Common Tourist Scams in Hong Kong

Know these common scam patterns so you can avoid them.

Shopping

Nathan Road tailor overcharging / bait-and-switch

Tailors along Nathan Road and in Tsim Sha Tsui aggressively approach tourists offering custom suits. Common tactics: quoting a low headline price then adding charges after the fact, switching to cheaper fabric than what was shown, or advertising a 'free gift' whose cost gets folded into the final bill.

How to avoid it: Get the full price, fabric, and every included item confirmed in writing before any fitting begins. Be wary of unsolicited approaches on the street, and avoid paying the full amount upfront — a deposit with balance due on collection (after inspecting the finished suit) is safer.

Shopping

Counterfeit watches and electronics

Street touts, especially around Nathan Road and Mong Kok, repeatedly approach tourists offering 'cheap' luxury watches, then lead interested buyers to a back-room apartment stocked with counterfeit goods sold at inflated prices for their poor quality.

How to avoid it: Politely decline and keep walking — legitimate shops don't need to hustle you off the street. Buy watches, electronics, and other branded goods only from official retailers or well-known department stores, not from anyone who approaches you first.

Shopping

Jewelry/gold shop pressure-selling and product switching

Some jewelry and gold shops in tourist-heavy shopping streets use high-pressure sales tactics on visitors, and there have been reports linking certain shops to organized crime, including switching a purchased item for a lower-quality one during packaging.

How to avoid it: Avoid shops that pull you in off the street or pressure you to decide quickly. Watch your item being packaged and check it before leaving the counter. Stick to well-established jewelers with fixed, displayed pricing.

Currency Exchange

Poor-rate currency exchange counters in tourist areas

Small currency exchange counters in Tsim Sha Tsui and other tourist-dense areas often post a headline rate but apply hidden commissions or a worse effective rate than banks or licensed money changers just a short walk away.

How to avoid it: Ask for the exact amount you'll receive (after all fees) before handing over cash, and compare it against a licensed money changer or bank a block or two away — Hong Kong has enough competition that the difference is usually easy to find.

Transportation

Taxi meter refusal or unnecessary detours

A minority of taxi drivers, especially on routes to the airport or into the New Territories, may refuse to use the meter and instead quote an inflated flat fare, or take a longer route than necessary.

How to avoid it: Insist on the meter before getting in, or get out and find another taxi if the driver refuses — this is against Hong Kong regulations and drivers who insist on it are the exception, not the norm. Ride-hailing apps with a fixed upfront price are a reliable fallback.