Panama
Common tourist scams in Panama and how to avoid them
The most common Panama scams are taxi meter tricks and unmetered fares in Panama City, inflated prices in Casco Viejo, card skimming at ATMs, and distraction theft in bus terminals and markets. Pay in cash for short rides, agree the fare first, use bank ATMs inside malls, and keep bags in front of you. Risk is low outside these spots.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
GuidePanama
Key facts
- Highest-risk areacheck
- Panama City: Casco Viejo, Albrook and Gran Terminal bus areas, markets (check)
- Taxi rulecheck
- Agree the fare before getting in; most city taxis have no meter (check)
- Typical short city ridecheck
- US$3–8 within the city centre, 2026 estimate (check)
- ATM advicecheck
- Use machines inside malls, banks or hotels during the day; cover the keypad (check)
- Emergency numbers
- 911 · 104 police · 103 fire
- Currency
- Balboa (PAB) = US$1; US notes with Panamanian coins
- English
- Limited outside Bocas del Toro and business settings; Spanish helps
Details
Panama is not a high-crime destination for visitors, but the money-facing scams are concentrated where tourists are: Panama City's Casco Viejo, the Albrook and Gran Terminal transport hubs, and the markets. Outside those, the main risk is ordinary opportunism rather than organised fraud.
Taxis are the classic one. Most Panama City taxis do not use a meter, so the fare is whatever you agree. Ask the price before you get in, name the district rather than the hotel, and have small notes ready. Drivers who quote in dollars to a cruise-ship or airport crowd, or who refuse to give change, are working the same trick. Ride-hailing apps remove the negotiation entirely and are the simplest fix.
At ATMs, skimming and shoulder-surfing happen in tourist zones. Use machines inside banks, malls or hotels during daylight, cover the keypad, and decline offers of help from strangers. Card cloning at small shops and bars is reported; keep your card in sight when paying. Cash is still normal for taxis, markets and small restaurants, so carry small bills.
Distraction theft is the other pattern: someone bumps you, spills something, or starts a loud conversation while a second person takes a phone or bag. It happens in crowded markets, on buses and at bus terminals. Keep your phone out of your hand near the door, wear your bag across your body and in front, and do not leave bags on the floor of a bus.
A few smaller ones are worth knowing. Someone may offer to 'help' with a parking space, luggage or a queue and then demand payment. Unofficial 'guides' at Casco Viejo or the Canal may quote a price and change it at the end. Street vendors and some restaurants in tourist zones may add a service charge that is not on the menu; check the bill. Counterfeit US notes are rare but check large bills you receive in change.
If something does happen, report it to the police (104) or the emergency line (911) and get a report for insurance. For card fraud, call your bank immediately; Panama uses US-dollar accounts, so most foreign cards work normally.
| Scam | Where it happens | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Unmetered taxi overcharge | Panama City, airports, cruise terminals | Agree the fare first or use a ride-hailing app |
| ATM skimming or shoulder-surfing | Tourist zones, Casco Viejo, bus stations | Use bank or mall ATMs in daylight; cover the keypad |
| Card cloning at small shops | Bars, small shops, souvenir stalls | Keep the card in sight; pay cash for small amounts |
| Distraction theft | Markets, buses, Albrook and Gran Terminal | Bag in front, phone away, no bags on the floor |
| Inflated bill or added charge | Casco Viejo and Canal-area restaurants | Check the bill; ask what the service charge covers |
| Fake 'helper' or unofficial guide | Casco Viejo, Canal, parking areas | Decline help you did not ask for; agree prices in writing |
| Counterfeit US notes | Markets, taxis, small vendors | Check large notes; ask for change in smaller bills |
Patterns change; treat this as a starting list, not a fixed one (check).
Tips
Carry small US-dollar bills and coins; many places cannot break a $20 or $50 note, and that is often the real reason for the 'no change' routine.
Use a ride-hailing app for airport and late-night trips; it fixes the price before you move.
Keep a photocopy or phone photo of your passport and entry stamp separate from the original.
Do not flash cash or a new phone in markets or at bus terminals.
If a price feels wrong, walk away; there is almost always another taxi, stall or restaurant within a block.
Save the emergency numbers before you arrive: 911, 104 police, 103 fire.
- Agree fares before boarding
- Use bank or mall ATMs in daylight
- Bag across the body and in front
- Check the bill for added charges
- Report incidents and get a police report for insurance
FAQ
Questions people ask
What are the most common tourist scams in Panama?
Unmetered taxi overcharges in Panama City, ATM skimming and card cloning in tourist zones, distraction theft in markets and bus terminals, and inflated bills or added charges in Casco Viejo and Canal-area restaurants. Agree fares first, use bank ATMs in daylight, and keep bags in front of you.
Is Panama safe from pickpockets?
Pickpocketing is not widespread, but it happens in crowded markets, on buses and at the Albrook and Gran Terminal hubs. Keep your phone out of sight near doors, wear your bag across your body and in front, and do not leave bags on the floor of a bus.
What should I do if I am scammed in Panama?
Report it to the police on 104, or 911 in an emergency, and ask for a written report for your insurer. For card fraud, call your bank immediately to block the card. For a taxi or bill dispute, note the plate or business name and report it; small amounts are rarely recovered.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check