Scams in Cuba: The 7 Most Common Ones and How to Avoid Them

Tourist scams happen all over the world. Being cautious can help you stay safe, but you can’t always predict when things will go wrong. It’s important to be aware of the circumstances so that you can navigate tricky situations safely, especially where scams are more likely to occur.

Cuba is an extremely popular tourist destination—a dream location for those seeking crystal-clear waters, paradise-like beaches, and a new culture to explore. Tourism is one of the main sources of income for the Cuban economy, and many people, seeing this constantly growing industry, try to get involved in it.

However, not everyone has the same approach when it comes to dealing with tourists or selling services—some are excellent, while others are mediocre. As often happens in the most touristy destinations, you might encounter people who will try to take advantage of you. They’ll tell you dramatic stories about their lives, playing on your emotions, but with ulterior motives.

For many Cubans, the economic situation is still critical, and living conditions in some parts of the city are extremely difficult. The average salary is around €30, regardless of education or how hard they work. Some people have found clever ways to make ends meet—often at the expense of unsuspecting tourists.

Before listing the most common scams in Cuba, I want to emphasize that, despite this, Cuba is actually a very safe place to visit, even for solo female travelers. The crime rate is extremely low, and at no point during our trip did Laura and I ever feel in danger.

It’s just about learning to recognize these scams and attempting to avoid them. After all, no one likes being tricked.

In this article, I’ve gathered the most common scams in Cuba so that you can recognize them and not fall for them.

The Cigar Festival Scam

You’re walking through the streets of Havana when a friendly local approaches you and tells you that today is the famous Cuban Cigar Festival—a highly anticipated event that only happens once a year. What a lucky coincidence!

The Salsa Festival Scam

As you can imagine, this is similar to the cigar festival scam. Know that there is no such thing as a “Fiesta de la Salsa.”

Someone will approach you on the street and tell you how lucky you are to have met them because today is the annual Salsa Festival, and they can take you there.

They will probably lead you to a salsa school or a dance club, where they’ll receive a commission for bringing you, or they’ll directly ask for money for the “service” they provided (even though you never requested it).

Unlike the cigar festival scam, where you end up with low-quality cigars, here you might actually learn some basic Cuban salsa steps, but the scam lies in the overpriced lessons.

How to avoid it

Just like with the cigar festival, if someone approaches you claiming they can take you to the Salsa Festival, politely decline and walk away.

The Milk Scam

This is a well-known scam, not only in Cuba but also in many Southeast Asian countries.

The scene usually goes like this: A very young girl carrying a baby approaches you and asks for money to buy powdered milk for her child—or she might even ask you directly to buy the milk for her at a nearby supermarket.

The sight is heartbreaking. How could you say no to a child in need? So, you go to the nearest store and buy the milk, often at a price much higher than usual, feeling satisfied with your good deed.

What happens next? She walks back into the store and returns the product to the cashier, splitting the money you just paid with the shop owner.

How to avoid it

It can be extremely difficult to ignore such an emotional situation. However, you need to be aware that the Cuban government provides milk to all families with children up to the age of nine. While they might genuinely be in need, milk is not one of the things they lack.

This is a terrible scam that exploits minors in many parts of the world.

The “It’s My Birthday” Scam

Would you like to celebrate your birthday with a stranger you just met on the street? I wouldn’t. But in Cuba, many people wouldn’t mind at all—except that this is one of the most common scams in Cuba.

While you’re minding your own business, a Cuban approaches you, starts a friendly chat, and then casually mentions that today is their birthday.

You wish them a happy birthday, thinking that’s enough. But the conversation continues, and eventually, they might tell you about their economic struggles, a recent family loss, or some other hardship, making you feel sorry for them.

To cheer them up, you invite them to a bar or restaurant of their choice to celebrate.

99.99% of the time, today is not their birthday. It’s just an excuse to get you into a restaurant or bar run by their accomplices, where you’ll end up paying for their meal—probably at a highly inflated price.

How to avoid it

Just say “Happy Birthday” and walk away. Don’t be afraid of seeming rude.

The Restaurant Recommendation

Often, when you take a taxi or go on a tour, the driver or guide will ask if you’ve already tried any of the restaurants in town. Regardless of your answer, they will start describing an amazing restaurant they know—one you simply must try!

If you agree to let them take you there, the food will probably be good, but not exceptional. However, the final bill will likely be quite steep. These people often receive a commission for bringing customers to certain restaurants, so their recommendations are not really based on the quality of the food but rather on how much commission they’ll make.

This makes it a bit tricky to know whom to trust when it comes to restaurant recommendations. I would generally suggest trusting the host of your casa particular or the hotel reception, as they are much more invested in making sure you have a great vacation. They care about getting a good review from you and wouldn’t want to ruin their reputation by recommending a restaurant that isn’t actually worth it.

My Experience with Scams in Cuba

I negotiated the fare for every taxi I took, starting with the very first one I got into upon arriving at the airport.

We only tried one restaurant recommended by a passerby, and it was not good at all—we ended up spending way too much… A few Cubans approached us to give directions, but they didn’t ask for money in return, only that we buy them a drink. And considering how hot it was, who could blame them?

A friend of mine had fallen for the Milk scam a few months earlier and had told me all about it before my trip.

From my experience, Cuba is very safe. Laura and I stayed in Havana for two weeks: we took several buses and talked to many people—Cubans, tourists from all over the world, and even some Italians. We ate delicious local specialties and drank amazing Cuban coffee.

We did feel a bit intimidated by the amount of male attention we attracted, just like every other woman does, but I’ve already discussed that in my article on Catcalling in Cuba. However, we felt very safe walking alone at night, which isn’t the case in other cities I’ve visited.

We also visited smaller towns, and I couldn’t understand why some people might not feel safe. Cuba is a wonderful country to visit, and if you take the time to talk to the locals, you’ll learn so much that you won’t find it in any guidebook.

Final Thoughts to Avoid Scams in Cuba

These are some of the scams I have witnessed, been a part of, or heard about from other friends of mine who have visited Cuba.
If you have heard or experienced others, please share your experience below to spread awareness.

I hope this guide on scams in Cuba can be useful to you if you want to learn more about travel safety.