The Travel Scams You Should Know About and How to Avoid Them

Some people are always looking out for opportunities to take advantage of others. Most of the tourists are considered easy targets. The problem with most tourists is that they think they are too smart to be scammed. Travel scams can, however, happen to anyone, and being aware of the different techniques used is essential. This guide on travel security is all about the common travel scams and ways to avoid them. Enjoy!

The Travel Scams You Should Know About and How to Avoid Them

Taxi scams

Scams are all over starting from the airport. As you travel abroad, you should know the different techniques taxi drivers use to con others. For instance, some of the scam artists often pose as taxi drivers to con tourists. They look for tourists in desperate need of a taxi at a hotel or airport then offer you a ride.

Once you get into the vehicle, the cab driver may take you to an area that is deserted and rob you of your belongings or even assault you. Though this might seem scary, it has happened to a lot of tourists in different countries. You can avoid it by ensuring that you check the car details before getting in. The car number of an official taxi should be well displayed on the outside.

Apart from that, some taxi drivers inform passengers of a broken meter once you leave the airport. This may be a scam to charge you an outrageous price. You can avoid this by negotiating the price of the ride before you get into the vehicle. 

Confirm that the meter is in perfect condition before you accept the ride. You should also listen to your instincts when traveling. If you don't feel comfortable around the cab driver, then look for another taxi since not everyone is a scammer. Travel security begins with you.

  

Closed or overbooked hotel

This is also another scam that is also associated with cab drivers. As the taxi driver takes you to your hotel, they may inform you that it is either overbooked or closed. They can then offer you an alternative option, which is more expensive than you had planned for. From this scam, the cab driver may get a fat commission for directing you to an expensive hotel.

You don't have to overspend because of such lies. To avoid this scam, ensure that you are in communication with your desired hotel and enquire if it still open before taking the cab. If the cab driver tries to insist that it is overbooked, you can tell them that you already booked a spot at the hotel.

Free bracelets

Female travelers are known to admire all kinds of things, especially in local markets. As you tour a local destination, a friendly person might approach you and offer to place a free bracelet on your wrist. Once you accept the offer, they may start asking for money, and if you start arguing with them, they can embarrass you in public. If you are keen on secure traveling, then you know that accepting things from strangers can mess you up. Ignoring such a person can seem rude, but it can save you from a bad situation.

Spills on your outfit

Pickpockets are all over the globe, and they tend to use this technique to get away with your wallet. A person may pretend to help you wipe off some mess on your outfit. This is a simple strategy to get close to you and pluck your wallet as you focus on the mess. You can easily avoid being robbed by not accepting any help from a stranger. Instead. Excuse yourself and look for a restroom where you clean the mess yourself.

Fake police

Not every man that wears a uniform claiming to be the police is legit. Understanding the fake police scam is how to stay safe when traveling. In this case, a person may approach you and offer to sell you something illegal, such as drugs. During the conversation, another person in uniform may show up with flashing badges trying to arrest you for breaking the law. They can ask for your wallet and passport while talking in harsh tones. Such people are not necessarily real police officers.

You should never give away your passport or wallet before you confirm someone's identification. If you get yourself in such a situation, inform them that you have to call the police office for you to confirm their identity. If they show signs of hesitation, then it is a scam.

A closed tourist attraction

One of the things that most tourists do while visiting different attractions is talking to locals. A local may inform you that the tourist attraction you intend to visit is closed due to a holiday or ceremony taking place in the area. They may even offer to guide you to another tourist attraction where you have to pay a high entry fee.

Do not always believe everything that a stranger says without confirming. Proceed to the tourist attraction you wanted to visit and confirm if it is indeed closed. You can even seek a second or third opinion from others.

The ATM helper

Most of the scammers are always looking for ways to steal money from tourists. You should, therefore, be aware of the ATM helper scam. This involves someone approaching you as you use an ATM machine and requests to help you avoid incurring local bank fees. Such a person could be looking to scan your card using a skimmer hidden in their pockets. They will wait for you to key in your pin number then use this information to empty your bank account.

You should never be a victim of such a scam. Do not let anyone assist you as you make an ATM transaction. Ensure that you use one of your hands to cover the number pad as you enter your pin. If you realize someone approaching you at an ATM machine and you are not comfortable around them, consider making the transaction somewhere else.