Is Prague a City Full of Scams?

Let's talk about this...

0:00 Is Prague City Full of Scams?
0:47 Scams in Prague
2:00 Tourist Traps in Prague
4:34 SurfSharkVPN (partner of the video)
5:38 Fake Scams
9:39 Czech Word

Thank you for your support!
Janek Rubeš & Honza Mikulka, Prague based journalists
#HonestGuide

[basvs]

A bit off topic, but ok: If you exchange money at some random dude on the street, you are really asking to be scammed. There is just no scenario in which this could be beneficial for you in any way.

[ShesAaRebel]

The "Bird Poop Scam" is actually real! ...Partly... and maybe not specifically in Prague, but for sure in other European countries.
My friend had her camera bag stolen in a train station in Rome by someone doing something similar. He came up to her, and acted like there was something on the back of her sleeve, causing her to put the bag down. He patted at it for a bit, and blocked her view, while his buddy ran away with the camera. Then he quickly bid her a good day, ran off, and by the time she looked down and realized the bag was gone, so was he.

[Chas_Murph_]

I was in Prague for seven days in April. I only had one experience of a potential scam. I was at a bank ATM when a man approached me to exchange USD for crowns. I told him to beat it, and he walked away. This has happened to me in almost every city I have visited in the world. Prague is one of the cleanest and safest cities I have ever visited. Can't wait to return.

[armenk]

Just visited Prague for a week and this channel helped so much! We overheard some other tourists in the city saying "Honest Guide is GOAT" and I couldn't agree more. Thanks for the videos!

[gruncletim]

I was in Prague recently, for about 6 days. I myself did not witness any scams. I bought water in stores, but not in the old city. I rode the trams, and purchased food and water at grocery stores that were located near the transit hubs. I think I paid about 19 or 20 crowns for the water. I did find Prague to be a very friendly city. If you're willing to get out of the main tourist area, it's easy to find stores and restaurants that don't have the tourist surcharge.

[jjacha]

That Drew Binsky photo 'scam' is basically like when you go to a different capital city in Europe and you and your partner get stopped by a someone, who compliments you, says a prayer, ties strings around your hands etc etc... And then asks for a donation. He didn't cheat you, but socially engineered a situation in which you feel bad for turning him down.

[Songguy]

Actually, the fake police officer one happened to me in Zizkov (sorry, no Czech keyboard). I've been living here for three years and only had that one person attempt to scam me. I was walking down the street when he stopped me (a guy who definitely didn't look like a police officer, but I wasn't going to judge a book by its cover). He said "Do you have any drugson you?". I said "No". He said "Right, I'm an undercover policeman. Take out you wallet and passport and put them on the ground". Coming from London I realised straight away a 'soft' mugging. I laghed at him and said "Listen, mate, I'm from London. If you're going to mug me then just f*cking mug me, because what we're doing right now is bloody romantic. In fact, the only way you'll get anything from me is if you suck me (sorry children)". I walked away. "F-you, English" 😂

[jimbob]

Any place that tourists flock to will also attract scammers looking to scam them. Prague certainly is not the only place this happens.

[MicahMann]

I was in Prague for 2 days last month (beautiful BTW) and I didn’t see any evidence of scammers on the streets and I watch your videos all the time. The only scams I saw were people flooding into the cbd stores and people lining up for the “traditional” trdelniks. 🤣

[jerbo]

We have been to Prague last week. Thanks to your tips we had a great week. Instead of Trdelník we ate Kolaches, had a great chickendish at Stridacka and we rode the streetcars as locals . Thanks for all the tips.

[tinman]

my not wealthy christian elderly neighbours went to prague many years ago and were robbed in theyre hotel room whilst they slept. i seem to recall it was also from the hotel safe in theyre room. the police ivestigation that followed decided they had been gassed in theyre beds whilst sleeping possibly via the air conditioning duct then the duct was used to enter theyre still locked room as well. they were unharmed but obviously it was confusing and upsetting

[wanderingsoul]

I am an Indian and living in Europe since last 3 years. I travelled across all of Europe and I can say that Prague is one of the most beautiful cities here. I love the cobblestone roads and alleys. Very beautiful and must visit.

[zacparks]

I was just in Prague a couple days ago. I can 100% say watching your videos was extremely informative and helpful. We were able to avoid all types of tourist traps. Can also say we didn't see a single scam outside of the food by weight which thanks to you we were already aware of and stayed away. Keep up the great work 🙌

[KatastrophicNoodle]

Implying something is free (taking their picture) then asking for money for printing it out against their will is literally a scam. A lie by omission is still a lie.

[ld]

I just spent a week in Prague with my partner and we had an incredible time! Your videos helped a lot, and a big thanks especially for recommending the Kolace. We went back multiple times for more!

[Chili_]

Thanks for your videos! I've been to Prague last week and while nobody actually tried to scam me, I felt really well informed about everything from watching your content and it was cool to recognize a lot of places I've seen on your channel like Střelecký Island or the Hradčanská metro station for example. I was only there for three days and only had a day and a half to really go out and explore but I'll definitely be back. One thing that happened though and I don't know if you ever mentioned it in a video, but we bought 24hr tickets for the tram and subway thinking they would automatically be valid for that period from the time of purchase and didn't know we would have to stamp them at the entrance as it wasn't really obvious. Luckily we didn't get caught. (Maybe it's more obvious for city people but I'm not really used to public transport).

[peteraugust]

While there is lots of scams in prague, hardly have I had such good experiences in terms of tourism that I had in cz. I have exchanged money at rates that make me question how these shops survive, I have eaten in beautiful restaurants with awesome service for prices that make you feel bad when paying and I have met incredibly helpful people on the streets just about anywhere.

Keep on rolling CZ. Germany is jealous😋

[cz.travelmaster]

It was when I visited Tbilisi and saw a stand with a sign "Traditional Czech Trdelník" when I realized that we've lost 😞 Or rather Hungary has lost its traditional pastry. It's ours now.

[lxdgrt]

there once was a tv show on discovery about turist traps/scams and they showed a situation in Prague where this guy was in search for an escort in Prague and was directed to one club where he was greeted by a good looking worker who oferd him to buy her a drink and after he did she just left.
the drink was water and it is a system.
after that he left the place and a guy outside asked him if he want "full service" and the actor agreed.
so the guy took him to a cab that took him to a place far from center where there was like a pun with half naked girsl.
the actor enterd the place and after couple of minutes the girls left and couple of thugs hit him in the face and ask for his cash.
the taxi driver waited for him and took 3 time more to take him back to city center.

I think you need to check the clubbing scene for scams.
Love your show!

[fabrice]

I was in Prague for 5 days, last month. I live in paris. Prague is a cleaner and safer city than Paris. Beautiful museums, cheap beer, beautiful and well-preserved heterogeneous medieval, Gothic, Baroque, art nouvau and art deco architecture. Paris had more cultural activities (but with only 5 days I didn't have enough time to visit all the museums I wanted to see) and better food; traditional czech food is good, but i find it a bit boring in time and with a lot of cultural appropriation from austria, hungary... There are a lot more rip offs in paris, often romanians or other Eastern or Central European countries. And the pigeon droppings scam does exist and has already been seen in Paris in the metro or train stations by attacking tourists loaded with luggage: two accomplices are necessary; discreetly stain a person's clothes using a pear filled with a liquid (yogurt, etc.) that can pass for bird droppings. While the first takes care of helping the person to clean himself, the second accomplice grabs a backpack, a bag that can contain precious objects (computer, camera, etc.)