Georgia Scams: Tourist, Online & Investment Fraud Guide
A guide to scams in Georgia (the Caucasus country), including tourist fraud, online phishing and investment schemes.
Emergency number: 112 (emergency), 126 (patrol police) — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Georgia (the country in the South Caucasus) has become a popular destination for digital nomads and tourists thanks to its visa-free access, low cost of living and growing tech scene. The visitor-facing scams cluster around arrival and housing: airport and station taxis quoting multiples of the app fare, currency-exchange stalls whose attractive headline rate hides commission or short-counting, and fake rental listings for Tbilisi's Vake and Saburtalo districts or Batumi seafront flats that collect deposits from nomads booking abroad. Batumi's casino strip adds its own layer of 'new friend' bar invitations that end in inflated bills, and unofficial wine-tour operators in Kakheti take payments for tours that never depart.
Residents deal with phishing and fake calls impersonating TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia — including 'bank security' scripts talking victims into approving transactions or moving money — alongside marketplace fraud, parcel-fee smishing, and Telegram-recruited task scams. Investment fraud is heavily advertised: fake platforms front cloned news pages and celebrity deepfakes, and Batumi property 'guaranteed rental return' pitches to foreigners deserve the same scepticism as any guaranteed-return product. Call-centre fraud operations targeting victims abroad have also been documented operating from the region, a reminder that fluent multilingual 'brokers' are an industry.
CERT.GOV.GE handles cyber incident response, while the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) at police.ge investigates criminal fraud, with 112 as the emergency line. TBC and Bank of Georgia both run around-the-clock fraud lines — call them before anything else when money has moved.
Common scams
- Online investment and crypto fraud targeting Georgian residents
- Phishing attacks impersonating TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia
- Romance scams via social media targeting expatriates and digital nomads
- Fake rental listings in Tbilisi and Batumi collecting advance deposits
Tourist-specific scams
- Taxi overcharging from Tbilisi airport and train stations
- Fake currency exchange stalls offering inflated rates then short-changing
- Unofficial wine tour operators in Kakheti collecting fees then not appearing
- Fake accommodation listings for Tbilisi and Batumi properties
Online shopping scams
- Phishing impersonating TBC Bank, Bank of Georgia and payment services
- Fake e-commerce stores not delivering goods or collecting card data
- Social media investment fraud promising Forex or crypto profits
Job scams
- Fake overseas job ads requiring advance fees for visas or documents
- Online task scams paying small initial amounts then demanding deposits
- Bogus call-centre 'sales' roles that turn out to be fraud operations
Romance scams
- Extended online relationships leading to requests for emergency money transfers
- Pig-butchering investment scams initiated through dating and social apps
- Romance grooming aimed at the digital-nomad and expat community
Investment scams
- Unregulated crypto and Forex platforms targeting Georgian and expat investors
- Clone firms impersonating NBG-licensed financial institutions
- Batumi property schemes promising 'guaranteed rental returns' to foreign buyers
How to report a scam here
- Report cybersecurity incidents to CERT.GOV.GE at cert.gov.ge
- Report fraud to the Ministry of Internal Affairs at police.ge or call 112 for emergencies, 126 for patrol police
- Contact your bank immediately to freeze any affected accounts
- Keep records of all communications and provide them to authorities
Local reporting & protection links
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Call your bank at once, since TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia both operate 24 hour fraud lines, using the number on your card or in the official app. Tell them you were deceived into authorising the payment, ask for it to be halted or recalled and the receiving account reported, and note the reference. If you approved an in-app confirmation at a caller's prompting, say so explicitly and have sessions terminated and credentials reset, not just a card block. File a report with the police at police.ge and obtain a case reference number to support your bank dispute. Ask about blocking or reissuing the card if any details or codes were shared; foreign visitors who paid deposits from home accounts should also alert their own bank about recall and chargeback options.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
Is Georgia (the country) safe for digital nomads?
Georgia is generally considered one of the safer countries for digital nomads and tourists in the region. The main risks are online fraud, fake rental listings and taxi overcharging rather than violent crime. Use verified ride-hailing apps like Bolt for transport and book accommodation through reputable platforms.
How do I avoid rental deposit fraud in Tbilisi and Batumi?
Never wire a deposit for a flat no one has seen for you: insist on a live video viewing, verify the landlord's identity against the property documents, and prefer platforms with payment protection. Listings priced clearly below the district's market and 'landlords' who are conveniently abroad are the classic combination.
Should I trust 'guaranteed rental return' property offers in Batumi?
Treat guaranteed-return real-estate pitches like any other guaranteed-return investment: the guarantee is only as good as the developer behind it, and some projects have failed to deliver either apartments or income. Independent legal review of the contract and developer track record is essential before paying.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance