Note – The shoe shiners shown in the photographs for this article did not scam me and never used any of the techniques described below. They were friendly professionals who agreed to be photographed. This article does not imply they were involved in any scam.
One Turkish tradition I have always admired is the shoe shiner. Positioned on busy streets with small stools and Ottoman-style boxes, they offer a service to passersby. I am fascinated because this tradition has largely vanished from the western world but remains common in Turkey.
To many, shoe shining might seem like a simple, old-fashioned job, but for dedicated practitioners it is an art. Experienced shoe shiners restore footwear to near-new condition through skillful polishing and buffing acquired over years of work. The service is inexpensive—just a few Turkish lira—so they rely on a steady flow of customers to make a decent daily income.
On one visit to the Aegean resort of Altinkum I had my shoes shined by a young boy of about nine. It was winter and I wore tall leather boots. He was inexperienced but tried his best, so I tipped him for his effort. The charge was five Turkish lira (roughly £2 or $3 at the time).
On earlier trips to Istanbul I rarely used shoe shiners because I usually wore trainers while sightseeing. That may be why I only recently learned about a recurring scam involving shoe shiners while researching this topic.
The Shoe Shine Scam of Istanbul
The scam is straightforward and relies on basic human compassion. It often follows these steps:
- The shoe shiner walks past a tourist and intentionally drops one of his brushes.
- The tourist picks up the brush and chases after the shoe shiner to return it.
- The shoe shiner thanks the tourist and offers a free shine to show appreciation.
- While shining, the shiner may tell a sob story about a sick family member or severe hardship.
- When the job is finished, the shoe shiner demands a large payment—often many times higher than the usual local rate. Tourists have reported paying amounts such as 25 Turkish lira.
- Out of guilt or sympathy, the tourist pays the inflated price.
Most shoe shiners are honest and simply practicing an old trade. This description is meant to warn travelers rather than criticize the profession itself. If you are in Istanbul and someone deliberately drops a brush as they pass, be aware this may be an attempt to set up the tactic described above and you may prefer to ignore it.
Readers question: Have you encountered this shoe shine scam or experienced a similar situation while traveling?
Further reading
There are first-hand accounts and discussions from travelers who have encountered shoe shiner tricks in Istanbul. If you are researching travel scams or preparing for a trip, reading others’ experiences can be useful for spotting common approaches and avoiding overpayment.