Exchange $$ at legal kiosks

I learned of a currency exchange scam during a visit to the Czech Republic in October ’04.

There are some other countries in Eastern Europe that have obsolete currencies. A prevailing scam in Prague is for people to offer a very wonderful rate of exchange from U.S. to Czech currency. Apparently, when the transaction is made, they give the obsolete currency, take the U.S. cash and disappear quickly. The customer is usually so busy counting and checking arithmetic that he doesn’t notice the currency is obsolete.

These scammers hang around exchange kiosks, etc., in Prague and offer better rates with no waiting. I would think people in the exchange booths would call the police, but they seem to just ignore the scammers.

CHARLES SEVERS
Louisville, KY