These Are The Top 5 Scams In Los Cabos Travelers Need To Know For 2025

Los Cabos is pure paradise… think sun-kissed beaches, tequila sunrises and epic nights out. But even in paradise, there are a few sharks swimming beneath the surface.

We at The Cabo Sun have done your homework for you: after digging through traveler forums, official advisories and our own local intel, we’ve rounded up the top 5 scams you need on your radar for 2025.

Read on so you can focus on the margaritas and not the con artists:

😈 Gas Station Gambit

This hustle starts as soon as you fill up near the airport. Gas station attendants may swipe your card, flash an “error” message, then ask for cash or another card, while secretly charging you twice.

Some even swap your card or slip on a skimming device, then distract you while skimming your info.

This scam has been around a while, and we even reported in ’23 about a traveler who had their credit card maxed out!

How to Outsmart It:

• Pay in cash when you can (small bills are your friend).
• If you must use plastic, get out of your car and keep your eyes—and your card—on the attendant the whole time.
• Always confirm the pump reads zero before they start.
• Demand a printed receipt and match it to your tank.

Hear It From Other Travelers:
SFGate lays out the tricks at airport gas stations in detail, so you know exactly what to watch for here. Fellow visitors on TripAdvisor have also shared horror stories of surprise double charges—and how they bounced back.

⏳ Timeshare Trap

Free breakfast? Tequila tasting? Discounted sunset cruise? Sounds dreamy—until you’re trapped in a three-hour hard-sell timeshare pitch disguised as a “welcome gift.”

You think you’re signing up for a tasting; you end up with contracts you can’t claw out of. This scam is nothing new, and we even covered an alert from the U.S. about it all the way back in 2023 here.

How to Outsmart It:

• Remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Politely but firmly say “no, gracias” to any freebie-based invite.
• If you slip into a presentation, don’t sign a thing—ever—without an independent review.
• Your “no, thanks” is the most powerful sentence in your Spanish vocabulary.

Hear It From Other Travelers:
Explore Baja California breaks down the timeshare hustle beautifully here, and Andrew Noske even shows you how to make the whole ordeal… well, slightly more fun right here.

🚗 Rental Car Insurance Illusion

Cruising the corridor in a rental is epic—until you hit the counter and they tell you Mexican law “requires” a hefty third-party policy on top of what your credit card already covers. Suddenly you’re shelling out hundreds more.

How to Outsmart It:

• Call your credit card company before you leave and get a written statement of what they cover in Mexico.
• Book directly with well-known agencies and confirm all insurance rules and fees in writing.
• Before you drive off, snap photos and video of every angle of the car to protect yourself against bogus damage claims.

Hear It From Other Travelers:
BBB Rent a Car gives a full lowdown on Mexico’s insurance rules here, and TripAdvisor forums are full of fellow tourists venting their “gotcha” fees—so you’re not alone in the fight.

🌊 Phony Tours and Activities

That random beach guy promising a private tour to El Arco for 50% off? He might vanish with your cash, or deliver a cramped boat, hidden surcharges, and a disappointing sunset.

How to Outsmart It:

• Book everything through your hotel concierge or a reputable operator with a physical office and solid online reviews.
• If a deal seems ridiculously low, it probably is.
• For any rental gear (jet skis, ATVs), inspect carefully and film any pre-existing scratches.
• Get a clear breakdown of all costs, including any fuel or damage deposit, before you hand over a peso.

Hear It From Other Travelers:
TalkBaja.com users share a laundry list of street-corner tour scams in their discussion here, and TripAdvisor threads confirm that “too good to be true” warnings usually are.

💳 ATM and Credit Card Skimming

Even in 2025, the classic skimmer is alive and well. Small, camouflaged devices over card slots and tiny cameras catching your PIN can leave you stranded without pesos—or worse, watching your bank account vanish.

How to Outsmart It:

• Use ATMs inside banks or big grocery stores instead of standalone machines.
• Inspect the card reader and keypad for anything loose or off-kilter before you insert your card.
• Always cover the keypad with your hand when punching in your PIN.
• Set up instant transaction alerts so you know the moment someone tries to touch your cash.

Hear It From Other Travelers:
Come to Cabo has a great primer on ATM scams here, and the U.S. Department of State’s Mexico Travel Advisory reminds you to stay extra vigilant against petty crime.

With these five scams under your belt, you’re ready to dodge the shady characters and soak up every golden hour in Los Cabos.

Keep your wits sharp, your camera rolling (for safety proof!), and your spirits high—because paradise waits for no one, but scams love to tag along if you let them.