How To Avoid A Tour Guide Scam In Istanbul

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A man offers Conor a tour of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and he seems to know everything about it. After the tour he brings Conor to his carpet shop and Conor sees his true intentions.

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47 Comments on “How To Avoid A Tour Guide Scam In Istanbul”

  1. I’m sorry but that doesn’t really count as scam he’s just trying to attract potentital buyers. I have been to Turkey and they usully do stuff like this. This doesn’t mean they are stealing. You didn’t get mugged

  2. So, where is the scam?
    You got a local kind guide for the mosque for free, and after he kindly took you to see some carpets in a local shop. Where’s the problem?
    Instead of being rude with him in his shop, laughing at the carpets, if you really don’twant to buy then you should at least give him an offer for the free tour.
    Crazy, crazy wasps

    1. +Rumble In The Jungle Roger that, no I never been to Istanbul, but what you describe looks quite similar to some big touristy cities I have been to (Rome, Bangkok).
      I agree that it can be an unpleasing experience, well ok it sucks, yet I still not consider it like a proper “scam”. And specifically the one described in this video (not sure if staged and so ‘mildened’ a bit) is not even that unpleasing, it can be far worse (threats, pressure, abuses and so on)

    2. +Rumble In The Jungle in this last thing yeah, I must agree. I hate those places, I find them very stressful and frustrating.

  3. Wtf this was not a scam it was just a kind local that gave you a free tour and then showed you his shop honestly this video was bs.

  4. I really don’t think you understand what a “scam” is. Ā A scam is when someone takes your passport and demands a bribe to get it back. Ā This is just a guy trying to get some customers to his shop. Ā He gave you a free tour of the mosque and everything.

  5. this is not a scam, this man is being nice to you in return you come and look for his carpet. If he insist on you to buy his carpet with unfair price, now that’s a scam.

    1. I’m not Turkish but I live 5 years in Istanbul, o yuzdenĀ istanbul ve istanbul insanlarĀ hakkinda anladim šŸ˜‰

    2. Haroon Rancak it is a scam, itā€™s an attempt to emotionally blackmail you/guilt trip you into doing what they ask you for. You see it wherever you go, and itā€™s annoying. Leave people alone, stop pestering them and putting them in uncomfortable situations

    3. @Hamza Hussain Yes. As long as there is no pressure, no threat, and the price is right it is no scam. But in the Grand Bazaar the prices are inflated, you have to bargain a lot and know the right price for every good. Very difficult if you are a tourist.

  6. Well, his tour of the mosque was accurate. I would have tipped him a couple of bucks and told him I was travelling and unable to cart the rug around, thanked him for the tour and split. (Or, if I really liked a rug I would have bought it and had it shipped to my place back home.)

  7. That was not a scam!
    He didnt trick any money from you
    and provided you with free guided tour of mosque.

    1. Captain Nemo yeah all the guy did was lie that he worked with the mosque just his business wasn’t officially legit

    2. It depends on the price at which he is selling his goods. If he can buy at the right price and consents to buy this is not scam. This is just marketing.

    1. lol that exactly what i thought he seems like a good guy want to make living totally not a scammer like the night club scumbags.

  8. so you pay the turkish club mafia $900, but you dont give the guy that actually worked really hard for some cash anything.

    1. i see your point. it’s a shame that the producers see no difference between the merchant and the club-scammers

    2. Probably because the carpets cost like 19 grand…At least that’s what they were when they tried to sell to me

  9. 0:33 interesting, the scammer has a microphone on him. I call bullshit.

    btw, most people in Istanbul are really friendly and they mean it. Just use your brains, dont blindly accept invitations, ect.

    1. They probably have some sort of remotely sensing microphones or the blond women are also collaborating with them. Merchants rip off tourists all over the Grand Bazaar. Every local person knows that. You should not even go to change money in there. When we used to go there we would go straight to the shops of our relatives, who would direct us to someone they know. Otherwise even the locals can get ripped off.

    2. I agree with you. I visited Istanbul in 2011. I found it a fascinating city and the Turkish people were very friendly and helpful. I was very sad to leave and hope to return one day.

  10. This dude walked around with you, showed you around, then took you to his shop to present you some carpets that you have the liberty of not buying and you call him a scammer? That seems like a lot of work, and i don’t think that he ever got lucky into selling $1000 worth of carpets this way. He’s just making a living.

    1. +SmurfK Yes but that shop is far off of the path. He is basically taking you way out of your way just for a carpet that you most likely wont buy.

  11. I think i have been scammed to watch this video so he can get more views.?Like where is the scam plz?? The other guy was being nice tbh.

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