How do I know if a government official is asking me to pay a bribe?

Sometimes it's obvious. A police officer pulls you over and says, "There's a problem here, but we can solve it another way." A bureaucrat tells you your permit won't process unless you help with a personal project. A contractor says permits move faster with proper facilitation fees. That last one is the tricky language—bribery dressed in bureaucratic clothing. Here's how to recognize it: legitimate fees are transparent, documented, and standardized for everyone. Bribes are personal, hidden, conditional, and unique to your situation. The official acts friendly but vaguely threatening, suggesting you have a "problem" only they can solve. Trust that discomfort in your gut. You're not being paranoid; you're noticing something real. What you do next depends on your safety assessment and your country's corruption level. In high-corruption contexts, sometimes you navigate differently than in low-corruption ones. But you always have options: refuse calmly and leave, ask for the request in writing (watch them backtrack), report it to their supervisor or anti-corruption agency, or seek help from transparency organizations. You're not powerless here, even when it feels like it.