Top 10 Tourist Scams to Avoid
When you go on holiday, MANY of the locals will realize you are a tourist. Therefore, some of these people think that it's best to scam a tourist because they don't know much.Beware of these common tourist scams when traveling!
This is pretty disgusting. A thief will call your hotel room pretending to be from the front desk. They will claim there is an issue with your details and ask you to confirm your credit card information.
Stop right there! They are more likely to call you at night, saying it is an emergency, so you won't go downstairs to the lobby to sort it out.
Never, ever give your credit card details over the phone when at a hotel!
These scamming thieves will take all your money!
Where does this happen mainly?
Worldwide. Any country can do this.
You probably don't know every single street while on vacation, right? Taxi drivers may sneakily use this to their advantage. They could purposely take routes with a lot of traffic or take a very long route back to your hotel. Some taxis have fake or altered meters, which can result in much higher charges.
I was in Italy once. The taxi driver charged 100 euros from the airport to our hotel. It took an hour to get there when it should have taken 20 minutes!
Where does this happen mainly?
Worldwide. Every country probably has taxi drivers that do this.
Beware!
A man or woman will suddenly offer you a friendship bracelet while you are sightseeing. Even if you say no, the person may still try to put it on your wrist, even if you are trying to get away. They will then ask for a high amount of money for a bracelet you didn't want anyway. While you are distracted, their friend might pickpocket your belongings.
Your best bet? Run away if someone asks you to buy a friendship bracelet! Go into a cafe or a store.
Where does this mainly happen?
Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Cairo.
When you are taking photos, a friendly local might come up to you and offer to take a picture together (as a family or couple). You might say yes, as there isn't a picture of all of you together. After the photo is taken, they will ask you for money. What the heck?
If you refuse, the local might run away with your phone or camera! Beware! Never say yes to a random person who wants to take a photo of you all.
Where does this mainly happen?
All over Europe.
Not everyone is as friendly as they seem! You should not trust everyone. A nice person may see that you are struggling at a ticket machine or a cash machine, perhaps because it works differently. It may seem like they are being really nice and helping you understand, and they probably speak English as well. However, they could be peering over your shoulder to check your PIN number so they can rob your account later! They may even grab the cash you just withdrew. If you still see the local wandering near you after you've asked them for help, tell them to go away!
Where does this happen mainly?
Europe.
We have all heard of this before. Tourists are more likely to wear backpacks or side bags. Trains are often overcrowded and stuffy, making it easy for pickpockets to operate without being noticed. Keep your backpacks at the front, and secure any bags you might have!
Where does this happen mainly?
Europe.
Also in China, but not so much on the train. Just in airports or generally crowded areas.
If someone bumps into you, they might be part of a team of thieves.
Policemen who look official may approach you and say they need to check your wallet for security purposes or to make sure there isn't any fake cash in it. When they return it to you, cash might be missing! They might also claim there is a problem with your passport or visa and that you could be arrested. To avoid that, you may be told you have to pay a large fine that you probably can't afford!
Where does this happen mainly?
Mexico, Romania, Bangkok, Colombia.
I saw a situation where a man in a police uniform was standing by a deposit box, claiming it was broken and asking people to hand him their belongings. How on earth can a deposit box be broken?
A lady may drop a ring while you are walking, right in front of you. She will ask if you dropped it. When you say no, she will act shocked and claim that it is real gold (it's not) to entice you to buy it. Then, she will offer to sell you the ring for a large amount of money. Sometimes, this could be when her accomplice is trying to pickpocket you, and you don't even notice.
Where does this happen mainly?
Italy and Paris.
Two people who look like hotel inspectors might knock on your hotel door, claiming they need to inspect your room. One might distract you with conversation while the other goes into your room to steal your belongings.
Where does this happen mainly?
Spain.
The Newcomers
So, you stay at a hotel, and in your room, you see a stocked fridge full of snacks and drinks. You might think they're included with your stay. Wrong! The fridge has sensors. If you take an item or even touch or move it, the sensors are activated, and you will be charged.
Sometimes when you're exchanging currency, like from euros to American dollars, you might not be able to read the local language. Someone may offer to help and ask what amount you want to exchange. Then they might ask for your credit card number and password. Do not give it to them! They will remember this information and steal your money!