Jake Cullumas-Hollins shared on the TikTok platform about this deceptive practice and explained to his followers that many people have likely already fallen into the scammers’ trap. “When shopping in Turkey, paying in euros or British pounds technically means you are being cheated,” he began.
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The travel agent explained: if you see goods in a store priced in either of these two currencies, it means that the store is “already acting improperly.” Jake continued: “The Turkish government requires that all prices in stores be listed in Turkish lira.”
If this requirement is not followed, when tourists pay in euros or pounds, stores can take the received money to the bank, exchange it into the local currency, and thus earn more. “However, the biggest scam becomes clear when you are given change,” Jake added. “This is because change is almost always given in Turkish lira. This is where they make extra profit.”
The travel agent warned that attempts to negotiate the price will not help. “If you negotiate the price in pounds or euros and then try to pay by card – that’s when things get even worse,” he emphasized.
Jake concluded his video with a summary. “To avoid accidentally overpaying, always pay in Turkish lira,” he summarized. “Pay in cash or agree on the price in Turkish lira and pay by card.”
In response, one British traveler wrote: “I am currently in Turkey and have paid for everything in lira. I would recommend not using pounds or euros – better to have a travel payment card.”
Meanwhile, another person shared their experience: “Since 2016, I have visited Turkey every year and always pay in euros – it’s just a personal choice.” Jake countered this once again by emphasizing: “By paying in euros, you are only helping them. The more often we don’t do this, the sooner it will become the norm to pay in Turkish lira and follow the rules set by the Turkish government.”
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