Eight travel scams to avoid

Tourists are already out of their element. Away from home and trying to make your way around a country, where perhaps you don’t even speak the language, it’s easy to become prey for the worst elements of society.  Around the world, scammers have developed some pretty simple, yet effective scams, that people fall for time and again. Here is the list of the eight most common so you can avoid becoming a victim on your next holiday.

Fake Police

This is a two-part scam that begins with someone trying to encourage you to do something that is either illegal or at the very least might be. Usually, a stranger will approach you offering to sell you drugs. If you accept then a few metres down the road you will be approached by a “suspicious policeman” who wants you to hand over your passport and allow them to search you. When they find the illegal stash you can expect to be asked for a bribe, sometimes for as much as R10 000.

Fortunately, this is an easy scam to avoid, simply never do anything illegal. If police are telling you that something you did was against the law, but you aren’t sure, then ask them if they mind if you phone their station. Ask to see identification and never hand over your passport. If you tell them your passport is at your hotel, and ask them to come with you there, and they refuse, you should just walk away.

The attraction has an upgrade

Standing in the road discussing your next stop you will be approached by a stranger who will strike up a conversation about your travels. When you tell him where you are planning on going next things can take one of two different directions. Either he will say that the attraction you want to visit is closed for that day, or he will tell you that he knows of a better one somewhere else. Looking for a famous gallery, or restaurant? He knows of one that is so much better, cheaper and it has nicer food.

Once you are in his car you can expect to be driven around to a variety of destinations like factories, shops and restaurants that are all owned by his friend, and he will only take you home once you have bought something at each one. Sometimes he will take you to an attraction that just happens to cost twice as much, or to a ticket seller for a place that actually has no tickets necessary to enter it.

Avoid this scam by simply sticking to your guns. Refuse the advice of “helpful strangers” and instead hail a different cab. If you discover that you have fallen for this trick, it’s not rude or impossible to simple work away at the first stop, hail a real taxi and get to your original destination.

Let’s go for a drink

Standing on the street the traveller is approached by a friendly local. Are you lost? Do you need help? They will strike up a conversation that will often end in an invite to lunch, or a drink at a local bar nearby. Once inside the conversation may appear to be genuine as the beers flow, but sooner or later the host will get up and go to the bathroom. That’s when the waiter will come over with a bill for several thousand Rand, and it’s only then that the traveller notices the burly bouncers guarding the door. This scam has many varieties, sometimes men are targetted by flirtatious women, and occasionally it’s a live show they are selling.

Sometimes they don’t even have to take you to a new location for a friendly stranger to suddenly seem very menacing. In Europe, it’s very common for people to offer free friendship bracelets, Rosemary or other gifts only to suddenly become very angry when you don’t give them money. People pay up to avoid public embarrassment.

This one is easy to avoid too. Never forget what your mother told you and don’t trust strangers. Unless you have approached them it’s always better to avoid taking up any offers they may have.

Group photo

Everyone knows that tourists love photos, even scammers. This scam begins when a group is approached by a stranger who offers to take a photo for them with the whole group. It’s a tempting offer that should be resisted because as soon as they have your expensive camera in hand, and you are backed away a few metres, they take off into the crowd never to be seen again.

If you want a group photo rather ask a fellow tourist.

The diversion

Probably one of the scams with the most entertainment value for those being robbed “the diversion” is any situation in which a gang sets up a scene that people might stare at. Police in Southern Europe have in the past warned people of incidents in which a young, attractive woman is seen arguing loudly with a shopkeeper who insists she shoplifted from him. She then starts taking off her clothes to prove she isn’t hiding anything. By the time she is in her underwear, the shopkeeper is very apologetic and everyone goes on their way, and the people in the crowd realise they have been pickpocketed.

This scam has a number of different versions where travellers are approached by a gang of wide-eyed children who want them to sign a petition, or they have food or drink dropped on them by a very apologetic stranger who is wiping them down, while also wiping them out.

These distractions can take many forms, from someone having a seizure to street magicians and a crazed preacher. As soon as there is a large public disturbance, pay extra attention to your valuables.

Fake Wi-Fi

These days being without the internet can feel like you have lost an arm, so it will come as no surprise to find out that many people will happily connect to any public, unsecured Wi-Fi. Scammers use this to their advantage, setting up free Wi-Fi that also gives them access to the tourist’s computer where they can get important info like credit card details, pin numbers and passwords.

Buy a local sim and get that connected to the internet if you want to go online. It’s safer and can save you a lot of money in the long run. If you must use WI-Fi always ask the hotel, or restaurant, which is their official connection and don’t just jump onto one that is named after the establishment.

Rental damage

This one is particularly popular in South East Asia where scooters are common. The scammer rents scooters as per usual, only when you leave you are followed by their accomplices who either steal or damage the scooter when you park it. Upon returning you discover that the damage repairs are excessive and you are trapped into a contract to pay them. Sometimes you will be accused of causing damage you know was there beforehand.

When you rent a scooter be sure to take extra good care of it. Park it off the street, or leave someone to guard it if you run into a shop. Before you rent it take photos of the whole vehicle and let the owner see that you are doing that. This way you will have a record of any damage that was there before you picked it up.

The wake-up call

You are sound asleep in your hotel room when the phone rings. Sleepily you answer it, and the polite lady at the front desk apologises for disturbing you, but says her boss needs her to confirm your credit card details. You do so and only discover the next morning that the polite lady had nothing to do with the hotel and you have now lost thousands in credit.

Never give your credit card details to anyone over the phone or in a place where you don’t fully trust what’s going on – even if you are half asleep.

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