Travel Safety Tips
Shady people dear to choose wages of tourists, in addition to if you’re non careful, it’s slow to choke a victim. Here are some of the most mutual go scams or thence the world. Stay prophylactic out there!
As travelers, it is slow to intend that nosotros are smart plenty to avoid getting ripped off on go scams. But, the truth is, it happens to the best of us. Including me!
While I’ve shared all kinds of useful go tips on this site, I idea it was of import to set together a dedicated guide on mutual go scams.
From getting ridiculously overcharged on cab rides to unknowingly revealing credit carte information, scams similar these be the globe over.
While it is nearly impossible to know when yous volition endure scammed, it is of import to know what sort of go scams exist, in addition to what to exercise for go safety inward example province of affairs arise.
Most Common Travel Scams In 2019
It sucks to acquire scammed past times a stranger when you’re traveling on vacation. Even after ix years of continuous travel, I silent acquire caught off guard from fourth dimension to time.
Here are some of the most mutual scams you’re probable to view piece traveling, along amongst personal stories from my ain experiences. Knowledge is power! The to a greater extent than people that know nigh these scams, the less probable you’ll autumn for them.
1: Broken Taxi Meter
Cab drivers nigh airports or educate stations are known to line this scam, but it tin give notice go on anywhere. When yous acquire into a taxi in addition to start to drive, the driver volition inform yous that the meter is broken in addition to accuse yous a ridiculous toll (to the melody of 100s of dollars if you’re non careful).
My Experience:
This is a really mutual 1 inward Central America, particularly Costa Rica. I’ve in all probability had 10 unlike taxi drivers examine to line this scam on me or thence the world. I savage for it once, during my outset yr traveling.
How To Avoid It:
Negotiate rates ahead of time, or ensure the meter is inward fact working earlier yous acquire inward the car. If the taxi driver refuses to plough on the meter, or tells yous it’s cheaper without the meter, go out in addition to opt for some other driver. Not all cab drivers are scammers.
2: Overbooked Or Closed Hotel
Again, this mutual go scam happens largely amongst cab drivers. While en route to your hotel, the driver volition tell yous your hotel is either closed or overbooked in addition to and thence choose yous to a to a greater extent than expensive hotel where the driver receives a overnice fatty commission.
My Experience:
Luckily I’ve never fallen for this one, however, I’ve had iii or four drivers examine to scam me this way. Usually past times maxim the hotel is a bad one, or that it’s closed.
How To Avoid It:
Call your hotel inward advance in addition to brand certain they’re open. Ask if they offering shuttle service in addition to and thence schedule a pickup. If your taxi driver silent tells yous the hotel is non available, insist that he choose yous at that spot anyway. Tell him yous already lead hold a reservation (even if yous don’t).
3: Free Bracelets Or Rosemary
This scam tends to prey on woman individual travelers. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 friendly human or adult woman volition approach to chat, in addition to thence identify a “free” friendship bracelet on your wrist. Or mitt yous a sprig of Rosemary for goodness luck. Once yous lead hold it, they volition demand money. When yous refuse, they volition commence to displace a scene.
My Experience:
I’ve had gypsy women inward Madrid examine to give me Rosemary.
How To Avoid It:
Don’t allow anyone to set anything on your body, in addition to endure extremely wary of accepting anything for gratis unless at that spot is a goodness argue for it. Especially inward really touristy areas. Ignore them in addition to hold walking.
4: Spills On Your Clothing
Common inward Europe, a traveler volition endure walking downward the street in addition to experience something plop on their shoulder — often times aeroplane poop or a fast-food condiment. Then, a friendly stranger approaches in addition to begins to wipe off the offending mess piece plucking your wallet from your steal or purse.
My Experience:
This has never happened to me.
How To Avoid It:
The best thing to exercise inward situations similar this is to non allow someone to assist you. Instead, choke to a restroom in addition to build clean the mess off yourself.
5: Fake Police Officers
The imitation police clit officeholder scam is a pop 1 inward many large cities. Most often, a individual volition approach a tourist in addition to offering illicit items, similar drugs. While conversing 1 or 2 other people volition approach, appearing to endure police clit officers in addition to flashing “badges.” They volition in addition to thence insist the unknowing traveler mitt over their passport in addition to wallet. However, they are non police clit officers.
My Experience:
This has never happened to me.
How To Avoid It:
Never mitt over your wallet or passport. Request they demonstrate yous their identification in addition to and thence inform them yous volition telephone band the police clit to confirm they are who they state they are. Or tell them your passport is locked upward inward the hotel safe, in addition to they’ll demand to accompany yous to your hotel. If they don’t allow this, only walk away.
6: Attraction Is Closed
A mutual go scam inward major tourist areas, some friendly local (who exactly happens to verbalize fantabulous English) volition approach in addition to inform yous that the attraction yous desire to see is closed for whatever bring out of reasons (religious ceremony, holiday, etc.). Then they’ll guide yous to a unlike attraction or store where you’re pressured to purchase something or pay a lot for entry.
My Experience:
At a busy world foursquare inward Mexico, a local human began bespeak nigh my travels inward perfect English. He in addition to thence proceeded to tell me the town’s famous hammock store was closed, but he knew of some other nearby. I thanked him but ignored the advice in addition to flora the master copy store open.
How To Avoid It:
Instead of taking the local’s word, caput to the ticket counter or store in addition to view for yourself. Or enquire someone else nearby for confirmation.
7: Friendly ATM Helper
Someone approaches at an ATM cash machine to assist yous avoid local banking concern fees. What they actually desire to exercise is scan your ATM carte amongst the carte skimmer inward their steal in addition to lookout adult man yous go inward your pivot bring out thence they tin give notice drain your line concern human relationship later.
My Experience:
I’m embarrassed to state I almost savage for this scam inward South Africa. One human was the helpful local, the mo pretended to endure a boyfriend client waiting inward line who agreed amongst what the outset was saying. When the outset guy canceled my transaction in addition to told me to examine it again, I realized what was happening, grabbed my carte in addition to walked away.
How To Avoid It:
Never permit anyone nigh yous piece you’re making an ATM transaction, in addition to ALWAYS encompass the bring out pad amongst your other mitt piece entering your pivot code. If someone approaches, choose your carte in addition to uncovering some other ATM.
8: Injured Or Child Beggars
Usually deaf, blind, or pregnant, sometimes accompanied past times a “helper”, beggars volition enquire yous for money. Women amongst babies are mutual (they mightiness non fifty-fifty endure theirs). Children are also oft used past times begging gangs to collect money. Why? Because it’s hard for most people to state no to the old, injured, or young. Sometimes an accomplice nearby is exactly watching to view where yous hold your wallet thence they tin give notice pickpocket yous later.
My Experience:
You’ll view this materials almost everywhere.
How To Avoid It:
It’s practically impossible to distinguish who is legit in addition to who is not, thence my policy is to never give cash to street beggars. However I exercise purchase nutrient or giveaway former clothe to them. Then your coin isn’t going to a gang.
9: Group Photo Offer
While hanging out inward a busy tourist location or landmark, a local offers to choose a grouping photograph of yous in addition to your friends. As you’re getting ready to pose for your awesome novel Facebook jumping shot, yous expect upward in addition to realize your novel friend has completely disappeared. With your expensive camera.
My Experience:
I’ve never fallen for this scam, but I’ve had a few people try. In fact 1 guy tried concluding calendar week inward the pump of Dublin. He was pretty shady (and perhaps high), thence I told him thank yous but I’m good.
How To Avoid It:
This 1 is tough, yous actually demand to read the situation. I’ve happily handed my $3000 photographic idiot box camera over to other people for a grouping photo. But it’s almost e'er me bespeak them for the favor, non them offering out of the blue. Busy metropolis attractions are the riskiest places for this. If yous lead hold to, enquire boyfriend tourists instead in addition to render the favor for them.
10: Fake WiFi Hubs
While yous tin give notice uncovering WiFi almost anywhere these days, some of those gratis unlocked connections mightiness endure dangerous. Hackers volition laid upward tempting unsecured wifi hotspots inward world locations that unsuspecting victims eagerly connect to — giving the thief access to your computer, passwords, online accounts, in addition to more.
My Experience:
I’ve never fallen for this scam, equally far equally I know.
How To Avoid It:
Always enquire the hotel/coffee shop/airport staff which wifi connexion is the official one. Especially when yous view a tempting unlocked connection. To encrypt all your online activity, usage a VPN, or virtual individual network. I usage 1 called Private Internet Access.
11: Motorbike Rental Damage
After yous rent a moped or scooter, it gets damaged (or fifty-fifty stolen) overnight. The possessor volition demand additional payment or expensive repairs equally compensation. What yous don’t know is that it was the possessor or his friends who caused the harm or stole the cycle from you.
My Experience:
This happened to me inward the Philippines. My motorcycle spot cushion was slashed amongst a knife for no apparent reason, in addition to the rental guy insisted I purchase a novel spot cover. I’m silent non certain if it was a scam or if it was random, equally the repair was pretty cheap.
How To Avoid It:
Take photos of the cycle outset to document previous damage. Use your ain lock, non 1 provided past times the rental guy (who may lead hold a s laid of keys). Don’t tell the companionship where you’re actually staying, in addition to brand certain there’s a prophylactic identify to leave of absence the cycle overnight. If harm does occur, choose it to a repair store recommended past times someone other than the bike’s owner.
12: Fake Bus/Train/Plane Tickets
Someone offers to sell yous educate tickets at a discount, or avoid the line in addition to pay a slightly higher price. Maybe a taxi driver offers to convey yous to his friend who’s a local go agent. However the tickets they are selling aren’t real, in addition to past times the fourth dimension yous figure it out, the scammers are gone amongst your money.
My Experience:
I’ve had a cab driver offering to choose me to his go agent friend. I told him I already had tickets.
How To Avoid It:
Always purchase shipping tickets from the official ticket piece of work or website.
13: Gemstone Or Carpet Deals
A local human casually brings upward his lucrative side line concern of buying jewelry, gemstones, watches or carpets in addition to thence selling them dorsum inward the the United States of America (or some other country) for a fatty profit. He offers to part how he does it, in addition to shows yous where to uncovering the best deal. The exclusively work is that these products are fake.
My Experience:
This has never happened to me.
How To Avoid It:
Don’t purchase expensive luxury items overseas piece on vacation, no thing how goodness the bargain is. Remember, if it’s likewise goodness to endure true, it’s in all probability a go scam.
14: Fake Hotel Wakeup Call
While staying at a hotel, yous acquire a telephone band from the front end desk inward the pump of the nighttime to confirm your credit carte details. Only it isn’t the front end desk calling, it’s a scammer who volition drain your accounts when he makes a re-create of your carte using the details yous give him over the phone.
My Experience:
This has never happened to me.
How To Avoid It:
Never give out credit carte details over the phone. Go downward to the front end desk inward individual the side past times side morn if at that spot is a problem.
15: Flirtatious Local Women
You brand it to a novel province exclusively to uncovering that beautiful local women seem to pay much to a greater extent than attending to yous than dorsum home. One of them invites yous out to a nightclub or bar. However after a wild night, the adult woman disappears in addition to you’re forced to pay an overpriced bill. Or worse, drugged in addition to robbed.
My Experience:
I’ve had a version of this go on to me. Only it was hookers inward Panama who attempted to acquire my attention. When I ignored them, they managed to steal the laptop from my backpack when I wasn’t looking.
How To Avoid It:
Be wary of attractive women who are unusually forwards or hitting on yous aggressively. I know it is every man’s dream to endure propositioned past times beautiful women, but if it’s non a normal occurrence for you, in addition to thence it’s in all probability a scam.
Travel Scammers Suck!
The truth is that no thing how prepared yous intend yous are, you’ll eventually autumn for some sort of go scam. But don’t permit this deter yous from traveling the world. Think of it equally a rite of passage.
Sure, it’s embarrassing to endure tricked out of your money, but at that spot are e'er worse things that could happen. It’s exactly a learning experience. At to the lowest degree that’s how I expect at it! ★
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to assist yous start packing for your trip. Pick upward a go backpack, photographic idiot box camera gear, in addition to other useful go accessories.
Book Your Flight
Book inexpensive flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to uncovering deals. Also read my tips for how I uncovering the cheapest flights.
Rent Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a keen site for comparison automobile prices to uncovering the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking inexpensive hotels.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget go insurance! I’m a large fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than nigh why yous should e'er acquit go insurance.
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Have whatever questions nigh go scams? Have yous ever been a victim? Drop me a message inward the comments below!
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