Scams in Malta: the documented traps and how to sidestep them

When I write about scams I set myself one rule, which is to cover only what an official source has documented. Every destination has forum tales of cons, and I don’t want to add another without anything to back it up. For Malta, the FCDO’s travel advice and the Spanish Foreign Ministry’s recommendations describe a country with little crime and a handful of very specific traps. Here they are, and here’s how I’d get round them.

Paceville, the one that worries me most

The most serious isn’t a street con at all, it’s what can happen inside certain venues in Paceville, the party district of St Julian’s. The FCDO says that in certain bars and gentlemen’s clubs criminals have drugged people, forcing them to spend large amounts or assaulting them, and advises checking your bill to make sure you aren’t being overcharged. The Spanish advice mentions drink spiking, assaults and theft in the same area.

My line here is firm. No drink left unattended, nothing accepted from strangers, and the bill read line by line before paying. If something doesn’t add up, 112 works. The district and getting around it at night are covered in Paceville.

Taxis and the fare nobody agreed

The second front is taxis. The Spanish Foreign Ministry warns that Malta’s white public taxis often don’t switch on the meter and suggests finding out the price first. Visit Malta puts it another way, saying it’s always better to ask and agree the fare before you get in. Fixed-rate booths, where you settle before the ride, operate at the airport and in Sliema and Valletta, and from the airport to Ċirkewwa, for instance, the fixed fare is €32. The same Spanish advice mentions private firms and ride-hailing apps such as Uber, Bolt and eCabs as alternatives. There’s more in taxis in Malta.

Can you be overcharged when paying by card?

This one is easy to miss at the till. Visit Malta explains that many hotels, larger shops and restaurants accept the main international currencies, but may apply conversion charges. If the card machine asks whether you’d like to pay in pounds, I’d always say no and pay in euros. Everything on cash, cards and cashpoints is in money in Malta.

Crowded buses and parked cars

Pickpockets work the bus routes between Valletta and St Julian’s, according to GOV.UK, which says crowded summer buses are their target. It isn’t a scam, but it’s the loss you’re most likely to suffer. Rucksack on your front, wallet in an inside pocket, phone put away. And watch the other bus trap, which is perfectly legal. If you don’t validate your card or carry a valid ticket, the fine is €50. If you hire a car, GOV.UK also mentions theft from parked cars, so leave nothing visible.

Scams that start before you travel

The FCDO notes that scams targeting British nationals are increasing and come in many forms, including romance and friendship, business ventures and work opportunities. None of them is specific to a beach or a bar, which is why I’d treat any too-good-to-be-true offer linked to Malta with the same suspicion I’d apply at home.

Excursions and bookings

Two more tips with a source behind them. The booking needed to set foot on Comino’s Blue Lagoon, compulsory since 1 May 2025, is free on the MTA’s official system. If it’s sold to you as part of a trip, the money is for the boat, so compare prices with that in mind. Details are in the Blue Lagoon on Comino.

The Malta Tourism Authority requires tourist guides and excursion operators to hold a licence, and operators must carry at least €250,000 of public liability insurance. I’d ask about that licence before paying for any tour.