It is tempting to believe that, as travelers, we are wise enough to avoid being taken advantage of by travel scammers. But the reality is, it happens to the best of us; one way or the other, we’ve been scammed!
Scams like this abound throughout the world, from getting overcharged on cab trips to unintentionally disclosing credit card information.
While it is difficult to predict when you may be scammed, it is crucial to understand what types of travel scams exist and what to do for travel safety if a situation develops. So that is why this article looks at the common travel scams and how to avoid them. Let’s dig into it and get wiser.
Here is a list of 18 Common Travel Scams and How to Avoid them
This list of common travel scams and how to avoid them will make it easy to spot any signs of fraud and avoid unpalatable situations.
1. Taxi scams
Taxi scams are on our list of common travel scams because many taxi scams occur worldwide. The most common taxi scam involves the driver taking the scenic route to your destination. If they believe you are not a tourist, they may even ask you which route you want them to take. This is a widespread occurrence.
Other drivers will zero out their meters as soon as they stop, and they will charge you more. Another taxi scam involves “forgetting” one of your belongings in the trunk. This is possible if you have many people and a lot of luggage.
How to avoid taxi scam
Here are some ways to avoid taxi scams; Before hailing a cab, figure out how long the trip will take and the best route. If you need to take a cab from the airport or another location, head to the official taxi stand or office before leaving the airport.
Also, keep an eye on the meter while driving to prevent overcharging. It is crucial to make sure you are present when they are loading or unloading your bags and that the trunk is empty before they pull away.
2. Street Beggars
Street beggars are more typical in larger cities but are becoming increasingly widespread in smaller and mid-sized cities. People on the street will approach you and ask for money.
If you give them $1, they may attempt to convince you to provide them with more. If you refuse, they may harass you until you give up.
Some of these beggars will also have some great sob tales. Anyone may claim to be a soldier or homeless. Still, whatever their narrative is, it will almost certainly tug at your heartstrings. You’ll get immune to the sob stories when you witness ten or more such stories.
This is when you know why it’s essential to find out how to avoid scams and fraud while traveling.
How to avoid this scam
Undoubtedly, ‘street begging’ is a common travel scam worldwide. Let’s find out how to avoid it.
The best thing you can do is keep going and avoid engaging with them when they approach you. It’s up to you what you do, but tourists shouldn’t offer to buy them food or a ticket rather than outright giving someone cash.
3. Transportation Scams
Transportation Scams are common in train and bus stations. In this case, someone will approach you and beg you for money to purchase a train ticket.
They’ll claim they’re stuck and want to get home. They will claim they only need a few more bucks to obtain the ticket.
Transportation Scams are likely to be seen on road journeys as well. Someone at a rest area may claim to have run out of gas and want money to refuel their vehicle.
How to avoid this scam
If you genuinely want to assist or rescue them, offer to accompany them to the ticket booth and pay for the ticket or buy them petrol.
4. Fake Parking Attendant
This is another fraud you may encounter in larger cities, and that’s why we couldn’t skip this on our list of common travel scams and how to avoid them.
Yes, there are numerous sites where you must pay to park, particularly in cities or at huge events. But then, someone might approach you and offer to “monitor” your car for a few dollars. The concern is that if you don’t pay them for this security “service,” they may steal your car or damage it.
How to avoid this scam
To prevent this scam, you need to refuse to be pushed by these con artists. Ignore them as you look for the parking attendant’s office. Now, that’s how to avoid scams and fraud while traveling.
5. Rental Car Scams
Rental Car Scams are also relatively frequent. Some rental companies purposefully wreck automobiles to charge consumers excessive fees for the damage.
This is usually not the case with large automobile rental companies like Enterprise, Alamo, Hertz, etc. However, if you hire from an unknown automobile rental company, you never know who is conspiring to take your money.
How to avoid this scam
If you wish to know how to avoid scams and fraud while traveling, you should pay keen attention to these points, especially this.
If you rent a car, complete a thorough examination with the rental agent before driving away from the lot. Mark everything you see so you don’t get charged for it when you return the car.
You may also take images or videos of the automobile to demonstrate its acquired condition.
6. Photography Scams
The “professional photographer” fraud is common at many prominent tourist destinations, which is why it’s included in this list of the most common travel scams and how to avoid them. This is something that is seen a lot in Vegas.
Someone will approach you while waiting for your Instagram snap and offer to take your picture for a charge. They’ll say all kinds of things and can do all sorts of things to make you seem better than usual.
Of course, this does not apply to fellow visitors taking photographs. Only look out for those who ask to be paid to take your picture.
How to avoid this scam.
The best way to stay safe from this travel scam is to resist the temptation and ignore them. You can shoot your pictures with your camera or phone or ask a friend who tagged along.
7. WiFi Scams
Make sure you connect to the correct network while using the WiFi when staying at a hotel. To fool hotel visitors into registering into their network instead, some con artists would create a rogue network with a name quite close to the hotel’s name.
They have access to all your information once you connect to this other network, including any accounts you have open, any credit card information that you may be associated with, and other data of this nature.
How to avoid this scam
Ask the hotel staff for the proper network ID and password. Be wary; any website asking for a second sign-in needs to be more trustworthy.
8. “Spills On Your Clothing” scam
A common occurrence in Europe is for tourists to feel something plop on their shoulders while going down the street. This is either bird feces or a fast-food sauce. Then, without you knowing, a kind stranger comes over and starts to clean up the undesirable mess while stealing your money from your pocket or bag.
How to avoid this scam
In cases like this, refusing assistance is the appropriate course of action. Go to the bathroom and tidy up the mess there instead. Knowing how to avoid scams and fraud while traveling is very important.
9. Group photo offers
While visiting a well-known tourist destination, a friendly local will offer to snap photographs of you and your family or friends. As you anticipate making new experiences and preparing to pose for your latest Instagram picture.
As you revel in the enthusiasm, you suddenly discover that the “pleasant” local has vanished with your pricey phone or camera amid the excitement and acting appropriately to shoot the picture.
How to avoid this scam
Situations like these occur in popular and busy tourist areas. If you must take photographs, the best thing to do is to approach other visitors and gently ask them to photograph you. You might offer to repay the favor. If you bring a tripod, you may pack it up and utilize it.
10. Fake Police Officers
The “Fake Police Officers” scam is one of the most common frauds in significant cities in the United States and Mexico. On occasion, a random individual will approach an unwary visitor and offer to sell illegal products such as narcotics.
While speaking, one or two persons may come in the guise of police officers, displaying phony badges and pressuring the unwary tourist to take over their cash and travel papers.
Breaking news! They’re just regular residents dressed up as cops; this is sadly one of the most common travel scams.
How to avoid this scam
Never provide your wallet or essential papers to anybody. Insist that you will contact the police for confirmation when they are forced to show you their identity.
You might insist they follow you to your hotel room and inform them that you left them there. It will be apparent that they are not police officers if they outright reject them.
11. Random Fake Hotel Calls
You would receive a call from the front desk while staying at the hotel to validate your credit card information either in the middle of the night or at a very inconvenient time.
It’s not the hotel receptionist; instead, it’s a con artist who wants to use the information you gave him over the phone to clone your card dubiously.
In general, you shouldn’t reveal any information about your bank to anyone.
How to avoid this scam
Keep your credit card information private from everybody. If perhaps, a call comes in, state that you’ll be at the front desk in the morning, and if they phone again, do not answer.
12. ‘Friendly’ ATM Holders
The Friendly ATM scam can’t be left out of our mentions of the common travel scams and how to avoid them because it’s pretty tricky.
These scammers typically congregate near the ATM. Ironically, one plays the bystander, who appears to be alerting the other to a problem with the ATM.
So you, the unassuming foreigner, physically approach and are given the necessary assistance by the person volunteering to help. However, you aren’t aware that your information is being copied into a skimmer.
How to avoid this scam
One good way is to keep off overcrowded ATM kiosks or block the next person from viewing your pin when entering it. Suppose the person behind you is uncomfortably near.
In that case, you may take your card and go to a less busy ATM kiosk, or if you’re patient enough, wait for everyone to finish.
13. Overcharging scam
Surrounding the airports are unlicensed drivers. Drivers often add unreasonable fare demands for passengers. They use the least direct approach to dubiously open up a way to charge extra. Any of these are methods a chauffeur can trick you into while you’re out and about.
How to avoid this scam
Always request a legal taxi, or even better, hail one from a designated rank. Just venture outside and seek out a willing individual. When they object, state your destination clearly and with firmness.
14. The Bar Scam
As soon as you land in a new nation or city, you eagerly explore and enjoy the local nightlife by drinking at the neighborhood bar.
As the night wears on and the drinks flow, you lose awareness of your surroundings. A “friendly” local approaches you and attempts to initiate a conversation.
Eventually, you learn that the local has vanished, leaving you with an outrageous bar tab or, worse still, nothing in your wallet.
How to avoid this scam
To avoid this kind of scam, you need to oversee your drink and restrain your drinking to a reasonable amount so that you can remain alert at all times. Also, never open a bar tab; only pay for your consumption.
15. Free bracelets and Fake Souvenirs
When you approach a “friendly local,” either a guy or a woman, they will pretend to be interested in you and have a pleasant conversation before offering you a free bracelet or a souvenir as a warm welcome gesture.
Upon your acceptance, they start to demand payment; if you decline, they shout and cause a commotion. Most of the time, female travelers will be the target of this fraud.
How to avoid this scam
Do not let anybody put anything on your body. -Be skeptical of anything free and only accepts if there is a legitimate cause. This is more likely to happen in famous tourist areas. Ignore them and go on your way.
16. Over-booked Or Closed Hotels
This type of scam is prevalent among cab drivers. As you are being driven to your hotel, the driver will attempt to subtly strike up a conversation to exploit your hotel’s location. He will trick you into thinking the hotel is closed or overbooked to transfer you to a more expensive hotel where he will earn a sizable commission.
How to avoid this scam
To ensure that your hotel is open and that there is lodging, call ahead and ask. Likewise, to schedule a pickup, first ask if they provide shuttle services.
Remember to request that the driver take you to the hotel even if he disparages it or attempts to convince you that it is overcrowded or unsatisfactory. You could convince him that you have a reservation even if you don’t.
17. Fake Tickets
“fake tickets” are one of the most famous frauds. A local will offer you an airline, rail, or bus ticket and fool you with the promise of saving time or bypassing the line if you pay a higher fee.
Unfortunately, by the time you realize the tickets are phony, it is too late, and the crooks have already taken your money.
How to avoid this scam
Buy your tickets from the official box office or, better yet, the official website.
18. Wrong Change
Making payments with cash is a safe choice for people concerned about having their credit cards stolen or compromised. However, even possessing money has its issues, especially in nations with similar currencies.
Scammers tend to sneak in some lower-value banknotes and purposefully hand you the wrong amount of change.
How to avoid this scam
If using a big bill is required, state out loud how much you’ve paid and let them know you anticipate a change in return. Also, get used to the local currencies by learning about them, and always count your change to ensure that it is accurate.
Final Thoughts
No matter where you go in the globe, you will come across fraudsters trying to steal your money or one of your essential belongings. This should not discourage you from planning a trip to travel the world. These suggestions are helpful and assist you in recognizing when you are being scammed and how to avoid travel scams and frauds.
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