Bali Governor Wayan Koster has announced that he is pushing for a new\nregulation that will crack down on illegal money changers in Bali\u2019s most\npopular tourist resorts.<\/p>\n
Bali is considered one of the safest travel destinations in the\nworld, but scams are reportedly the biggest cause of concern for\ntravelers.<\/p>\n
The issue with fraudulent and scam money changers in Bali has been\nknown to the government, local leaders, and returning tourists for\ndecades. Over the years, various approaches have been taken to crack\ndown on scams, though, as is often the case, scammers adapt and find new\nways to operate, taking advantage of unsuspecting tourists.<\/p>\n
This week, Bali Governor Wayan Koster held a meeting with Bank\nIndonesia and the Bali Foreign Exchange Affiliation (APVA) in Denpasar.\nThe focus of the meeting was to discuss ways to strengthen\ncross-institutional collaboration to curb illegal money changers, who\nremain alarmingly prevalent in several tourist areas in Bali.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters, Erwin Soeriadimadja, Head of the Bank\nIndonesia Representative Office for Bali Province, shared, \u201cBank\nIndonesia continues to strengthen its oversight to ensure the smooth\noperation of the licensed non-bank money changer industry. We are also\npromoting various measures to curb illegal money changers, which require\ncross-agency synergy.\u201d<\/p>\n
He confirmed that to help tackle the issue, Bank Indonesia Bali has\nlaunched an information portal, moneychangerbali.com, integrated with\nthe Bali Provincial Government\u2019s lovebali.baliprov.go.id portal. This\nsite serves as an information and educational resource for tourists and\nthe public regarding officially licensed money changers.<\/p>\n
Soeriadimadia noted that Bank Indonesia Bali now also provides a\ncomplaint channel through the BI-PATROL system, which allows the public\nto report illegal money changer activity and enables officials to follow\nup on reports of scams.<\/p>\n
He emphasized that enforcement cannot be carried out by a single\ninstitution alone. Not in \u201cThis effort requires collaboration between\nBank Indonesia, local governments, the Indonesian National Acquisition\nAgency (APVA), law enforcement officials, and traditional\ninstitutions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bank Indonesia data indicate that by 2025, there were 601 licensed\nnon-bank money changer (KUPVA) offices in Bali, making the province the\nsecond-largest in Indonesia in terms of its official money changer\nnetwork. Most of these money exchange outlets are concentrated in key\ntourist destinations, namely Badung Regency, Gianyar Regency, and\nDenpasar City.<\/p>\n
It is believed that using licensed outlets is a sufficient safeguard\nfor tourists. While scams could still take place at licensed venues, it\nis unlicensed venues that are repeatedly reported as scamming tourists,\nin addition to operating illegally by not being licensed.<\/p>\n
Governor Koster told reporters, \u201cRegulating illegal money changers is\na strategic step towards realizing quality tourism in Bali that is\nglobally competitive.\u201d<\/p>\n
These measures, committed to by the provincial government and the\nauthorities, are expected to minimize the risk of fraud or cheating that\noften occurs at illegal money changers, while also maintaining Bali\u2019s\nreputation as a safe and trusted tourist destination for international\ntravelers.<\/p>\n
The most common money exchange scam in Bali is easy to spot. In fact,\nit\u2019s a scam that is used by money exchange tellers all around the\nworld.<\/p>\n
Most tourists are concerned about haggling for a fair rate, many are\nso focused on getting a good deal that they miss the bigger scam that\u2019s\ntaking place right in front of their eyes.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s incredibly simple, which is why it happens so frequently. The\nteller counts out the cash exchange in front of the customer, and as\nthey swipe the notes into a bundle, they swipe as many notes as possible\noff the counter onto the desk below.<\/p>\n
They then hand the bundle of cash over to the customer, who assumes\nthe amount is correct as they just saw the full exchange amount counted\nout in front of them.<\/p>\n
This is why tourists should always use a licensed money exchange\noutlet and count the cash once or even twice before leaving the\ncounter.<\/p>\n
A legitimate teller will not be offended by this, and it is essential\nto ensure that the exchange is fair. Tourists who have been victims of\nthis kind of scam in Bali are urged to make a report to the local\npolice.<\/p>\n
Here at The Bali Sun, we keep a track of traveler experience in real\ntime through the Bali Travel Safety Index. In recent days, the safety\nrating has increased, though it has always been in the stable green\nzone. The most common reports of concern are scams, such as the money\nexchange scam.<\/p>\n
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