In any case, in the guides on our website we usually mention whether you have to pay them and their price.
On the other hand, although this does not happen only in the Philippines, in some places it is normal to pay a municipal tax or lodging fee. On normal accommodation search sites, it is usually indicated at the time of booking whether it will be necessary to pay it or not, so our advice is to read the fine print carefully. If nothing is mentioned, demand that they show you where that regulation is indicated and, if so, ask for an “official receipt.”
11. The supposed El Nido–Coron ferry where your life could be at risk
We do not like to write this, but unfortunately it is something we have seen many times over the last few years. On the El Nido to Coron trip (usually this route) or vice versa, when the official ferry tickets sell out (which happens very frequently) “sellers” suddenly appear offering another supposed trip that ends up being a super dangerous crossing from a port in the north of Palawan (San Fernando/Dipnay) that lasts more than 10 hours and is done on a rickety barge.
We are talking about a high‑seas journey, where it is common to encounter quite a bit of swell; therefore we strongly recommend that you refuse and look after your safety. We know it can be a desperate situation because your travel plans can be disrupted, but believe us—we have seen boats sink in the Philippines with material losses (fortunately, not human ones yet).
How to avoid this? We suggest buying this ferry ticket in advance on sites like this one or this one. You can read more about this route in Cómo ir de El Nido a Coron.
12. Cebu port fixers—one of the easiest scams in the Philippines to avoid
Although it is hard to fall for this scam in the Philippines, it is better we warn you: ignore anyone who approaches you at Cebu port. The fixers or intermediaries will try to trick you, overcharge you and, at times, even disappear leaving you without a ticket and without the money you gave them.
Simply go to the ticket window of the ferry company you are going to use—you will see them perfectly signposted—and do the process yourself. If you prefer to avoid the bad experience, you can also buy the tickets you need on sites like this one or this one, which are totally trustworthy.
13. The “kind” ladies of Manila
We have never suffered this ourselves nor known anyone it has happened to, but we have read in some traveler forums about someone who had the bad luck—so it is better to be aware of this scam in the Philippines, which can be serious.
Filipinos are quite hospitable, and it will be rare during your trip that you are not offered at some point to share a bottle of Tanduay or a bit of lechón. They do it from the heart because they want to please and, why not, spend time with a tourist. However, in Manila, cases have occurred where very kind ladies approach you under the pretext of making friends and then put something strange in your food or drink to end up robbing you of everything. For this reason, we recommend being cautious in the capital.
14. Currency exchange booths at Cebu airport
Surprisingly—because in most countries it is not worth it—the exchange rate offered by the currency exchange booths at Manila airport is extremely good; therefore we recommend our readers to save themselves the hassle and exchange a large part of their cash as soon as they arrive. However, if you arrive in the Philippines via Cebu airport, we suggest the opposite, since the exchange rate they offer there is terrible.
Therefore, it is best to exchange the minimum to get to your accommodation and do the rest in a place where you do not lose so much money. We delve into this and recommend places to exchange to pesos in Dinero en Filipinas.
15. The mess they try to pull at Maya or Malapascua port
Another scam in the Philippines that really annoys us—because it involves an island we adore and where our heart rates drop dramatically—is the Malapascua bangkas. A boat between Maya port and Malapascua (or vice versa) costs 2,000 pesos per journey, with 200 pesos being the ticket price for one person. Therefore, although it is established that they depart roughly every 30 minutes, there must be at least 10 passengers for the boat to leave.
What usually happens is that the savviest boat captain “suggests” to tourists that, so the boat leaves on time, those who are there cover the amount needed to reach 2,000 pesos. All this can be logical and acceptable, but what normally happens is that, once you are on the boat, you realize that 10 more Filipinos have got on who, of course, either did not pay or paid the usual price.
How to avoid this scam in the Philippines? In our case, we stand our ground and tell them we do not mind waiting longer. It is common for the minimum quota to gradually fill up and for them to have no choice but to take you. Although it is tricky, you can also try to find other travelers to share the ride—with our calendar.
You can read more information about this route and be prepared in Cómo llegar a Malapascua.
16. Sunscreen that is actually body lotion
To finish this list of scams in the Philippines, here is one that travelers have told us about in recent years, especially in Port Barton (Palawan). According to them, they wanted to buy sunscreen and ended up being given body lotion with no protection whatsoever, finishing the day totally sunburned.
With a sun that burns much more here than in Europe, using sunscreen frequently is almost mandatory. In the Philippines, since locals hardly use it, it is quite expensive. Therefore, to save money and avoid nasty surprises, our recommendation is to bring it from home and ideally choose one like this that does not harm corals. We also encourage you to pack in your backpack for the Philippines some shirts with sun protection like this, which will be less harmful to your skin and to the environment.
We hope you do not experience any of the above scams in the Philippines and, in fact, it would be quite rare for this to happen once you are warned. The Philippines is an extremely safe country and, after so many years advising travelers, we would say that 99’9% of visitors leave delighted; so do not go around paranoid or walking on eggshells either. Just travel with common sense and keep in mind everything we have mentioned. If you are a solo female traveler, we believe our guide on Viajar sola a Filipinas may also be a good fit for you.
Can you think of any others we could add to this list of scams in the Philippines? If you like, you can tell us in the comments.
