Peru Scams: Tourist, Online & Investment Fraud Guide
Common scams targeting visitors and residents in Peru, from Machu Picchu tourist traps to online investment fraud, with official reporting channels.
Emergency number: 105 (police), 1818 (cybercrime hotline) — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Peru is a major tourist destination and increasingly a target for online scammers. Around Cusco and Machu Picchu the classic problems are fake or resold entrance tickets, unlicensed agencies selling treks that never materialise, counterfeit soles passed as change, and taxi overcharging — most taxis are unmetered, so visitors who don't agree a fare first routinely pay several times the going rate or are steered to commission-paying venues. Distraction theft in markets, bus terminals and busy plazas rounds out the street-level risks.
Online fraud has grown with the country's rapid adoption of instant wallet transfers. Yape and Plin, the QR wallets Peruvians use daily, are abused constantly: fake payment-confirmation screenshots shown to market sellers, social-engineering calls that talk victims through 'verifying' their wallet, and phishing pages imitating the apps of major banks such as BCP and Interbank. 'El cuento del premio' prize calls, fake bank security-department calls, and WhatsApp account takeovers that then beg the victim's own contacts for urgent loans are all well-established patterns, alongside pig-butchering investment grooming on dating apps and social media.
DIVINDAT — the National Police division for high-technology crime — handles cybercrime, and INDECOPI takes consumer complaints. Deal with the money first: call your bank, then file the denuncia, because transfers routed through mule accounts are cashed out quickly.
Common scams
- Online investment and crypto fraud
- Romance scams via social media and dating apps
- Tourist overcharging and fake tour operators
- ATM skimming and card fraud
Tourist-specific scams
- Unlicensed taxis overcharging or taking circuitous routes
- Fake entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and other heritage sites
- Distraction theft in markets and busy plazas
- Fake tour guides collecting fees for unofficial tours
Online shopping scams
- Fake e-commerce and classified ad sites
- Phishing emails impersonating Peruvian banks
- Social media lottery and prize scams
Job scams
- Fake overseas work offers requiring upfront fees
- Fraudulent work-from-home income schemes
- Bogus recruitment agencies charging enrolment fees for jobs that never start
Romance scams
- Dating-app relationships leading to crypto investment requests
- Social media romance fraud targeting foreign nationals
- WhatsApp account takeovers used to ask the victim's own contacts for urgent loans
Investment scams
- Ponzi schemes disguised as high-yield savings products
- Fake forex and crypto trading platforms
- 'Investment pool' schemes circulating in WhatsApp and Telegram groups that collect Yape or Plin transfers
How to report a scam here
- If money was just transferred, call your bank's hotline immediately and contact DIVINDAT on the free cybercrime line 1818
- File a report with the National Police cybercrime unit (DIVINDAT) in person at the nearest Comisaría or via policia.gob.pe
- Report consumer fraud and deceptive practices to INDECOPI at indecopi.gob.pe
- Preserve all evidence — messages, transaction records, and website screenshots — before reporting
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 on the official number on your card or in its app straight after you realise, because the chance of stopping a transfer drops quickly once the money moves on. Tell them you were deceived into authorising the payment, ask for the receiving account to be reported, and note the reference number. If the money went by Yape or Plin, report it inside the wallet app as well and give the bank the recipient's number, since wallet transfers settle between bank accounts that can still be flagged. Ask about blocking and reissuing the card and changing your online banking details if you shared any, and pursue a chargeback for card payments. Then report the fraud to DIVINDAT on the free line 1818 and follow up with a formal denuncia at your nearest police station — most banks will ask for it before resolving a dispute.
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
What is DIVINDAT in Peru?
DIVINDAT is the Division of Investigation of High Technology Crimes within the National Police of Peru. It investigates computer fraud, identity theft, and other cybercrime. You can reach it by calling 1818 (free) or (01) 431-8898.
What are Yape and Plin scams?
Yape and Plin are Peru's most-used instant payment wallets, and fraudsters abuse them with fake payment-confirmation screenshots shown to sellers, calls that talk victims through 'verifying' their wallet, and phishing pages imitating bank apps. Confirm money has actually arrived inside your own app before handing over goods, and never read out codes to callers.
How do I avoid fake Machu Picchu tickets?
Buy entrance tickets only through the official government channel or a licensed agency, not from street resellers or unsolicited 'guides' near the site. Counterfeit and already-used tickets are a documented problem, and holders are turned away at the gate with no refund.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance