Bali travel: Australian warns of Bali massage scam

The seasoned traveller, aged in his 50s, had visited the island paradise numerous times over the last two decades, and had never expected to see its darker side.

Taking to a Facebook page for Australians travelling to Bali, the man shared the details of his negative experience to caution others. He explained that he usually takes precautions to avoid becoming the target of thieves, however on this one night he had decided to ease up.

“Posting this as a warning, and to vent a bit I suppose,” the man wrote.

“I have travelled to Bali many times over the last 20 or so years. I am friendly, always polite and tip well and also considered myself pretty ‘street smart’ but I let my guard down the other night.”

He explained that after arriving on a late flight and checking in to a resort on Legian street near the Ground Zero monument remembering the Bali bombings, he went out with some others for a meal and some Bintangs.

He said he usually brings an old Samsung phone and puts a Bali sim in it, locking away his iPhone, however being the first night he hadn’t done so yet and was still carrying it.

“Walking towards the Matahari Bungalows three ladies got up quickly walking towards me asking if I wanted a massage, I said ‘no thanks’,” he said.

However, that’s when the situation escalated.

“They circled me and one aggressively pulled on my arm while one of the others removed phone from my hip pocket,” he said. “I had only walked 20-30 metres when I realised and quickly went back but they were gone.”

It turns out that this kind of scam is not an uncommon occurrence.

“Resort staff said this had happened four or five times in the last couple of weeks, it’s a shame local business and traders will lose money from lost trade,” the man said.

“I have learned ‘tolong jangon sentuh’ … ‘please don’t touch’! After this anyone approaches me will get the palm of my hand placed firmly on their chest, I don’t care who they are.”

He said the experience has changed his views of the area.

“I probably won’t stay in Kuta again and seriously rethinking our plans for a large party attending a 60th birthday next year.”

Other tourists commenting on the post said the same thing happened to them.

“Unfortunately this was probably the same three women that did the exact same ruse to both my son-in-law and friend up near the Hungry Jack’s,” one person wrote.

“Local business owner knew exactly where it happened and the specifics before we even told him what happened. Said it’s happening all too often. Never located our phones as they turned them off immediately. Made what was a great trip a little sour on our second to last night there.”

Another shared a similar experience.

“We stayed in South Kuta no problems at all but then we moved to Legian area for five days and I won’t stay there again,” they wrote. “The same thing happened to me where they all get around you and start pulling at your arm and one asked me to take her for coffee.”

And a third said, “My cousin got his iPhone pick pocketed … in Garlic Lane and the thief took it to a shop to get into it and they messaged my cousin saying was your phone stolen.”

Such incidents have reportedly been going on for some time.

“[We] had this happen when we went before Covid, I learnt quick that if they crowd you and touch you, you’re getting mugged,” a tourist wrote. “Locals are usually very respectful of your body and space and won’t touch without permission.”

While other travellers urged others to be cautious when using massage parlours.

“I had my bag opened, cash and cards stolen recently in a massage place,” they said. “Put me off. Was really weary the rest of my trip”.

“Been coming to Bali since 1976 and never been stolen from before this trip,” a woman wrote.

“Had earrings taken by staff at massage place in Ubud. Special Tibetan necklace taken from my room … Two cases of money changers offering high rates and trying to rip me off but I was on to it and got them to repay me. Desperate times desperate measures since Covid. Sellers are more demanding which stresses us all. Lots of goodness still here.”

While another encouraged the traveller not to let the experience sour their trip.

“What happened to you can happen anywhere,” they said. “It was random and it shouldn’t blacken your opinion on the whole of Bali, just be aware as you should always be. Pick pockets in Italy, bag snatcher in Greece, this list goes on.”

Meanwhile, another tourist shared their story of a different scam in Bali.

“Worst scam is the survey scam,” they said.

“They ask if you would participate in a quick survey, find out what hotel your in and who you came with. If [you’re] out and about they have others on scooters, race back to your hotel, with all your details and go through your room.”

Earlier this year, an Australian couple on holiday in Bali were left short changed after a money exchanger in the popular tourist town of Kuta scammed the duo out of 2.2 million rupiah.

It is understood, according to local media and police, that the scam took place on Padma Utara street in Kuta when the husband and wife exchanged $1175 or IDR11.9 million with the money changer.

According to local media Coconuts, the couple walked away from the money changer with around IDR2.2 million short, or around $215.