Scams to Watch For

If you board Lisbon’s Tram 28 without your bag zipped and your phone in a front pocket, you’re donating to a pickpocket — that line is Europe’s single highest-density theft route. This page covers every scam you’ll actually encounter in Lisbon, from the olive plates you didn’t order to the “friendly” bystander at the ATM. No fluff, just the survival specifics.

Tram 28 — Europe’s #1 Pickpocket Hotspot

The old yellow Tram 28 (routes from Praça Martim Moniz to Campo de Ourique) is legendary for two things: a great ride up through Graça and Alfama, and the world-record density of active pickpockets. Every tourist blog mentions it, but here’s the operational truth:

Bag in front, zipped, arm through strap. Backpacks are invitations. Keep your phone in an inside jacket pocket, not your jeans.
No headphones. A distracted tourist wearing AirPods is a priority target — you won’t feel the hand slip into your jacket.
Boarding and exiting are the danger moments. Crowds compress at doors. Thieves work in pairs: one blocks the door, the other reaches.
Same applies to the 15E and 12E trams, and any packed bus near Belém or Alfama.

If you need the tram, take it early morning or after 8 PM when it’s less sardine-like. Or just walk — Alfama is steep but safe during daytime. For neighborhood safety breakdowns, see our per-district guide.

Other Pickpocket Zones

Pickpocketing in Lisbon isn’t limited to Tram 28. These are the other high-risk spots:

Praça do Comércio — wide plaza, crowds staring at the river, bags left open on benches. The friendship-bracelet and clipboard scammers also operate here (see below).
Rossio (Praça Dom Pedro IV) — transport hub, lots of distracted tourists checking maps. Keep valuables in front.
Chiado — shopping streets, narrow sidewalks, often shoulder-to-shoulder. A favorite area for phone snatching from café tables.
Bairro Alto at night — packed bar streets after 11 PM. Drunk + distracted = easy target. Keep your phone in your pocket, not in your hand.
Cais do Sodré — the bar/club zone (Rua Nova do Carvalho, “Pink Street”) late at night. Same story: heavy crowds, drunk tourists, pickpockets working the queue lines.

Taxi Rip-Offs (Airport Especially)

Lisbon’s taxi scams are less aggressive than Prague or Budapest, but they still hit hard at the airport. Here’s what happens:

Flat-fare touts at the arrivals hall offer a “special price” of €30–40 to the center. The real fare on the meter is €15–25 to Baixa/Chiado, depending on traffic. Insist on the meter, or simply walk past.
Aerobus (line 1 or 2) runs from the airport to central stops (€4.20 one-way), but you might wait 20 minutes. Metro (red line) is €1.80 and takes you directly to Saldanha or Alameda, then change.
Best move: Use ride-hailing apps. Bolt and Uber are cheap and reliable; FreeNow hails yellow taxis via app with fixed price; Cooltra is a moped sharing app if you’re bold. Avoid marked-up ride-share cars waiting in the taxi queue — those are on surge. Order from inside the arrivals hall.
If you must take a yellow taxi from the rank, watch that the driver starts the meter. If they claim it’s “broken,” get out.

ATM Scams + Currency Traps

The “Helpful” Bystander

You’re at an ATM, enter your PIN, and someone “friendly” offers to help because the screen is in Portuguese. While you’re distracted, they skim your card or memorize your PIN. Never let anyone near you at an ATM. If you need help, go inside a bank branch.

Euronet ATMs — Avoid on Sight

Yellow Euronet machines, common in tourist zones (especially near Praça do Comércio and along Rua Augusta), charge €5–9 flat fee plus a terrible exchange rate. Avoid them entirely. Use bank-branch ATMs:

Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) — blue logo, widely available, often free or low fee.
Millennium BCP — red logo.
Santander Totta — red/white.
BPI — blue/green.
These machines usually let you withdraw without fee if your home bank doesn’t charge. Always decline Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) — when the screen asks “Charge in EUR or YOUR_HOME_CURRENCY?” always pick EUR. DCC adds 3–6% hidden markup.

Cover your PIN with your other hand. Yes, even if you feel silly. For full money specifics, see Lisbon money guide.

Couvert Scam — Those Tiny Plates Are Not Free

You sit at a restaurant in Alfama or Chiado. Without asking, the waiter brings a basket of bread, a dish of olives, maybe cheese, maybe pâté. It looks like a welcoming gesture. It is not. That’s the couvert — and it costs €2–7 per person. By the time you realise, it’s on the table and the bill will include it.

How to handle it: The moment something arrives that you didn’t order, say “Não quero, obrigado” (I don’t want it, thanks). The waiter will take it away. If you keep it, you pay. This is not a scam in the strict sense — it’s a legitimate Portuguese custom — but it’s aggressively pushed on tourists who don’t know. So now you know.

Restaurant Bill Tricks

Service charge added: Some restaurants add 5–10% “serviço” to the bill. It should say “serviço incluído” on the receipt. If it’s there, you don’t need to tip extra — but rounding up a euro or two is fine. If it’s not included, a 5–10% tip is appreciated but not mandatory.
Check the bill carefully for extra items you didn’t order (water you didn’t drink, extra bread). Ask for an itemised receipt.
Card machine tip: When paying by card, the machine may suggest tip percentages (10%, 15%, 20%). The default might be 10% even when service is already included. Press “0” or “no tip” unless you want to double-pay.

Street Cons: Friendship Bracelet, Petition, Marijuana

Friendship Bracelet Scam

Common in Belém (near the tower and monastery) and Praça do Comércio. A person approaches you, ties a cheap bracelet around your wrist while talking fast, then demands €5–10 for it. The bracelet is poorly made. Solution: Do not extend your arm. Walk away without eye contact. If already tied, say “No” firmly and walk. They won’t chase.

Petition / Clipboard Scam

Also at Praça do Comércio and Rossio. Someone with a clipboard (often claiming to be deaf/mute or raising money for orphans) asks you to sign a petition. While you sign, their partner picks your pocket or you’re pressured to donate. Just say “Não, obrigado” and keep moving.

Marijuana Sellers

You’ll be approached in Bairro Alto, Cais do Sodré, and Praça do Comércio by someone offering “hash” or “marijuana”. What they’re selling is usually oregano or cheap herbs, sometimes with a tiny amount of actual weed. Even if it were real, possession is illegal in Portugal — decriminalised (no jail for small amounts) but still a fine and hassle. Don’t engage. A firm “Não” ends it.

Tuk-Tuk Overcharging

Lisbon’s tuk-tuks (green electric vehicles) are a convenient way to cover hills, but prices are unregulated. Drivers often quote €15–40 for a short ride that would cost €5 by Uber. If you want to take one, agree the price in advance, ideally in writing on a phone screen. Better yet, use Bolt or Uber — they’re cheaper and you know the price before you ride.

Online Apartment Rental Scams

Scammers list “cheap Lisbon flat” on Facebook groups, Instagram, or Gumtree. They ask for a deposit via bank transfer or PayPal friends/family, then vanish. If a deal looks too good (€40/night in central Alfama in August), it’s fake. Always book through a platform with buyer protection (Booking.com, Airbnb, Vrbo). If you must pay deposit directly, verify the property via video call and check the owner’s ID. Lisbon has a registry of local lodging — ask for the Alojamento Local (AL) number.

Car Wash Guys at Parking Lots

You park your rental car at a restaurant or on a street. A guy appears with a bucket and rag, starts washing your windscreen. Then he expects €1–2. This is a common “service” in Portugal. How to handle: If you don’t want it, just say “No” clearly before they start. If they’ve already started and you’re in a hurry, give €1 to avoid drama. They’re not aggressive, but it’s a nuisance.

What to Do If You’re Scammed

Emergency (police/ambulance/fire): 112. English operators available.
Tourist Police (English line): 800 296 296 (toll-free within Portugal). They handle theft and scam reports.
Online report: You can file a police report at psp.pt (Portuguese only, but use Google Translate).
Cancel cards immediately if your wallet is stolen. Use your bank’s app or call the number on your card.
Lost passport: Contact your embassy and file a police report.

Most scams are avoidable with vigilance. Lisbon is generally safe — violent crime is rare — but petty theft is a daily reality on the tourist trail. For a broader city operating manual, check the main Lisbon guide.