How to avoid being scammed at currency exchange in Bali?
Based on 1 discussions with 3 participants · Last activity: 8 days ago
TL;DR
Money changers in Bali often use sleight-of-hand tricks — always count your bills at the counter, hold them in your hands, and don't walk away until you're sure the amount is correct.
What the community said
The Bali tourist levy (Kitas-related fee) can cause confusion, but it turns out to be voluntary — locals will explain this if you ask.
2 days ago
At a money changer in the Nusa Dua area, the cashier handed over the full amount in 50,000 rupiah notes stacked in piles. Counting everything immediately while holding the bills in hand prevented a shortchange — the cashier was visibly disappointed the trick didn't work.
4 days ago 50,000 IDR notes — count immediately at the counter
A discrepancy was only noticed the next day when spending totals didn't add up despite recounting four times. By then it was too late to do anything about it. The lesson: always verify the amount on the spot before leaving the counter.
5 days ago Check immediately — next day it's too late to dispute