Taiwan
Common tourist scams in Taiwan and how to avoid them
Taiwan is a low-scam destination: violent crime and pickpocketing are rare, and most visitors meet none of this. The realistic risks are taxi meters that stay off, night-market touts selling fruit or tea at inflated per-100g prices, and rental or tour deposits with vague terms. Pay by meter or app, agree prices in writing, and keep the 110 police and 0800-011-765 tourism helpline saved.
- 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
GuideTaiwan
Key facts
- Overall riskcheck
- Low; violent crime and pickpocketing are uncommon
- Most commoncheck
- Unmetered taxi fares, night-market price-by-weight stalls, deposit disputes on rentals and tours
- Taxi rulecheck
- Meters are required; if the driver refuses, take the next car or use the app
- Price-by-weightcheck
- Fruit and tea sold per 100 g can total far more than the displayed number
- Police
- 110
- Tourism helpline
- 0800-011-765 (24 h, English)
- Consumer disputecheck
- 1950 is the national consumer service line (check)
- Cash
- Cards and mobile pay work widely in cities; carry some NT$ for markets and small shops
Details
Taiwan's reputation for safety is deserved, and that changes what you should watch for. There is little street robbery or bag-snatching to plan around, so the money leaks come from transactions: a fare that is never metered, a bag of fruit weighed on a scale you cannot read, a scooter or surfboard deposit that is not returned. These are small amounts individually and easy to prevent once you know the pattern.
Taxis are the single most reported friction point. Meters are the rule, and a driver who quotes a flat price for an airport or cross-city run is usually quoting high. Use the official queue at Taoyuan and Songshan airports, or order through a ride-hailing app so the fare is fixed before you get in. If a meter is not switched on after you ask, get out and take the next car — there is almost always one.
Around night markets and popular old streets, watch how prices are displayed. Fruit, dried goods and loose-leaf tea are often priced per 100 g, so a small bag can cost several times what you expect. Ask for the total before the vendor cuts or bags anything, and walk away if the answer is vague. The same applies to 'free' tea tastings that end with a pressure sale of a boxed set.
Rental deposits are the third area. Scooter, bike, surfboard and kayak shops may hold a passport or a cash deposit; a passport should never be left as security. Photograph the item and any existing damage before you pay, get the return time and deposit terms in writing or on your phone, and pay by card where possible so there is a record.
Souvenir and jewellery shops in tourist districts occasionally run the classic 'your country's customs will charge you' pitch to push a bigger sale. Taiwan's own customs rules are the ones that matter for what you carry out; check them before you buy anything expensive.
Summary table
| Situation | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi at airport or station | Driver offers a flat fare instead of the meter | Use the official queue or a ride-hailing app; ask for the meter, or take the next car |
| Night-market fruit or tea | Price shown is per 100 g, not per bag | Ask for the total first; buy from stalls with clear per-item prices |
| Scooter, bike or surf rental | Deposit or passport held, damage disputed on return | Never leave a passport; photograph the item; get terms in writing; pay by card |
| 'Free' tea tasting | Ends with a high-pressure boxed-set sale | Set a budget before you sit down; it is fine to leave |
| Street tout near a landmark | Offers a tour or ticket at a 'discount' | Buy at the official ticket window or a known booking platform |
| Charity or temple donation box | Someone solicits cash on the street | Give inside the temple if you wish; ignore street collectors |
Amounts and tactics vary; treat this as a pattern list, not a fixed script (check).
Tips
Save 110 (police), 119 (fire and ambulance) and 0800-011-765 (24-hour tourism helpline, English) before you land. For a consumer dispute over a fare, a rental or a purchase, 1950 is the national consumer service line (check).
Carry a small amount of cash in NT$ for markets and small shops, but pay larger amounts — hotels, rentals, tours — by card so you have a receipt and a chargeback route. Keep your passport in the hotel safe rather than in a bag you put down.
If something goes wrong, stay calm and get it in writing: the driver's plate number, the shop name and address, the amount, the time. A photo of the shopfront and the receipt is usually enough for a police report or a card dispute. Report taxi problems to the tourism helpline; they handle visitor complaints and can follow up in English.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What are the most common tourist scams in Taiwan?
Unmetered or flat-fare taxis, night-market stalls pricing fruit and tea per 100 g, rental deposits that are not returned, and 'free' tea tastings that turn into a pressure sale. Violent crime and pickpocketing are rare. Ask for totals and meters up front.
Is Taiwan safe from pickpockets?
Largely yes. Bag-snatching and pickpocketing are uncommon compared with most tourist destinations, including on the MRT and in night markets. Normal care in crowds — zip your bag, keep your phone out of a back pocket — is enough.
What should I do if I am scammed in Taiwan?
Get the details in writing: name, address, plate number, amount, time, plus photos and the receipt. Call 110 for police, 0800-011-765 for the tourism helpline, or 1950 for a consumer dispute. If you paid by card, ask your bank about a chargeback.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialU.S. Department of State – Taiwan travel information
- officialUK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office – Taiwan travel advice
- officialGovernment of Canada – Taiwan travel advice
- officialSmartraveller (Australia) – Taiwan
- officialSafeTravel (New Zealand) – Taiwan
- officialDepartment of Foreign Affairs (Ireland) – Taiwan
- officialTaiwan Tourism Administration – visitor information