Common Travel Scams to Watch Out For
The Taxi Scams: Taxi driver says that the meter is broken or it goes faster than it should, and you end up paying an exorbitant bill. Check with the hotel to see what a ride to a location should cost, so you can offer that amount to a broken metered driver or find another driver.
Hotel Swap: Another scam they run is to tell you that your hotel is overbooked, closed, or just a bad location, and then they’ll try to take you to one where they can get a commission. Tell them you plan to go to where you are booked regardless of what they say or find another driver.
Something Free: Do not let anyone put a bracelet, necklace, flower, ANYTHING on your person. Once they do, they will demand money and create a scene hoping you will pay just to get them away from you.
The Distraction: This usually involves some kind of spill or someone telling you there is something on you (even feces on your shoe!). They may try to help you or get you to take off your bag to tend to it. In the meantime, you’re being pickpocketed or your bag is being taken.
Damaged Vehicles: If you rent any kind of motorbike, jetski, etc., take photographs before with the owner present, so they know you are doing it, and point out any damage. If it is a bike, use your own lock and park it out of sight when you aren’t with the bike. When you bring the bike back, scammers will try to say you have damage that you don’t and expect you to pay.
Flirtatious or Friendly Local: If someone is extremely friendly or promises you to show you around the area, be very wary. You may end up stuck with a high bill or worse, drugged and robbed.
Sign our Petition: If someone wants you to sign a petition, don’t. Just walk away. They may pester you for a donation or rob you while arguing about the donation.
If it’s too good to be true: If anyone offers you a really great bargain on something valuable, it’s probably not valuable, or it will be switched to something not valuable.
Free Wi-Fi: Be careful and always use a VPN when abroad. An open wifi is an opportunity to steal your data. Ask staff at your hotel for what wifi to connect to.
Children Begging: You feel bad and give them money, then they or others see where you keep your money to make it easier to pickpocket you.
ATM Scams: Sometimes scammers will put a skimmer on an ATM to steal your card information. Sometimes there is something sticky to hold the card in the machine. Always use ATMs from reputable banks, and if your card gets stuck in a machine go into the bank with the ATM and if you lose the card, call your bank immediately.
Fake Officials: Do NOT hand over your travel documents to an official. You may not get them back without payment.
Your travel agent can research common scams for a particular area and help ensure that you are ready!
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