An Australian tourist has gone viral after catching a money-exchange scam on video while visiting Bali — reigniting long-standing concerns about dodgy currency kiosks targeting foreigners.

In a TikTok video posted by @2wheeledtorque, a man and a woman are seen entering a small exchange booth to convert AUD $100 into Indonesian Rupiah. The footage shows the tourist carefully counting the cash handed to him by the attendant, then instructing, “Leave them there,” referring to the bills.

Moments later, the staff member picks the notes back up and appears to recount them. As he does, the tourist accuses him of sleight of hand:

“You just f***ing dropped it behind the counter, bro. It’s enough.”
The man then walks out and turns to the camera to issue a stark warning:
“Watch out for this scam.”

While the exact location of the incident remains unknown, the video has been viewed more than 1.9 million times, drawing thousands of comments — many expressing outrage and sharing similar experiences.

“They’ve been doing this exact scam for 25 years,” one viewer wrote.
“Every time they touch it, recount it!” added another.

This well-known scam involves staff subtly sliding bills under the counter while appearing to count them. By repeatedly handling the money, they aim to confuse customers and create opportunities for shortchanging.

In a similar case last year in Sanur, a female tourist confronted a currency booth worker after realizing she had been shorted by one million Rupiah (about AUD $93). The moment was also caught on camera and spread online.

The Bali Sun and other travel sources continue to urge tourists to exchange money only at reputable establishments — ideally banks or officially licensed money changers — and to always recount the cash before leaving the counter.

Scott McCullough, general manager of Australia’s Travel Money Group, advised travelers to be cautious:

“Australians are losing out on their hard-earned cash in Bali because of dodgy practices like teller theft or card skimming… The safest option is to use a trusted foreign exchange provider before leaving Australia or opt for a prepaid money card.”

As Bali continues to be one of the top destinations for Australian tourists, staying informed and vigilant remains key to avoiding common travel traps.