Most common scams in Türkiye

Experience has taught me to never go into a restaurant which doesn't have a menu.  BTW, I'm not an expat yet but hope to become an expat in less than a year.  A few years back, we arrived into Istanbul on a late arrival and hadn't eaten so we started to explore around our hotel around midnight in Şiśli.  We came across an a fairly standard restaurant which didn't offer a menu.    Food was good but for my family of three the bill came out close to $60.  This was in 2022.  For perspective, I speak conversational Turkish but it easily comes across that I am not a native Turk and neither my wife or my son speaks Turkish.  So, my policy now is that I will walk out of a restaurant which does not have a menu. 

Also, any shops catering to tourists is a big trap.  Those merchants are experts at extracting money from tourists/expats.  Just last year, I got ripped off when buying a T-shirt.  After I kept on telling the guy I was not buying a T-shirt, in an exasperated way, he said he'd drop the price to 600TL so I bought it.  At 30TL per $, I paid $20 for a knock off T-shirt.

Five scammers claimed from police force almost tricked me on "the lack of documentation" in immigration office. I have no idea how they got my and a colleague' personal data.

*The scammers asked me to visit the police office only to give my signature on something in Istanbul. As I was not in Istanbul, my colleague, who was unluckily contacted by the same scammers, was able to "represent me" to sign the signature -- in Turkiye, to sign official documentation of individual: definitely scammers because a notarized power of attorney is mandatory.

*The scammers told me there would be "an sms" came from 115 (or 155) and there was nothing coming

*They called me from many different mobile phone numbers and few times in a day.

*While checking the whatsapp picture profile of scammers - they used the police symbols. To find out, few days later the pictures changed to symbol of a bank picture profiles.   

*It is highly recommended to have a good lawyer to consult in any official matters especially for residents who has lived or plan to stay longer in Turkiye. Once I shared my experience to my lawyer, she / he advised me to ignore and block the suspected phone numbers. If you have a friend from police force, it is also recommend to seek the advise.

You have to be careful with the shoe shiners on the streets of Istanbul. They walk around with their boxes full of polish, and when a foreigner happens to walk by, they "accidentally" drop their polishing brush. When you kindly point it out or try to return it to them, they tell you that, as a gift, they'll shine your shoes (they might even polish your canvas sneakers — haha). In the end, being a nice person, you might want to give them a tip — or not — and that's when they start saying it's too little, that their work is worth much more, that their family is very poor, and that you could help them more, etc. In the end, they take as much as they can from you, and you’re left speechless.

Restaurants have two menus in Turkiye. One for the Turkish people and one for the foreigners. We learned the hard way as we have paid almost double the price on many occasions until we were told to ask for the menu for the Turkish people. Also, when taking a taxi, do not ask how much is the journey! But make sure that the taxi driver 'zero' their taximeter. That way you will pay the actual right amount for the journey. If you ask how much would it be, they make up prices as they go....

There are so many scams around. These are just two of them,

@Gino_C

We have many restaurants in our neighbourhood. Most of them are good and correct and some of them ar a rip off for tourists. I really do not understand that websites can advise to go to these restaurants (money will be a factor (tripadvisor I will not trust, even stronger if advised I will not go).

I have given some negative references, but they stillseem to survive (even if no clients (??)

The tax authorities should may a visit.

Overall even if prices are high, service is good, food is good, nothing to complain. We have many to choose from, but for the higher end you have to expect EUR 50 to even 60, for normal/simple restaurants EUR 30/40. That is for two, starter, bread, sauces, main dish and tea after (and very fresh orange juice).

I have to stress service in general is excellent.

@EllaineTurkey

A good real estate agent is sufficient, we are fine and we did not encounter your problems at all. They should arrange something for you, not a lawyer.

You have made some bad decisions as it seems.

@Fedy23

If you are resident and people know you, you get a good treatment.

Example, I have to go to hairdresser this morning  (my wife wants this), (shaving, but he does also ears, nose, and hairs are nice after (not washing though) .

I do not like this at all, but quality is good and even if not as cheap as in past the price is very good (I pay TRY 350, but the normal price is TRY 250 I think).

A full treatment (washing, cutting hairs, shaving , ...) is TRY 800. Nothing to complain and definitely no scam. There are barbers on the main street, smoking, drinking tea, talking, I will never go, I have my preferences and I will stay loyal for as long as I can.

As for taxis, we know a company which we can trust, of course (as a standard) we ask for the taxi meter (not really needed). Buses are also relatively fine.

Bottom line scams are limited in my view.

Hello all,

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences. 😊

Your insights are very detailed and helpful, and will surely guide newcomers in staying alert and avoiding common scams.

If you have more advice or personal stories, do not hesitate to add them.

Cheers,

Cheryl

@cdw057

Hello,

You are absolutely right.

Unfortunately, there are restaurants with very high prices compared to the food quality and service they offer. For this reason, I take my guests to restaurants with suitable food quality parallel to their prices, and I witness their happiness. As long as they are happy, I am happy.

Of course, some tourists may prefer cheap and low-quality restaurants. This is their own risk.

For this reason, I have a list on my computer that I can frequently recall. (Neighborhood, Turkish food, seafood, kebab varieties, payment terms, etc.). The data bank allows me to reach delicious, high-quality, affordable restaurants for each neighborhood. Within the framework of this data, I make recommendations to visitors according to their requests.

Thank you for your message. If there is anything I can help with, please let me know.

@cdw057

Hello,

You are absolutely right.

Unfortunately, there are restaurants with very high prices compared to the food quality and service they offer. For this reason, I take my guests to restaurants with suitable food quality parallel to their prices, and I witness their happiness. As long as they are happy, I am happy.

Of course, some tourists may prefer cheap and low-quality restaurants. This is their own risk.

For this reason, I have a list on my computer that I can frequently recall. (Neighborhood, Turkish food, seafood, kebab varieties, payment terms, etc.). The data bank allows me to reach delicious, high-quality, affordable restaurants for each neighborhood. Within the framework of this data, I make recommendations to visitors according to their requests.

Thank you for your message. If there is anything I can help with, please let me know.

@cdw057

yes. I have... Please offer me.

regards

I wanted to add perspective to this topic.  I have also experienced many instances of very hospitable and generous experiences with people as well.  The people are very warm, friendly and honest.  One example of this happened in Istanbul in 2022 in which I was making a 90TL purchase from miscellaneous store and I didn't have correct change and the merchant didn't have 10TL change.  He said 80TL would be sufficient and I argued that I would pay him 100TL.  After much deliberation, I left with my purchase having paid him only 80TL.  All in all, scams happen anywhere be it in Turkey or here in the US.  We all have to be on our guard where commerce is involved.  I will become an expat in Türkiye in the spring of next year and I can't wait to make my move.   

@Fedy23

Yes, I was told about that many times