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TRAVEL SCAMS10

t o A v o i d

The lost-and-found ring

Fake petition + donation

Free bracelet

When it’s your first time stepping foot into a new country, it’s easy to fall prey to tourist scams. To avoid becoming a victim, keep an eye out on these top 10 travel scams around the world.

When it’s your first time stepping foot into a new country, it’s easy to fall prey to tourist scams. To avoid becoming a victim, keep an eye out on these top 10 travel scams around the world.

Super common in Europe, watch out for overly-friendly sellers who simply place a ‘free’ bracelet on your wrist and then demand for money. When you refuse to pay, they’ll cause a scene! So, never allow them to put anything on you; or just give it back to them and walk away.

Popular in Paris, be wary of an innocent person ‘finding’ a gold ring on the ground and then promptly asking if it’s yours. After proving its gold ‘authenticity’, the finder will try selling it to you at a cheaper price while you get the ring to resell back home. In reality, the ring is merely made of brass that’s not worth much.

Don’t fall prey to these friendly services cos they do come with a cost! A local may offer to help you carry your heavy suitcases to the cab / hotel, then request for a fee in exchange for their service, which you didn’t ask for. Some may even ‘help’ you take a group photo and then flee away with the camera!

At a tourist site, either a woman and a child or a blind/deaf/mute person will approach you and ask you to sign a petition, which involves donating an amount of cash. Simply say you are out of cash!

DONATEPLEASE

Carrying luggage serviceor group photo offer

10COMMON TRAVEL SCAMST O A VO I D

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The spill trick

This happens in Asia and pretty much everywhere else. The taxi driver will tell you that the meter is broken, and thus overcharge your trip at an over-the-top price! Hence, always do your research and find out the average rate depending on where you’re going.

While in your cab ride, the driver may tell you that your hotel or destination is currently overbooked or closed for business, and thus, bring you to a new place that’s open – also because the driver will be getting a commission out of it!

Whether in India or Cambodia, there are a number of women carrying their babies or even just kids roaming the streets and asking tourists for instant cash donation. If you want to donate, pass your money to an official charity instead.

Common in Southeast Asia, the bike you’ve rented may suffer some unforeseen damage or even be stolen overnight. As such, you’ll be forced to make an additional payment to cover this ‘loss’!

Another common scam in Europe, someone will randomly spill something on you – be it water or condiments – and proceed to apologise and profusely wipe off the stain. Simultaneously, they’ll pick-pocket you as they clean up the mess!

Similarly, a stranger might ‘accidentally’ bump into you while walking or stand too close to you in the subway. Chances are, they’ll swiftly grab your valuables before you even notice, so be very alert!

Bump and grab

Closed hotel/attraction

Women with baby or child beggar

Bike rental damage

Broken taxi meter

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