How Prague's reputation suffered from scam‑oriented content
Prague is famous for many things, such as architecture and rich history, but unfortunately, it is also known for scams. In my humble opinion, as a local and a certified guide, it is not justifiably so. In this article, I would like to discuss whether scams in Prague are really that bad, how to spot the real ones and skip the overblown ones, and who benefits from them besides the scammers themselves.
Prague scam reputation origin
A popular Czech legend says that Prague was founded by Princess Libuse, who saw its glory touch the stars in her prophetic vision. Well, Libuse surely would be surprised if she saw what exactly the Bohemian capital is famous for today! Besides stunning architecture and amazing sites, Prague is also apparently notorious for scams! The content connected to this topic is so overwhelming that some people even decide not to visit the destination, or arrive with great anxiety, thinking they are going to be ripped off immediately after they land. So where does this worry originate?
The first scam hunter who visited Prague is called Conor Woodman. He was the host of a popular travel show, Scam City, on TV, where he experienced “the worst” of some popular holiday spots in the world. One episode took place in Prague; you can still find it online, filmed in 2011 and aired in 2012. During his stay, he experienced the following scams:
Overcharging taxi drivers
Strip‑club / “clip joint” scam
Fake drug dealers
Short‑changing and crooked vendors
Jeez, looks pretty bad for a European city! But there was a plot twist… the city investigations later concluded that key scenes in the Prague episode (taxi, club, fake drugs) were staged with hired helpers or filmed in places that had already closed or gone bankrupt, and National Geographic eventually agreed not to distribute the episode further, although it did not issue a formal apology.
Let’s get this straight – the most famous TV show of that time filmed about scammers was partially staged for a dramatic effect. Unfortunately, other people just ran with the premise…
The bad reputation of Prague rises
If you thought a popular TV show did enough damage, wait to hear about YouTube and other social media. While warning unsuspecting travelers about potential dangers is certainly honorable, there is an unwanted side effect it can create: a completely safe location with minimal scams will look unsafe and dodgy. That is not to say Prague is completely scam‑free; it is not, and we will talk about scams that you should pay attention to later, but it is also a very safe city where you do not meet scammers on a day‑to‑day basis. If you do, I am afraid you are just a very unlucky person.
So why do bloggers keep making scam videos about Prague?
Scam videos generate a lot of profit for them as they are usually the videos that do well in terms of views due to their high shareability: that means people are more likely to send a video about a scam to warn their close friends or family than they are to share a video of Prague’s sunrise, for instance. Scam content creates an instant urgency, comparable to the news about a fire or gas leak – that is something viewers rarely debate whether to repost or not, as it seems very important. So what is the problem with videos like that?
Scam videos – the vicious cycle for creators
There is no problem with watching videos about scams; however, there is a slight issue with creating them. Here is how it works: once the scam videos pick up on your channel or blog and become the primary topic, the algorithm labels you as a scam exposer and “punishes” other videos you create if they do not mention scams. It is the same if you, for instance, have a channel about cars, and all of a sudden post a cooking video – your channel’s algorithm will be weirded out by it and won’t promote it to even your subscribers, let alone new potential viewers. So in the end, the creators who choose a very small niche of scams are forced to ALWAYS make videos about the same topic. But scams are not a gift that keeps on giving. There are only a handful of them that are actually relevant, especially if you keep exposing them and shutting them down.
The peak of Prague scam content vs the current situation
Do not get me wrong, Prague right after the fall of communism was like the Wild West in terms of scams. With a greater influx of foreign travelers, savvy locals came up with lucrative ways to make money from unsuspecting tourists. Just to be clear, a lot of local scams operate in the so‑called grey zones, which is what allowed them to exist long enough not to be shut down by police immediately. For instance, the taxi meter scam, which involved the driver fiddling with the meter to adjust the kilometers in their favour. Legally, all cab drivers were obliged to use meters, but what the police did not clock was that some meter machines could be seamlessly manipulated. Or another “scam” popular around the world, which involves charity donations collected from passers‑by. Do not even get me started on how many companies historically have used charities for tax evasion, so finding out some people do it in Prague should not be a shocker.
So how are scams doing now?
When it comes to the current scam situation in Prague, it has significantly toned down in comparison to the previous decade for multiple reasons. Some were crushed by competition, such as the free‑roaming taxis that were pushed away by Uber, Bolt and other apps, while others just withered away simply because more travelers have become aware of their scams. It can also have something to do with the fact that most scammers realized that the profit is concentrated online and switched their focus to the digital world.
Now to REAL Prague scams that are alive and well
There are still some scams in Prague that are flourishing, to my grave disappointment. Here is a short list so you know what to watch out for.
Overpriced cabs – it is better to order a taxi via an app, safer and cheaper as well!
Street money exchange – there are still a few scammers who try to change your cash into old Czech crowns or Belarusian roubles, so watch out!
“Can I break a bill?” – some tourists are approached at the ATMs and are “kindly” offered to split their crisp 1,000 into smaller bills, which are, you guessed it, outdated money…
Shop mark‑ups – yes, it is a shame that some shopkeepers try to overcharge tourists on bottled water and other essentials. Does not happen in the chain shops like Zabka, Billa, Albert, etc., only independent corner stores.
Charity scams – a very common practice, just watch out for any kind of offers that come from strangers and do not sign any papers.
Now, you are probably thinking, these are very similar to the scams in Istanbul, Rome, Barcelona, Paris, etc. You are right! Prague is very unoriginal when it comes to scams. In fact, I’d call it plain boring! Which, coming back to the beginning of our article, really baffles people who travel here and are afraid of scams… they often think it would be much worse, when in reality, Prague is a pretty safe city where most scams can simply be avoided if you pay attention and do not talk to strangers who try to hoodwink you.
How Prague’s reputation suffered from scam‑oriented content – conclusion
Even though we will never find out how many people decided not to travel to Prague because they were afraid they would be swindled upon arrival, there is a huge amount of travelers who come here with a big anxiety which is unjustified. Many customers have shared with us that while Prague seemed to be a very appealing destination, they were so distraught from all the scam videos they binge‑watched, they almost canceled their trip. Tackling this problem is very difficult for anyone who works in tourism; on one hand, you do not want to underestimate customers’ reservations about scams because they still exist, but on the other hand, saying that Prague’s scams are so omnipresent they might ruin someone’s vacation is a gross exaggeration.
Moreover, traveling is always connected to anxiety – delayed flights, reservation mishaps, new environment, language etc. – so adding an overwhelming challenge of navigating in a city “full of scams” is not something casual travelers want to experience, so it makes sense that some choose to never visit. This is why we at Real Prague Guides – an organisation founded by licensed, educated professionals who come in contact with real tourists every day – feel obliged to make this point: Prague is still one of the safest cities to travel to and as long as you are confident, clear‑headed and aware of your surroundings, no scams can ruin your trip.
WRITTEN BY VALERY
Licensed Prague guide and co-creator of Real Prague Guides (50K+ YouTube subscribers). My company, 100 Spires City Tours, leads some of the highest-rated tours in Prague.
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🎫 Book a tour: tours-prague.eu
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal opinions of the author and is not intended to discourage visitors to Prague from businesses mentioned above.