Bangkok, with its array of wonderful tourist attractions, unfortunately requires visitors to exercise caution due to prevalent pickpocketing and scams.
On October 22, the travel insurance provider Compare the Market released a comprehensive ranking of the world’s most vulnerable cities for petty crime targeting tourists. The research placed Bangkok decisively at the top of the list of the top 5 cities, achieving a total risk score of 83.45. This score underscores the necessity for heightened caution among visitors exploring the Thai capital, despite its many popular attractions.
The study revealed a stark correlation between the city’s most visited sites and reported crime incidents. The Grand Palace, one of Bangkok’s most cherished and iconic landmarks, was specifically identified as the worst attraction worldwide concerning mentions of pickpocketing and scams. Data analysis showed that mentions of fraudulent activities and theft within visitor reviews for this single location surpassed those for any other tourist destination globally.
The crime issue is not limited to just the Palace. Two other major tourist magnets in Bangkok—the revered Wat Pho temple and the sprawling Chatuchak Weekend Market—also notably “stood out” in the analysis as areas receiving some of the highest reports of pickpocketing and fraudulent activities. These findings suggest that criminals actively target crowded, high-traffic tourist areas.
The research conducted by Compare the Market involved an extensive evaluation, ranking over 75 global cities based on the perceived risk level associated with pickpocketing and theft. To achieve their scores, analysts utilized a large dataset compiled from traveler reviews. They calculated the number of mentions of both pickpocketing and scams per 1,000 reviews, using this as a standardized metric for risk assessment. Furthermore, a crucial element of the study involved quantifying the frequency with which visitors actively expressed concern about being robbed or mugged while visiting specific locations, providing insight into the overall feeling of safety in these cities.
Following Bangkok, the ranking highlighted other prominent cultural hubs where travelers need to be particularly wary of petty crime.
Paris, the globally renowned City of Light, secured the second position with a score of 68.81. The data indicated a distinct pattern in the French capital: criminals there demonstrated a clear preference for pickpocketing over scams. Per 1,000 reviews, there were 4.54 mentions of pickpocketing incidents, compared to only 2.27 mentions for scams. However, the perceived threat of violent street crime was also notably high, with the level of concern about being mugged in Paris reaching 60.04 points, ranking it sixth globally on this specific index.
Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic and a treasure trove of historical architecture, achieved a total score of 52.16, placing it third. This ranking stemmed primarily from a significant reported rate of pickpocketing and a high overall volume of crime mentions in reviews. Travel insurance specialists offered practical advice for those visiting Prague’s largest attractions, recommending they “keep a hand on their pockets” to prevent quick-handed thieves from stealing items like mobile phones.
Further down the list, Shanghai was positioned fourth with a total score of 51.83. Similar to the situation in Bangkok, visitors to Shanghai reported less concern about being mugged compared to other forms of crime. However, the city showed a high prevalence of fraudulent schemes, requiring tourists to maintain a vigilant watch over their belongings. Specifically, the data showed 6.28 mentions of scams per 1,000 reviews, making its scam rate the second-highest globally.
The analysis provided a clear geographical pattern for these risks, identifying Europe and Asia as the two primary hotspots for pickpocketing and scams. A total of 24 cities in Asia and 27 locations in Europe made the list, together accounting for more than half of the entire ranking. In stark contrast, only six cities in the Americas appeared in the full list, and those were consistently positioned toward the bottom. Similarly, in Australia, only the major metropolitan areas of Sydney and Melbourne were named in the study.
The findings of this study serve as a potent reminder that while travel offers enriching experiences, it inherently involves certain risks. To effectively mitigate the risks associated with pickpocketing and scams, travelers should adopt several simple but effective precautionary measures:
Secure Valuables: Always keep valuable items—such as passports, cash, and phones—in secure, internal pockets or travel pouches that are difficult for criminals to access quickly.
Avoid Unlicensed Services: Exercise extreme caution and avoid using unlicensed taxis or unregistered tour operators, as these are frequently associated with scams.
Be Wary of Strangers: Be especially careful with unsolicited approaches and offers from strangers in public or tourist areas, as these often precede a scam or distraction attempt.
Research Common Scams: Tourists should also familiarize themselves with the specific, common scams prevalent at their chosen destination. This knowledge is invaluable, helping them quickly recognize suspicious behavior and avoid becoming victims of fraud.
Cities such as Bangkok, Paris, and Prague offer an abundance of incredible sights and cultural history, but the onus is on the traveler to remain constantly vigilant. Awareness and preparation are the best defenses against falling prey to common scams and pickpocketing incidents.
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Top 10 Global Cities with Highest Pickpocketing and Scam Rates (2025)
- Bangkok: 83.45
- Paris: 68.81
- Prague: 52.16
- Shanghai: 51.83
- Agra: 47.48
- Rome: 45.53
- Pattaya: 44.43
- Phuket: 40.52
- Shenzhen: 39.51
- Mumbai: 36.86
(According to Compare the Market)
