Common Tourist Scams and How to Protect Yourself
As travellers venture into new and exciting destinations, they are met with an array of captivating experiences, wonders and adventures. However, their unfamiliarity with local customs, prices and languages can make them vulnerable targets of unscrupulous scammers, out to take advantage of travellers using one of the many common tourist scams that exist around the world.
Some scams may see you pay a little (or a lot) more than you normally would whilst others may see perpetrators become aggressive as they try to hassle you into parting with your money. Don’t let the thought of being scammed put you off travelling though – most travellers never actually come across a scam and simply being aware of common scams around the world will put you in good stead to avoid certain situations entirely.
In this article, we explore some of the most common tourist scams and how you can protect yourself from ending up out of pocket. I’ll equip you with essential insights and practical tips on how to stay one step ahead of those looking to exploit explorers.
The Photo Opportunity
What may seem like a kind offer of a great photo opportunity can turn out to be quite costly. Of course, someone who is taking a photo for you may suddenly disappear without handing your device back to you but more commonly, the scammer may suddenly demand money from you.
In Vietnam, you may see someone holding their traditional wicker baskets on a stick (a yoke) but after taking a photo of you holding said yoke, they will then force you to buy overpriced fruit.
Similarly, across the world, people with exotic animals or those wearing traditional costumes may invite you to take a ‘free’ photo before charging you for it.
In Italy, beware of people offering to take photos of you in front of iconic buildings – even if you are happy with the agreed price for 1 photo, they may take 10 before quickly sending them to you and demanding payment for all of them.
The Taxi Overcharge
Possibly the most common of tourist scams is the taxi overcharge. An unscrupulous driver may take a longer route than necessary or pretend to be lost in order to inflate the fare. There have even been some examples of taxi meters being rigged so that the fare increases faster than it should. Whilst many countries are cracking down on such drivers, the practice is still relatively common in some countries.
To avoid falling foul of this common scam, use a taxi app such as Uber, Grab or Bolt – do some research about your destination(s), download the app(s) and add your card details before you leave your home country. After taking a journey, you can usually then check the route taken and raise any concerns with the app provider.
Pickpocketing
Perhaps this isn’t just a common tourist scam as it isn’t only tourists who fall foul of pickpocketers, especially in busy cities. In fact, in some places, criminals use bikes and scooters to get close to someone before quickly grabbing their phone out of their hands.
Aside from being careful about using your devices in public, keeping your bag in front of you and avoiding displays of wealth, being aware of a few common distraction techniques may help you to avoid becoming a victim of pickpockets:
- Unsolicited interactions – if someone stops you to ask for directions, to compliment you on your outfit or otherwise to engage in an unsolicited conversation, make sure you take note of your belongings. Some pickpockets are expert at whipping away a watch without you even realising and so you may want to keep your distance and be aware of others who may be lurking around you.
- Street games – not only can street games be rigged (despite some accomplises appearing to ‘win’) but there may be others in the crowd who are waiting to pickpocket those who are distracted by the games.
- Spillages – whether it is a passerby who spills something on you, or bird poop which has suddenly appeared on your clothing, do not let someone help you in such situations. Keep walking and clean yourself up so that they don’t have an excuse to come into your personal space.
- Petition requests – if you are asked to sign a petition, be aware that it may simply be a distraction tactic.
The Unofficial Helper
Whether it is offering to guide you around a site, or simply carrying your luggage up a long flight of stairs, scammers may initially seem like they are just being helpful, only to them demand exorbitant fees. Similarly, a local may tell you that a nearby attraction is closed due to a public holiday or some renovations and offer to take you to an alternative site. If you accept, there is a chance that they will take you to a shop or restaurant where you will be pressured and overcharged. If someone insists on helping you, firmly decline and continue on your own.
Fake Tickets and Souvenirs
When visiting famous attractions or events, beware of anyone selling counterfeit tickets or overpriced souvenirs. Make sure you are dealing with authorised sellers, such as official ticket booths or websites. Remember, if something seems to good to be true, it probably is!
The Menu Switch
I think we have all been in a situation where we have ordered a few too many dishes or drinks only to realise that the bill has come to more than we wanted to pay.
However, the common tourist scam I’m talking about is where items cost more than the prices advertised on the menu. Some bars and restaurants have two sets of menus – one set they bring you to order from and another with higher prices, which they bring if you challenge the suspiciously high bill. To avoid this, take a picture of the menu you order from, preferably in sight of the waiter.
The Free Bracelet
Another common tourist scam is where a friendly vendor will approach you with a ‘free’ bracelet or such like. Once the item is tied around your wrist, they then demand payment and can become aggressive. To protect yourself from this scam, keep a safe distance from anyone trying to give you free items. If they place it on your shoulder, simply brush it off and quickly walk away without looking back.
The Fake Ring
Whether someone pretends to find a ring and sell it to you for a low price, or pretends to be in desperate need of help and promises to return for the ring which they leave with you as a security for whatever help you feel compelled to give them, know this – the ring is fake and worthless.
Fake Charities and Monks
Real monks do not walk the streets asking for money in return for a bracelet and the promise of a prayer for you. Similarly, do not give money to people asking for donations for a charitable cause. Simply shake your head and wave them away.
Begging Children
In some countries you will come across children begging, particularly while you are sat at a restaurant table. This is a truely heartbreaking situation as you feel compelled to help them but remember this – their parents are nearby and putting them out onto the street after dirtying them up. Giving into their demands only encourages this behaviour, which is not fair on the children. If you believe there is a real issue in the area and want to help, find a (genuine) local charity and give them a donation.
Accommodation Scams
When renting accommodation, make sure to use reputable platforms, check for recent reviews and look at the property on Google Maps. In some cases, the property is yet to be built or was recently abandoned. Unfortunately, there may be no guaranteed way of avoiding this scam, as reviews might be fake. If you are particularly worried about this, choose to stay at well-known and long-established places. Also, if your hotel calls you before you arrive and asks for your credit card information, make sure to call the number on their website and verify with reception before handing over any financial details.
Conclusion
The majority of travellers don’t come across any of these common tourist scams but knowledge is power. Knowing some of the techniques which scammers use to try and take advantage of tourists will help you to recognise seemingly innocent situations which may turn out to be a scam. I would also recommend doing some more research on common tourist scams in your particular destination(s).
