Karachi, Pakistan, is a fascinating destination that amazes its visitors with cultural diversity, rich history, culinary delights, and much more. However, it is also a destination where you can expect to encounter various tourist scams. Here are some of the most common ones to be aware of so you don’t get scammed out of your hard-earned money.
Horse Riding Scam
This is one of Karachi’s most notorious scams that is well documented by many travel bloggers. Featured prominently on Clifton Beach, it includes scammers offering you a horse ride for around 200 Pakistani Rupees, which is less than one US dollar. Once you’re on a horse, they will take you for a spin and then try to charge you anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 rupees. They will claim the session included more rides and get really aggressive if you fail to pay them.
Guide Scam
You might be approached by an individual claiming to be a tour guide or have one recommended by a taxi driver. They will offer to take you around the city and show you all the best places, but their goal is to take you to the shops where they receive commission or demand ridiculous amounts of money for their services.
Charity Scam
One common scam involves individuals or groups approaching you and posing as a representative of a charity organization. They will ask you to make a donation for some random cause, but most of the time, that money will end up in their pockets.
Tourist Price Scam
It isn’t uncommon for street vendors to have different prices for tourists and locals. If they realize you are a foreigner, they will charge you a lot more. Make sure to get familiar with the average prices of drinks and food and know the exchange for Pakistani Rupee so you wouldn’t end up paying more.