Common Travel Scams Around the World
When
on holiday, the last thing you want to happen is to be scammed. However,
realistically you are the easiest target for scammers as you are new to the
area and disorientated. The best way to avoid being scammed is to be prepared,
so we have created a guide containing some of the most common scams worldwide.
Airport Taxi Fee Scam
In
some Asian countries it is normal to pay the airport taxi fee when taking a
taxi. However watch out for this scam!
How to avoid this: make sure you check how much it should cost to pay to leave the airport. If they try this trick get out of the taxi as it is likely that they will have also rigged their meter. Also, make sure you take a picture of their license plate and identity photos before you get in.
Taxi Meter Scam
Usually,
in Asian countries it is cheaper to use the taxi meter. However, be careful of
this scam.
The Scam: When you have finished your journey, the taxi driver will turn off the meter and try to charge you any price, or purposely read the meter wrong e.g. making 2.00 into 200.
The Scam: When you have finished your journey, the taxi driver will turn off the meter and try to charge you any price, or purposely read the meter wrong e.g. making 2.00 into 200.
How to avoid this:
make sure you are watching the meter; take a quick picture if you can. Then,
argue. Refuse to pay the higher amount. Lie and tell them you don´t have it if
you have to. Stand your ground, even if they seem intimidating, remember,
this is all part of the scam. Also, make sure you take a picture of their license
plate and identity photos before you get in, as this will hopefully put them
off scamming you.
The Distraction Scam
The Scam: Whilst walking down a street, people will try and distract you by asking for directions or trying to sell you things persistently. During the confusion, they or another person working with them will pick pocket you.
How to avoid this:
Keep your belongings in a fanny pack or money belt under your clothes (with a
reinforced belt so as not to be cut by knives) and keep your hand on it whilst
talking to them. Try and stay calm and tell them firmly to go away. Watch out
for people trying to brush past you.
The Motorbike Scam
The Scam: When renting a motorbike in places like Thailand, they will often ask you to leave your passport with them as a deposit. They will then give you a faulty bike and when you come back telling them that it is faulty, they will accuse you of breaking it and ask you to pay for the repairs before they will give you your passport back.
´Helpful´People Scam
The Scam: A person will start to do a seemingly helpful but little task for you, such as helping with your luggage, taking a photo of you or even washing your hands for you. They will then demand payment for it aggressively, even though you didn´t ask for it in the first place.
Aggressive Sales People
The Scam: People trying to sell you things on the street will follow you for ages, continuously trying to sell you things, until you give in.
How to avoid this: it may seem rude in your own culture, but be really firm with them. Tell them no like you mean it, very firmly. Don´t be polite.
Pretty Females Scam
Homestay Scam
The Motorbike Scam
The Scam: When renting a motorbike in places like Thailand, they will often ask you to leave your passport with them as a deposit. They will then give you a faulty bike and when you come back telling them that it is faulty, they will accuse you of breaking it and ask you to pay for the repairs before they will give you your passport back.
How to avoid this:
take detailed pictures of the bike before, and inspect it for damage. Also,
consider researching places to hire a motorbike where you don´t need to leave
your passport.
´Helpful´People Scam
The Scam: A person will start to do a seemingly helpful but little task for you, such as helping with your luggage, taking a photo of you or even washing your hands for you. They will then demand payment for it aggressively, even though you didn´t ask for it in the first place.
How to avoid this: do
things yourself! No matter how helpful someone may seem, they could have an
exterior motive. If you do get yourself into this situation, refuse to pay and
be just as firm about it as they are being pushy.
Aggressive Sales People
The Scam: People trying to sell you things on the street will follow you for ages, continuously trying to sell you things, until you give in.
How to avoid this: it may seem rude in your own culture, but be really firm with them. Tell them no like you mean it, very firmly. Don´t be polite.
Pretty Females Scam
The Scam: A pretty female local
will come up to you and start flirting with you and then invite you to a bar
later where she will get you to pay for lots of drinks. The drinks will
naturally be very expensive.
How to avoid this: be
cautious of good looking females taking you to bars and making you buy drinks.
Don´t get too drunk and always check the price of drinks before!
Rushing
The Scam: Be it rushing you into
a taxi or rushing you to buy something, as a rule of thumb if somebody is
rushing you, they are probably trying to scam you .
How to avoid this: First
of all stay calm. You don´t have to buy anything, and you can always say no.
Usually walking away is the best option.
Homestay Scam
The Scam: You´ll book to stay
in a homestay somewhere and they´ll want you to pay them in cash weekly, but
not provide you with a receipt. Then, when you leave, they´ll insist that you
haven´t paid for one of the weeks, and you will have no proof to say otherwise
and will have to pay.
How to avoid this:
always get receipts and book homestays through reputable organizations.
Written by: Olivia Taylor-Firth
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