Fraud in Bulgaria.
In June 2011, I was vacationing in Bulgaria (Golden Sands resort) and faced a gross form of currency fraud.
The essence of the fraud is as follows: numerous booths-exchange offices of the resort - DO NOT SELL euros, but ONLY BUY.
At the same time, the prices of EXACTLY SALES euros are posted.
It looks like this: a tourist, approaching the exchange office, sees the exchange price - 1.95 lev (the national currency of Bulgaria) for 1 euro (in other places - from 1.80 for 1 euro). Convinced of a favorable rate, the tourist sells his euro and finds in the issued check, together with the leva, a completely different amount, namely: 1.57 lev for 1 euro. Turning to the cashier for clarification, he receives the answer:
--"For 1.95 lev we sell 1 euro and buy for 1.57 lev. This is our policy…
-Where do you say that you buy for 1.57 and sell for 1.95 lev?!
- Yes, here, behind you, you just need to open the booth door, otherwise it annoyingly obscures the numbers.
--Understood, but can I then buy euros from you?
-We don't have the euro now.
- When will it be?
--We don't know.
--Why do you advertise the EURO FOR SALE if you don't have it?
--I dont understand russian". . .
How is it, the tourist is upset, because this is a completely UNFAVORABLE and even extortionate exchange rate! And he won't change the euro. . . However, the trick is this: if a tourist ASKs how much it costs to sell a euro, then a kind cashier will name a quite acceptable amount, for example, 1.85 lev for 1 euro. At the same time, if you pay his attention to his own tariffs (carefully covered with a booth door), then the cashier immediately ceases to understand Russian.
The calculation of scammers is based on first-time visitors and inattentive tourists. Getting your money back is almost impossible.
I hope that my observations and experience will help novice tourists save their money in this blessed country.