According to a report by the UK's Daily Mail on February 9, 2015, compared to the past, travel has become easier and more popular. Like moths to a flame, however, scammers take advantage of this opportunity to target affluent, uninformed vacationers or passersby with full wallets.
Every year, scammers swindle tips from foreign tourists, or worse, put them in dangerous situations where they become victims of crime. To prevent this, we
Although this is by no means a warning against traveling, being well-prepared and guarding against scammers who gain your trust, cunning locals, and credit card thieves still requires vigilance.
Together with Peter John—the author of "80 Scams Around the World: An Essential Travel Guide"—we take a look at some common tricks and learn how to avoid them.
Fake Hotel Wake-up Call Scam
A study by UK-based Cheapflights on common travel scams found that hotel guests are often tricked by fake wake-up calls. A call comes in late at night, and the caller claims to be from the hotel front desk.
The scammer claims that their internal computer system has crashed and they need your credit card information again. In reality, they are a criminal gang using smuggled phones to carry out the scam.
Half-asleep, you may unknowingly provide the requested information, which the scammers then use to drain your credit card account. This type of scam is particularly common in Georgia, USA.
Prevention: Refuse to provide any information, hang up the phone, immediately inform hotel staff, and contact the police.
Airline Ticket Refund Scam
Beware of cheap airline tickets and refund schemes.
Peter John says: “Scammers post advertisements for supposedly free airline ticket refunds on websites like Gumtree.com. They sell you the ticket for cash, then refund the original payment to their own credit card.”
You end up with nothing; the scammer gets the refunded money as well as your cash.
Prevention: Purchase tickets directly from airlines or through reputable websites.
Fake Takeaway Menu Scam
No matter how hungry you are or how late it is, beware of fake menus. After checking into a hotel, a takeaway menu might be slipped under your door.
If you order from it, you’re likely not to receive any food. But the person on the other end of the line will have your credit card information and will charge your card.
Prevention: Eat at local restaurants or ask the hotel for room service.
Gem Scam
A simple but effective scam: scammers sell tourists cheap gemstones, telling them they can sell them back home or turn them into a pair of earrings or a bracelet to make money. These gemstones are actually worthless lead glass.
Peter John said: “This is extremely common in East Asia and India. Several Malaysians complain every year about the Thai gem scam. In 2009, a Malaysian man and his family were taken to a Thai jewelry shop where the manager claimed it was the last day of selling at low prices. The manager solemnly stated that because it was wholesale business, the store usually didn’t sell to tourists. The shop had an ‘ISO 9001’ certification sign posted outside to deceive tourists into buying gems. They spent 130,000 Thai baht (about 30,000 RMB) on two pendants, a ring, and a pair of earrings (4,000 USD/2,500 EUR). When they returned to Malaysia to have the gems appraised, they discovered the gems were fake. They had been treated with beryllium to alter their color and were actually worthless.”
Precaution: Do your homework and never buy extremely cheap gemstones.
Airport security scam
When you’re approaching the security checkpoint, someone with keys in their pocket will loiter around you. The scammer will block your way and pretend to “forget” to empty their pockets, causing the alarm to go off.
While the chaos ensues and you’re delayed, an accomplice quickly steals your laptop, phone, wallet, or other valuables from the conveyor belt.
The Kenyan police have issued a warning about this scam on their official website, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has also mentioned it.
Precaution: Keep an eye on your belongings before going through security and watch them as they go into the machine.
Distracted robbery
When criminals rob you, the scammers aim to distract you. For example, a woman carrying what looks like a baby—usually just a doll or bundle of clothes—approaches you for money. She may ask you to hold or beg you to hold him/her/it for a while.
By the time you get rid of her, you notice that your money has been stolen by her accomplice. Peter John says, “People can be distracted in many ways—having mustard, ketchup, or tomato sauce sprayed on their clothes, or being asked for directions.”
Precaution: Walk away to avoid distractions.
Slow money counting
This scam is common in Europe but can happen anywhere. Once you pay for a ticket, souvenir, or some street food, the cashier will slowly give you your change. Impatient, you take the change and walk away happily, only to realize they didn’t give you enough money.
Precaution: Be patient and wait.
Injured beggar
Peter John warns: “Begging gangs beg tourists for generosity. Beggars pretend to be injured to solicit donations; this is especially common in India, South America, and Southeast Asia.”
Sometimes the injuries are real, and the backstory is heartbreaking. In 2008, Pakistani police arrested a begging gang. An eight-year-old boy told them that one of the gang leaders had broken his arm.
He and his companions were placed in good begging spots and ordered to beg. The gang leaders controlled the money collected and would let the children live as long as they kept begging.
Precaution: Give the children food instead of money.
Greedy police
Peter said, "The police pretend to think that tourists have broken the law and demand bribes. Unfortunately, such greedy police are everywhere."
Something like this happened in northern Mexico. On the way to the U.S. border, a police officer had other people stop the tourists, approached them, and started a conversation.
The police found a pocketknife on the tourist and demanded a fine of $30 (€19). The fine was negotiated down to $10 (€6.50) and the knife was confiscated. There are thousands of similar stories, but unfortunately, you can do nothing about it except stay at home.
Preventive measures: be compliant, control your temper, and try to find your own way out of the situation.
Rosemary seller
Beware of sweet-looking women who offer you a sprig of rosemary, claiming it's a symbol of friendship. Next thing you know, they'll be holding your hand and reading your fortune.
Once you accept the rosemary or let them start talking, they’ll demand money from you in return—louder and louder—until you feel so embarrassed that you pay and run away. Be wary of similar scams in Madrid and New Delhi.
Preventive measures: quickly walk away in the opposite direction.