The 10 Most Common Travel Scams

DON’T GET SCAMMED! FOLLOW OUR FULL SERIES OF TIPS & STORIES TO HELP YOU AVOID THE WORST TOURIST SCAMS!

We all know there are scams and swindles perpetrated on unsuspecting tourists all the time, yet we always think the sucker will never be us. Yeah, that’s what the people who fell for the scams thought, too. So while we may pretend that it will never happen to us, we’ll leave these tips on how to avoid the most common scams here, just in case.

Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone. You can just have a quick look and pretend you knew how to avoid all of these scams all along.

1. Timeshares

This scam usually starts from the moment you leave the airport. Sometimes you’re given a scratch and win card from a charismatic young man who asks you to try your luck, and other times you’re told you’ll get a free resort vacation. All you need to do is get in the car and attend a timeshare sales pitch (usually an hour away) to collect your prize. It’s usually then that the local man tells you if you don’t come with him, he won’t get paid. But go with him and you will have to suffer through an hour-long presentation before being offered a timeshare at a steep discount by some slick western salesman.

Worse, the whole timeshare thing might be a ruse in itself and you may become a victim of a kidnap for ransom. It’s a very dangerous scam that’s easy to avoid. Do not, under any circumstances, get in the car with these people and always arrange legitimate, recognizable transportation from the airport ahead of time.

2. Airport Taxis

Speaking of airport transportation, some unscrupulous taxi drivers will charge an inflated fare for taking you to your hotel or resort, or they may make you pay even more for a tour of the city beforehand. Either way, it’s extra money you don’t need to spend. Again, book your driver and agree on a price ahead of time or, if you’re waving down a cab at the airport, agree on a flat rate before you even start driving.

3. Fake Police

This one plays on our inherent respect of authority figures, and the police in question aren’t always necessarily fake. Usually they’ll notice some problem or technicality with your passport or visa and tell you that the only way to fix it is to pay a fine directly to them, right now and in cash. Sometimes the cops are on the lookout for counterfeit bills and will ask to inspect your wallet—and as you give them your wallet, they’re already in the wind.

Both are easy predicaments to avoid. In the first one, all you need to do is stand your ground and agree to accompany the cop to the station, which will usually make the fine suddenly and unceremoniously disappear. In the second one, don’t give your wallet to anyone—cops or no cops.

4. Pickpockets

These guys usually work in teams of two: one guy actually picks your pocket, while the other distracts you away from the pocket being picked. To avoid this, be constantly aware of your surroundings, avoid crowds and always reach for your pockets the moment you’re stopped by someone. Don’t keep your wallet or other valuables in your back pocket and never hang your purse off chairs or your shoulder. Keep it secure and in front of you at all times. And keep your real valuables at home.

5. The Bar Tab

This is the scam that caught ex-Philadelphia weatherman John Bolaris in its crosshairs, when a group of Latvian “Bar Girls” trumped up $43,000 in bogus alcohol charges on his Amex card. It starts when an attractive fellow traveller, usually of the opposite sex, strikes up a conversation with you—the single traveller—before inviting you to continue the conversation at a local bar that he or she knows.

The bar will look relatively normal and some customers sitting at the tables will smile and lift their glasses your way. You enjoy some drinks with the sexy stranger, but before you know it you’re paying exorbitant prices for your drinks, your new friend’s drinks and the drinks of everyone who raised a glass to you at the bar. All the while, the bartender is insisting you have to pay or he’ll call the cops or start threatening violence.

This is a situation you never want to find yourself in. Don’t follow strangers to unfamiliar locations, always confirm how much drinks actually cost before you order them, ask to see price lists on a menu or above the bar and remember that any police called to the scene may be in on the scam as well.

6. The Spill

This usually involves non-existent bird poop or real mustard being spilled on your shoulder. Then, the offender or an accomplice offers to wipe the stuff off for you, which distracts you long enough for him or a partner to grab your wallet and passport. You might want to invest in a money belt or fanny pack.

7. Sorry, Closed

This scam doesn’t usually cost anything except time, but it’s always annoying. It’s when you tell your driver that you want to go to a certain restaurant that you’d heard about, but your driver turns around and tells you that unfortunately, that place is closed. Thankfully though, he’s got another great place that’s just like it and he’ll take you there right away. Little do you know that the driver gets a commission for every poor sap like you he takes to that spot, and it’s usually not as good as the restaurant you wanted. Always ask to see for yourself if a driver tells you that a restaurant is closed.

8. “How About We Order In?”

So you and the Mrs. are having some downtime at the hotel, but you’re absolutely famished. Thankfully, you saw those delivery menus under the door outside the room and you think, “Why don’t we order in?” You call the number listed on the flyer, order your pizza and leave your credit card information, but the meal never comes. Instead, you find crazy charges all over your next credit card statement, or worse, your identity gets stolen. Next time, always call down to the front desk and make sure those fliers under the door are legit or save yourself the trouble and just order room service.

9. Fake Damage on the Rental Car

This happens when you rent a seemingly undamaged car, but decline to purchase the often overpriced insurance. You return the car in what seems like the same condition you got it in and then suddenly, an enterprising rental service employee starts checking the undercarriage of the car, as if he knows just where to look for damage and, wouldn’t you know it, there is some.

Conveniently, the damage cost you just under the amount of your deductible, plus possibly a “loss of use” fee on the car, so most people will then just pay what they owe to make it all go away. The car then lives another day to run the scam all over again. Next time you rent a car, inspect it for signs of pre-existing damage carefully and make sure there is nothing amiss.

10. The Slow Count

Shops and even banks—where tourists frequent—thrive on this counting technique when cash or change is being given to a naive traveller. The scammer will insert large, odd pauses into the count, hoping that the hurried tourist will gather up the money, assuming the count is finished, and walk away shorted.

Also, watch out when paying small bills with large currency denominations because some waiters may suddenly become awful at math and try to pocket the large bill, while giving you a much smaller one that looks similar. State the amount of money you’re giving every time you hand it to the waiter and become familiar enough with the local currency, so you can tell the difference between large and small denominations. Also, don’t leave until all the change you’re owed is in your hand—no matter how long it takes to get it back.

Have you been scammed in your travels? What’s the worst scam you’ve fallen prey to?

http://www.travelandescape.ca/2013/01/the-10-most-common-travel-scams/