Intramuros, Manila’s iconic walled city, is a staple in any travel itinerary for first-timers who flock to the Philippines’ capital. With its well-preserved architecture and cobblestone streets, the site offers a glimpse into the country’s Spanish colonial era, making it a top spot for history buffs and curious travelers alike.
However, a recent study by an international platform revealed that the tourist spot also has the highest percentage of scam-related reviews among global tourist attractions, calling attention to reported scams that have caught some visitors off guard.
READ: Study Names Intramuros as Worst Tourist Site for Travel Scams
A study by Bounce, a travel and luggage storage company, uncovered that of the 3,619 Tripadvisor reviews for Intramuros, 31 mentioned scams—accounting for 0.86% of all reviews, the highest proportion among the tourist sites analyzed. The study noted that while this percentage is relatively small, it still places Intramuros at the top of the list for scam-related mentions compared to other major attractions worldwide.
One of the most commonly cited scams is overpriced tricycle tours, with some reporting being charged exorbitant fees after what was supposed to be a simple guided ride around the area.
Other famous landmarks have also been flagged for scams. The Forbidden City in China follows Intramuros with 0.55% of reviews mentioning scams, often involving the infamous “tea house” con where locals invite visitors for tea and later hand them an outrageous bill. Petra in Jordan (0.50%) has had reports of fake employees offering golf cart rides, only to demand hefty payments afterward. Meanwhile, the Eiffel Tower in Paris may not have the highest scam percentage, but it holds the record for the most scam-related reviews in total—over 540 complaints of pickpocketing, rigged tour bookings, and street game scams.
To compile the rankings, Bounce analyzed Tripadvisor reviews for major attractions, identifying mentions of the word “scam” and calculating their frequency. The study also examined European cities where scam-related discussions are most common in travel forums, with Riga, Latvia (2.53%), Istanbul, Turkey (2.24%), and Budapest, Hungary (1.81%) ranking highest.
Beyond specific sites, the study also highlighted the most Googled travel scams worldwide, with pickpocketing leading the list at two million searches. Other frequently researched scams included visa fraud and ATM skimmers.
Cody Candee, CEO of Bounce, shared key safety tips for travelers: Stay alert in crowded areas, secure belongings, research common scams before visiting, and only purchase tickets from official sources. When using ATMs, avoid machines that look tampered with to prevent card fraud.
See the full study on Bounce’s website.
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