In short: The UK and Canadian governments document eight scams and cons aimed at visitors to Guatemala: ATM tampering and card fraud, express kidnappings (in many cases after hailing a street taxi, per the UK), fake police, fake tour guides, drink and food spiking (especially Antigua), robbery by pairs on motorcycles, being followed from the airport, and money-transfer requests to your family. The precautions they and the US State Department give line up: use ATMs inside banks or businesses, book taxis through a hotel, app or the airport’s authorized stand, use reputable guides with company ID, never leave drinks unattended, and don’t resist. Report to 1500 (tourist assistance) or 110 (police).
Every scam below names the government that documents it; we have left out forum stories. For the Antigua-specific patterns (block by block), see Antigua safety. Phone extortion and “virtual kidnapping” calls aimed at families of Guatemalans abroad are a different crime: see extortion calls and virtual kidnapping scams.
The eight, at a glance
| # | Scam | Documented by | The advisory’s precaution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ATM tampering; credit, debit card and ATM fraud | UK, Canada | ATMs inside a bank or business; cover the keypad; check statements (Canada); the US says avoid public ATMs |
| 2 | Express kidnapping (forced ATM withdrawals) | UK, Canada | Don’t hail taxis in the street; use reputable taxis or ride-share apps |
| 3 | Fake police officers | UK, Canada | Carry ID and expect real checkpoints (UK); tourist assistance on 1500 |
| 4 | Fake or informal tour guides | Canada | Reputable companies; guide with a company name tag (Canada); the US says hike only with a qualified local guide |
| 5 | Spiked drinks, food, gum or cigarettes | Canada | Never leave drinks unattended; refuse items from new acquaintances |
| 6 | Robbery by two people on a motorcycle | Canada | Don’t resist; don’t show valuables |
| 7 | Followed from the airport and robbed or carjacked | Canada | Don’t show signs of affluence on arrival; pre-arranged or authorized transport |
| 8 | Scam requests to friends and family to send you money | UK | Tell family to check with you directly before transferring |
1. ATM tampering and card fraud
- UK: check ATMs for evidence of tampering; affected machines may not be easy to spot. It is safer to change money in hotels, at banks or at foreign exchange offices. Take care around ATMs, petrol station forecourts, the airport, bus stations and shopping centres.
- Canada: credit, debit card and ATM fraud occurs. Pay careful attention when others handle your cards, use ATMs located inside a bank or business, avoid card readers with an irregular or unusual feature, cover the keypad, check for unauthorized transactions, and don’t withdraw large sums.
- US (precaution, not a described scam): avoid using public ATMs.
For which foreign cards work where, see ATM cards that work in Guatemala.
2. Express kidnapping
- UK: express kidnappings, short-term opportunistic abductions aimed at extracting cash, are described as common. Victims are held while criminals withdraw money with their cards. Many cases involve victims picked up by taxis (registered or illegal) hailed from the street. Let someone you trust know where you are, especially after dark.
- Canada: express kidnappings occur occasionally, throughout the country; the victim is sometimes held overnight for a second withdrawal the next day; they are sometimes committed by taxi drivers. Use reputable taxi companies or ride-sharing apps, avoid hailing taxis on the street, and don’t accept rides from new acquaintances or strangers.
The taxi rule that follows from both: book, don’t hail. The US names Taxis Amarillo Express, Taxi Seguro and Uber, INGUAT-approved taxis from the “SAFE” stand at the airport, hotel taxis and vetted private drivers. Canada: hotel taxis and Guatemala City’s yellow cabs are considered safe; white taxis are operated independently and considered dangerous; note the driver’s name and licence number, negotiate the fare in advance and never share a taxi with a stranger.
3. Fake police officers
- UK: criminals posing as police officers have committed theft, extortion and sexual assault.
- Canada: some criminals pose as police officers, may say they are drug-enforcement officers, and take the victim to a side road where they steal everything; victims who resisted have been injured or killed.
- Real checkpoints exist. The UK says to always cooperate with military and police officers and be prepared for checkpoints, and that it is a legal requirement to carry ID. The tourist-assistance line, 1500, answers 24 hours in English and Spanish.
4. Fake or informal tour guides
- Canada (women’s safety section): some tourist service providers, including people posing as tour guides, build trusting relationships with female tourists and then sexually assault them. Use only reputable tour guides or buses, and make sure the guide has a name tag with the tour company’s name.
- US (precaution): do not hike trails or volcanoes without a qualified local guide; robberies can happen and getting help can be difficult.
For the Pacaya and Acatenango hikes, see our volcano hiking guide.
5. Spiked drinks, food, gum or cigarettes
- Canada: drink spiking is a problem in tourist areas, especially in Antigua. Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers, and be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum or cigarettes from new acquaintances: they may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.
- US (precaution): never leave drinks unattended in bars and restaurants; decline invitations from strangers to private parties.
6. Robbery by pairs on motorcycles
- Canada: criminals increasingly use distraction tactics and operate in groups, often on motorcycles. A common method is two people on a motorcycle approaching pedestrians, or drivers stopped in traffic, to demand cash and valuables; they may be armed with pistols or knives, and victims who resist risk being shot or stabbed.
- Precautions from the same advice: don’t show signs of affluence, don’t carry large sums of cash, don’t resist. The US adds: try not to use your phone in public.
7. Followed from the airport
- Canada: do not show signs of affluence or wear expensive jewellery, especially on arrival at the airport, where travellers have been followed and robbed or carjacked on the way to Guatemala City and Antigua.
- UK: you can buy pre-paid taxi vouchers from INGUAT’s office in the airport arrivals terminal. Canada: arrange pickup with your hotel before you arrive, or use authorized cabs at the airport.
8. “Please send money” messages to your family
- UK: foreign visitors are at risk of scams that can lead to great financial loss. Warn friends and family to be sceptical if they are asked to transfer funds to you in Guatemala, and tell them to contact you to check that you made the request.
What the advisories do not document
We looked for official warnings on three other scams: fake shuttle or tour tickets sold in the street, money changers at land borders, and overcharging by unmarked taxis. None of the US, UK or Canadian pages we read (24 September 2026) describes them as a named scam, so we do not list them as documented. Canada’s taxi advice to negotiate the fare in advance and carry small bills is the closest it comes.
Where to report
| Need | Contact |
|---|---|
| Tourist assistance PROATUR / ASISTUR (24 h, English and Spanish) | 1500 from a Guatemalan phone, or +502 2290-2810 (UK FCDO, US State Department) |
| ASISTUR WhatsApp | +502 5188-1819 (US State Department) |
| Police | 110 (UK FCDO) |
| Criminal complaint (denuncia) | Ministerio Público: how to file a denuncia |
| Card fraud | Your card issuer at home |
The UK says PROATUR can accompany a victim of a criminal attack to their hotel or another safe place.
Related
- Antigua safety: night zones and scam patterns
- The safest places in Guatemala by homicide rate
- Is Guatemala safe for solo female travellers?
- Is Lake Atitlán safe?
- Guatemala safety overview
Sources
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — Guatemala: Safety and security (ATM tampering, fake police officers, scams, criminal kidnapping, protecting yourself) and Getting help: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/guatemala/safety-and-security and https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/guatemala/getting-help — read 2026-09-24.
- Government of Canada — Travel advice and advisories: Guatemala (crime, express kidnappings, fraud, women’s safety, spiked food and drinks, taxis): https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/guatemala — read 2026-09-24.
- US Department of State — Guatemala Travel Advisory (issued 12 March 2026): https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/guatemala.html — read 2026-09-24.
Advisories change without notice. Information current as of 25 September 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the common tourist scams in Guatemala?
The ones the UK and Canadian governments document for Guatemala are: ATM tampering and card fraud; express kidnappings, many of them after hailing a taxi in the street, according to the UK; criminals posing as police officers; people posing as tour guides; drink and food spiking in tourist areas, especially Antigua; robberies by pairs on motorcycles; travellers being followed from the airport and robbed; and scam requests to your friends and family to transfer money to you. The US advisory adds that tourists can become victims of opportunistic crimes such as scams and extortion.
Is it safe to use ATMs in Guatemala?
The UK Foreign Office says to check ATMs for evidence of tampering, that affected machines may not be easy to spot, and that it is safer to change money in hotels, banks or foreign exchange offices. Canada says to use ATMs located inside a bank or business and cover the keypad. The US advises avoiding public ATMs.
What is an express kidnapping?
A short-term abduction to extract cash: the victim is held while criminals withdraw money with the victim’s cards. The UK Foreign Office says many cases involve victims picked up by taxis, registered or illegal, hailed from the street. Canada says the victim is sometimes held overnight so a second withdrawal can be made the next day, and that taxi drivers sometimes commit them.
How do I spot a fake police officer in Guatemala?
The advisories do not give a way to tell; they warn that it happens. The UK says criminals posing as police officers have committed theft, extortion and sexual assault. Canada says fake officers may claim to be drug-enforcement officers and take the victim to a side road where they steal everything. The UK also says to cooperate with military and police officers and be prepared for checkpoints, and that carrying ID is a legal requirement. The tourist-assistance line, 1500, answers 24 hours.
Where do I report a scam in Guatemala?
Call the tourist-assistance service PROATUR/ASISTUR on 1500 from a Guatemalan phone or +502 2290-2810, 24 hours, English and Spanish; the police are on 110. A criminal complaint (denuncia) goes to the Ministerio Público. For card fraud, call your bank at home as well.
