Common Scams and how to avoid them!
This is a lengthy post, but given the topic, it warranted keeping it all in the one place.
Be aware, Stay Safe!
I want to tell you about some of the most common scams you will encounter when travelling.
As they saying goes "The more you know!".
Avoiding Scams when travelling requires common sense and a healthy dose of cynicism.
Here we will look into the most common scams and how they work, and how to avoid them.
Remember: If it seems too good to be true, it likelt is!
This short video shows how it works, and why you will lose.
Three Card Monte
One of the oldest and most blatant scams. You will see this one almost everywhere, including here in the UK.
You see people playing a card game/hiding a ball in a cup/Hiding a pea under three shells on the street and someone guessing where it is (and allegedly winning money). It is also known as Three Card Shuffle or follow the lady. Then you decide to play... DONT.
Not playing is the only way to win. The Odds are NEVER in your favour. Its all slight of hand...also why its done as a magic trick!
Taxi Scams
There is a LOT to unpack here, so bear with us!
These are the most common Taxi Scams we have encountered. Some are more applicable to certian regions of the world, so we have called these out where they are region specific.
As a rule, to avoid any of the below, we recommend using a fixed fare taxi service, such as Uber or Bolt. That way you see the end fare up front, as well as the app prescribed route that they should be taking.
Even if they take a slightly different route, at the end of the day, the fare will be the same one you agreed to upfront when you booked the journey. Plus, these journeys are paid for via the app, and avoids having to using cash and the occasional "Sorry, I have no change" trick.
[Tip: It's worth asking the reception staff in your hotel or hostel for the name of reputable local taxi companies, and a rough indication of what the fares should be to key locations (Eg: The Airport or City Centre)].
The Newbie in town
This one is a classic. It happens the world over, even here at home. Taxi Drivers hear a non-local accent/see a foreigner and take you on a much longer route than necessary to let the meter clock up.
In an age of Smartphones, you should use a route planning app like Google Maps to check out what the most efficient route is and say to the driver / Point to the map to get them back on track. [Tip: Download the Offline version of Google Maps for your destinations in advance - Your GPS still works even if you dont have a phone signal!] If they continue on the longer route, get them to stop and get out.
We normally only pay them the fare value to the point that they deviated from the normal route and started their magical mystery tour. Solo travellers may instead want to pay the fair upo to the point you told them to stop.
The Meter is Broken
Another classic. "Oh the meter is broken, but from experience the fare will be...", or they try to negotiate a rate/prove with you... No. Just No. Get out of the car and find another one that agrees to put the meter on.
Another take on this, is when your journey starts and the meter seems to be increasing too quickly, or at a different rate to what was there when you got in the car. Again, ask the driver to stop, pay what you "Owe" and get out. Wait until the they drive off, then wave down another taxi.
Unlicensed Taxis
You should NEVER take an unlicensed taxi, even if the rate/price is amazing.
Make sure that every taxi you get into has the relevant Licence / Driver ID / Badge/Medallion Number.
Note: Not all Uber/Bolt Drivers will have these, as the rules around drivers for these services varies from country to country - But you will have all of the Drivers & Car Details via the app. But you should check the local requirements for your destination before you travel.
Many cities/tourism boards have a facility to let you report bad taxi drivers, so make sure to always take a note of their ID number when you get in the cab. This is also really useful in the event that you forget/leave something in the car!
Your Hotel/Hostel is Closed
Yet another common one. The driver tells you that your Hotel or Hostel is overbooked or closed (has been for weeks/months etc), and offers to take you to an alternative.
It's obviously not - You booked it, and received a booking confirmation after all. Our recommendation is to ignore them and insist that they take you to your booked accommodation (In the deeply unlikely event that they Hostel/Hostel is overbooked - Thats on them to find you and alternative, and pay for your transportation there!).
If they keey trying to convince you, continue to insist that they take you to your Accommodation. In our experience they usually give up pretty quickly.
Pretending you didn't give them the right Money / Slight of Hand
Picture it: You arrive in a sleepy foreign town late at night, after a very long bus Journey. You wave down a taxi to take you to your accommodation. The journey there is fine, and you take out a bank note that will more than cover the fare on the meter i Then the driver turns around and waves a smaller value note than you handed over demanding more money... The driver is pretending you gave them a smaller denomination note than you actually did.
We recommend avoiding this situation by paying for the ride, when the driver is standing right in front of you - There are significantly fewer places to hide they money you handed over when you are both outside of the vehicle!
The Extra "0" Scam (South America & Southern Africa)
In some countries in Asia (Turkey), Africa (Zimbabwe & Sudan) and South America (particularly in Venezuela, Argentina) where hyperinflation is rampant, prices are hard to keep track of.
At the time of writing this blog (30 Dec 2024), 1000 Argentine pesos are worth £0.77 (€0.93 / US$0.97), meanning that meals and taxi rides can run into tens of thousands of pesos, so doing a quick conversion to your home currency on the fly can be difficult.
The extra "0" scam happens when someone adds an extra zero onto the amount entered into the card machine hoping you dont notice - The end result being that you end up paying ten times the actual price.
In Taxis - If planning to pay by card, Keep an eye on the meter price, and check that the number entered on the card machine matches the meter price before you enter/tap your card!
The Bus isn't coming... (South America)
In South America, a common one we have come across, escpecially in smaller and more rural towns, is people being told that the bus they are waiting for isn't coming - Usually by Taxi drivers - Resulting in a much more expensive journey for you! Stand your ground.
A word to the wise - even asking in the bus station, you will likely be told that the bus isnt coming - This is because they are also trying to sell you much more expensive bus tickets from their own company to the one you were planning to take/Booked on!
Wearables Scams
This covers pretty much anything they can put on you!
Including bit not limited to:
- Bracelets
- Rings
- Bindis
- Henna
- Animals
In central touristy areas, if someone approaches me when I am alone, I am usually quite happy to have a chat, if somewhat cynical (Meeting people, especially locals is part of the fun of travelling). Its usually always the super touristy spots where street vendors are a plenty, pushing various toys, souvenirs, local trinkets and the like. As a rule - Don’t allow anyone to put anything on your body, and be extremely wary of accepting anything for free! If they put something on you, just take it off and give it back to them. Be firm about it.
Then walk away. They won’t chase/follow you.
The Bracelet / Ring Scam
This one seems to be pretty universal, having encountered it in Europe, Asia, South America and the Indian sub-continent and Africa.
The scam goes: A random person walks up to you (If you are male, it will usually be a Woman / If your female, it will usually be a Man) and start a general conversation “Hello, here are you from? Are you enjoying [Insert Town/City Here]” As you engaged in conversation, they gently take your hand and slide a bracelet onto your wrist with a surprisingly tight knot (Or in some cases solder these on if it is a metal bracelet) or slide a ring that is clearly too small onto your finger. They then ask you for (or in some cases DEMAND) money for it... and are prone to making a scene when you don't cough up.
Remain Calm. Remain Civil. Stand your ground! Simply tell them you don't want and didn't ask for the bracelet, and that you are not willing to/have no intention of paying for it. Three outcomes are probably here.
- You get a free bracelet
- They remove the bracelet, and you both go about your business
- They continue their insistence that you pay... Then comes the ballistic options:
- Offer to walk with them to the nearest Police officer to resolve the situation (They really don't like this, and outcome 1 or 2 will happen).
- If you feel in unsafe or in danger, do not hesitate to shout/call out for the police! (They REALLY don't like this and will usually run off leaving you alone.) If this does happen, either wait for, or find a local Police officer, tell them what happened, and give them a description of the person.
The Henna Scam
This one is particularly prevalent in North Africa (Morocco - especially Marrakech / Algeria / Tunisia), and the Indian sub-continent.
The “Henna Scam” tends to be concentrated around busy market places and Medina's and is generally perpetrated by women. "The Henna ladies". While they usually target women, men are not immune to this either.
A female friend I was travelling with had her wrist grabbed tightly by a large woman with her henna pen in hand. Instead of trying to negotiate or lure her over to her (decidedly unsafe looking) chair, she struggled to ink her hand before she (my friend) could shake loose (Quite the effort in its own right).
My friend is a tall but slight, strong, independent, no-nonsense, type... Calls a spade a spade, and as required, "A F**king Shovel!" - If she wanted henna, it would be on her own terms, and in a henna café — never via being grabbed by some random on the street. Say NO and Stop Loudly and repeatedly. The fact that you are trying to wrestle your arm free, coupled with the verbal instructions of NO and Stop make it clear to anyone around (including any local police) that this is happening against your will.
The scam completes when these ladies start to paint and call for the police to claim you are a thief if you don't pay for their work and try to walk away, North Africa have special tourist police officers looking out for the safety of foreigners (Morocco & Algeria take the safety of foreigners VERY seriously). If the henna women don't calm down and let you leave, call out for for them. The Henna ladies soon pipe down and walk away - as you can technically have them done for assault.
The Bindi Scam
This one is more prevalent on the Indian sub-continent, predominantly in Hindu cultures. Lost of people practice this scam - from enterprising young girls around yoga retreats to Hindu & Hari Krishna monks. Monks were by far the largest proportion I encountered in India.
They generally approach you in the street, often appearing out of doorways where you didn't see them, and before you know it, you have a Bindi (Red powdered dot) on your forehead. This is usually accompanied by a handshake, at which point a red woollen bracelet is tied around your wrist.
This is one of the less nefarious scams, and they are usually painfully polite. They will generally ask you for a donation of between 50 - 500 rupees (£0.50-£5), although some cheeky buggers try to hit you up for 1000R (£10).
100R, 200R & 500R notes are fairly common, so its not a value you are going to have to go looking for.
On the plus side, once you have a bindi, you are safe from being targeted for the rest of the day.
Animals
Another common one the world over. Be it snake charmers, monkey handlers, snakes or parrots, you can encounter these guys in almost every major city, again usually in tourist hotspots. Wile usually they are very friendly, once the animal is on you, they will expect some form of payment, more so if they take your picture, or you ask for a picture with it.
The best approach approach for dealing with these guys is to avoid them and a Firm NO as they start to approach. In my case, being deathly afraid of snakes, I usually notice snake charmers and people wielding snakes a mile away and will run a mile if they get too close!
The Powder / Mustard / Dirt on bags/clothing Pickpocket Scam
This one seems to be fairly universal and follows a standard theme - There is something on you (Powder / dirt / a foul smelling substance), and someone offers you assistance to clean it off.
The Scam:
Someone throws a powder or foul smelling substance on you (Talcum / Mustard powder / a foul smelling substance (Including mustard)) onto your jacket, bag, trouser leg or shoes without you noticing.
Someone then calls to you, or taps your arm/shoulder to inform you of the presence of the stain/substance and offers to help you clean it off, or offers you a tissue to do it yourself.
While you are distracted/flustered trying to clean the powder/substance off your belongings, they pick your pockets. In some instances they will ask you to take off your bag/backpack so that they can help you clean it.
What to do:
- Try to appear unconcerned / unbothered.
- Never accept assistance from a stranger to help you clean up.
- Never even accept the tissue the offer you.
- Listen to what they are asking you to do (Eg: Take off your bag so I can help you clean it) -it gives you clues as to what they are after. Backpackers often carry valuables and electronics in rucksacks and backpacks. Never comply with the request.
- Head to the nearest Mall / Coffee Shop / McDonalds or Subway/Metro station - Somewhere patrolled by security - before getting cleaned up.
All Things Money, Currency Conversion & Payments
Again, a few things to unpack here, so we have broken it into sections.
This is an important topic, as it can materially impact your finances for the rest of your trip, and potentially your finances long afterwards.
ATM Skimming
Sometimes when you go to use an ATM, a “helpful” local will approach you and offer to help you avoid ATM fees... What they are actually doing is taking you to an ATM using a card skimmer to steal your debit and credit card information. There is often a second person nearby / in line pretending to be a customer who will agree with the “helpful” person and their suggestions.
To avoid this one, always use ATMs indoors. Either inside a bank branch, an enclosed ATM Vestibule or the ATM inside hotels. Additionally, always check the ATM itself for a card skimmer.
Here is a short video explain how to spot an ATM with a card skimmer and what to look for.
[Macy's flagship store in NYC had a massive issue with this a couple of years ago! Just because it is a big name brand/store doesn't always mean you can trust the people that work there!]
Card Cloning
Similar to the card skimmer scam, there is of some staff in stores and restaurants cloning your card - This is to say, making a copy of your debit or credit card. This short video shows how alarmingly easy this is to do.
To avoid this, never hand over your card to let them move it under the counter or take it away to the card terminal.
Fake Currency Scams
So this one is fairly common in developing countries.
In cities where there are a lot of currency exchanges near popular tourist attractions, someone may come up to you and ask if you want to change some money [RED FLAG 1]. They’ll offer you a fantastic rate and say they don’t charge commission. They might even tell you they work for an exchange place nearby (They may even have some sort of name tag on). The money they show you is real and they will show you all the ways it’s NOT counterfeit... [RED FLAG 2].
Once you exchange some however, you’ll discover that some of the notes (usually in the middle of pile) are fake — And by that time the person is gone.
As a rule, if it sounds too good to be true, it is. So stick to reputable currency shops and banks, and use your currency conversion app (See the Recommended Apps section) to validate the exchange rate [It wont always be like for like - As the Margin on currency conversion is low, and the stores/banks need to make a small profit], but it will also help you look around for the places offering the best rates..
To avoid getting ripped off , be wary when it comes to people offering you something in a touristy hotspot.
Think of it this way: If you were made an offer like this at home, would you do it? If your answer is NO, its likely a scam to be avoided.
Paying by Card - The Extra "0" Scam (South America & Southern Africa)
In some countries in Asia (Turkey), Africa (Zimbabwe & Sudan) and South America (particularly in Venezuela, Argentina) where hyperinflation is rampant, prices are hard to keep track of.
At the time of writing this blog (30 Dec 2024), 1000 Argentine pesos are worth £0.77 (€0.93 / US$0.97), meaning that meals and taxi rides can run into tens of thousands of pesos, especially for groups, so doing a quick conversion to your home currency on the fly can be difficult.
The extra "0" scam happens when someone (Waiter / Store Clerk / Taxi driver) adds an extra zero onto the amount entered on the card machine hoping you don't notice - The end result being that you end up paying ten times the actual price.
In Restaurants & Shops - Manually total the bill before you pay, so you know what the amount on the card machine should be. Check the amount before you Tap/Swipe/Put your card in the machine. If the amount is wrong say to the waiter/store clerk (They are usually very apologetic) and have them change it [Sometimes you do have to give them the benefit of the doubt - As these currencies have a lot of 0's and we all make mistakes!]. It may be worth while mentioning to the manager on your way out though... just in case its a recurring theme.
In Taxis - Keep an eye on the meter price, and check that the number entered on the card machine matches the meter price before you enter/tap your card! If the amount is wrong say to the driver (They are usually very apologetic) and have them change it.
Invited for Tea / Chai
Common in North Africa, Turkey, Arabia & the Indian sub-continent & countries that pride themselves on their hospitality.
This scam has many formats, but all involve accompanying them to their nearby shop/place of business.
A friendly (sometimes excessively so) local approaches you and invites you to visit their store for Tea.
Or a friendly local hears you talking and strikes up a conversation. They ask you where you are from, and as luck would have it, they know someone there and would like your help writing them a letter or a postcard, and invite you back to their shop for tea,
The Scam:
Once in their shop, they provide you with free tea / local sweets / fresh food. Once you have finished your tea, they start with the high pressure sales tactics - as as after all, they have shown you hospitality!
These stores are usually for relatively high value items (Rugs, Marble, Local Art), where the lowest prices item converts to the equivalent of £100's if not £1000's of pounds.
What to do if you find yourself in this situation:
- Politely, but FIRMLY decline their offers - even to browse
- Make your way towards the exit as quickly as possible and leave (Don't stop to browse other stores nearby!)
- If they comment on you having accepted their hospitality - offer them a cursory fee for the tea & snacks (No more than the local equivalent of £5! - Unless you got carried away and had a 3 course meal, in which case offer a max of £20!) - Just leave it on a counter and leave
- If you ever feel unsafe, either approach a local Police officer for assistance, or jump in a taxi to make your escape
How to Avoid:
- Politely but FIRMLY decline their offer. Never hurts to thank them for the offer though - It costs nothing to be polite
- If they are persistent - Again FIRMLY Decline. You can tell them you are late to meet your friends, or you have tickets booked for a local attraction and walk away (Especially if travelling Solo).
- Put some distance between you and them - Even if it involves walking back into an attraction you have already visited - they wont follow you in (as these places always have security or Police officers nearby)
- If you ever feel unsafe, either approach a local Police officer for assistance, or jump in a taxi to make your escape
This scam is much less common with rental cars, but it does still happen. So always take photos and video of your car before you leave the car park — and make sure the company knows you’re doing so (Warning them for later). If they object, ask why. If they cant explain, walk away.
Motorbike / Scooter Scams
Particularly common in South East Asia and other developing regions of the world.
So. Your travelling, living your best life and you decide to rent a motorbike and spend the day exploring.
The Scam:
When you bring it back, the owner demands an additional payment or expensive repairs because there is some damage you didn’t know about.
Sometimes, they will have asked you to leave your passport as collateral instead of a deposit “since it’s easier." [RED FLAG]. Then, when they inspect the motorbike afterward they “find” new damage, resulting in you having to fork over a lot of money because they’re holding your passport hostage.
To avoid this:
- Take photos of the bike first to document any previous damage.
- Go around it with the owner so they know what you are taking pictures of
- Show them your passport, and then leave a photocopy of it with them rather than your actual passport (Make sure to get it back when you are done)
- Where possible, use your own lock, and keep the bike out of sight and off of main street when you park [Sometimes an owner will send someone to mess with the bike or steal it so you have to pay!]
- Always make sure you buy travel insurance before your trip so you can make a claim if there is an issue (And especially in case of accidents!)
The "Flirty" Locals
So you've arrived in a new country and head to a bar - totally normal, especially after a long day of exploring.
A beautiful local comes up to you for a chat. You can’t believe your luck. You have some drinks and conversation and go to another bar or club that they have suggested.
After a great night and a LOT of drinks, the person disappears and you’re forced to pay a HUGE bill with some really large locals/bouncers bearing down on you to make sure you do so [Or worse, you get drugged and wake up completely robbed of everything you had on you].
The simplest solution to this is to be wary of attractive locals who promise to take you to the world’s best club, get you drinks, or are overly flirtatious (especially when you stand out like a sore thumb as a foreigner).
Remember: Just because you are in a different country, you didnt become more attractive!
Also: Especially in South East Asia - What you see isn't always what you get... The "Ladyboys of Bangkok" show exists for a reason!
Another thing to be aware of is that when attractive locals are sitting by themselves at a bar (Regardless of location) they might be ‘working’ [i.e. a sex worker].
It’s important not to get into an uncomfortable position where you may have misread the “chemistry” for what it really is: a business transaction requiring payment...
Your Attraction is "Closed for Lunch"
This one happens the world over.
A friendly local comes up to you and informs you that the attraction/site you want to visit is closed for any number of reasons (Eg: Religious Ceremony, Lunch, Holiday, etc.).
They will then guide you to a different attraction or shop, where you’re pressured in to purchasing something or end up paying an overpriced entry fee.
To avoid this:
- Check the attractions website or google maps for Opening times and the days it may be closed (They are almost ALWAYS available online
- Before you head to the attraction, look up the location of the main entrance or ticket counter and go and have a look for yourself
- You should also remember that most attractions don’t close for lunch — they close for the day!
- Look up the entry price for nearby attractions online in advance, especially if you planned to visit them later!
The Lost Items Scam
This is one of the most common and universal scams, is for strangers to approach foreigners and ask if they have dropped something.
An innocent looking stranger will find a ring, piece of jewellery or wallet “on the ground” and ask if it is yours.
When you decline/say its not yours, they will insist and finally offer you the item because it will make a nice gift or because it will look good on you.
Do not accept the item or anything else you are offered. If you accept it, the scammers will likely beg you for money. Additionally, they may have an accomplice steal your wallet while you’re distracted by the person who approached you.
This is very common in Europe, particularly Paris, Rome & Prague.
Fake Police
This is particularly prevalent in southern South America.
A well-known scam in South America, particularly well known in Bolivia, is the “fake policeman” scam.
The Scam:
Typically targeting tourists, operates in the following way.
An accomplice of the fake police officer will make contact with you, often in the guise of being a fellow tourist either asking for or offering help.
The two of you will then be approached by an individual claiming to be a plain-clothes/undercover policeman.
The “policemen” will ask to see your passports. The accomplice will comply and may advise you to do the same, claiming that it has happened to him before.
DO NOT HAND OVER YOUR PASSPORT! If you do, the pair will make off with it and any other valuables they have managed to coax out of you.
There are a number of variations of this which aim to increase the success of the robbery, and things you need to be aware of:
- You and your belongings may be searched and any valuables stolen [RED FLAG]
- You may be asked to accompany the pair to the police station in a taxi [RED FLAG], which enables them to more easily rob you
- You may be forced to an ATM to take out money for the robbers.
- Especially in areas around transport terminals, the accomplice may offer to share a taxi with you [RED FLAG]. A policeman then stops the taxi and asks you to get out, the taxi driver (also in on the scam) drives off with your luggage
- There may be more than one accomplice [Be Aware of your surroundings]
- The fake cop may produce a (fake) badge in an attempt to appear more authentic
Other Important Factors to Remember:
- They ask to Search you/your belonging: Police do not conduct searches in the street
- They ask you to accompany them in a Taxi to the Police Station: When have you ever known any Police Officer in any police force to use a Taxi while on Duty?
- A Police officer stops a taxi someone suggested you share: When have you ever known a Police officer to randomly stop a taxi with Tourists in it?
- You are approached by a seemingly Solo Police Officer: No police force in the world operate individually! If they are genuine, there will be a minimum of 2, and in South America they tend to operate in Groups of 3 or more, especially if they are walking about/'on the beat'
- Police Officers in South America as a rule will generally never approach Tourists - They are too important to the Countries Economy
- Undercover police officers typically never approach or interact with tourists (Unless you have actually committed a crime)
What to Do:
If approached by a someone claiming to be a police officer:
- Do NOT hand them your documentation or any valuables
- Instead ask for your embassy to be contacted, or request that the police officer has a marked police car come to take you to the station
- If you can walk away (to somewhere safe), do so – that alone can be enough to deter the scammers.
- Avoid getting into taxi shares with, or following, people you have just met
- You should also avoid looking too “touristy” by keeping your valuables hidden and walking purposefully (At least try to look like you know where you are going!)
- Travelling in groups will further reduce your risk of being targeted
- Occasionally you may encounter a legitimate policeman wishing to see your documentation. They will typically persist if you refuse to show your documentation or kick up a fuss, unlike thieves who will be more likely to run away
- It is a good idea to carry a photocopy of your passport and visa stamp that you can show instead of your real documents.
- If you suspect it may be a legitimate policeman, they will probably comply if you ask to go into a nearby shop or bank where you can have a local confirm the policeman’s authenticity. Be careful not to 'Challenge' the “policeman” until you are convinced they are bogus or you could find yourself being charged with assault!
- Also consider programming the numbers of the local police and your embassy into your phone. Calling, or pretending to call them may be enough to deter the attackers.
The likelihood that you’ll be targeted by the fake police scam is low. Most tourists encounter no problems during their travels. Just be aware that it can occur, particularly in tourist hot spots and transport hubs.
Short Changed
This happens in countries where the bank notes all look similar to each other (Colour / Size - The USA is a prime example).
People (Us included) tend to look at the colours first, so when you get a pile of change that is the same colour, you may think you got the right change — but they have actually given you smaller denomination notes, hoping you won’t notice until after you're gone.
To avoid this, Always count your change every time!
"The Switch"
Another common one which happens all over the world. Most commonly with shirts, carpets, rugs, and antiques.
You’re in a shop and you see a designer item at an amazingly low price.
Maybe they got it wholesale? After some haggling, the owner agrees to sell it to you... and while you aren't looking, they gives you a knockoff.
To avoid this scam, remember that no designer item is ever going to be that cheap, and if it looks real and is still cheap, Its a Fake.
Second, be sure to always watch what you are actually being given to be sure it’s the exact item you wanted.
For example, if you purchase a rug in India for shipping - They make a point of having you Initial the back of it in marker pen and packaging it up in front of you, so that you know you are getting the same item.
The Fake Petition
This is one we have encountered all over the world, both in Europe & further afield.
You’re at a popular tourist location and a woman or kid (often pretending to be deaf or a student), armed with a clipboard will try to get you to sign a petition.
You don’t know what they are saying, and to end the awkwardness, you sign the petition, hoping they will go away - BUT the petitioner then demands a cash donation.
At best, anyone who falls for this scam is out some money; at worst, you're pickpocketed while fighting with the petitioner.
To avoid this scam, just ignore people coming up to you asking you to sign a petition, especially when they are in groups and try to surround you. Keep Walking!
Children & Injured Beggers
This scam can be found pretty much everywhere, but particularly in developing countries and countries that have had a Civil War (Even decades after the fact).
The Scam:
An injured person or young child (sometimes with their mother) will approach you and ask for money. This is a tricky one, because you’ll generally feel compelled to help, (especially in countries with a more substantial level of poverty than your own).
A lot of children have, unfortunately, been roped into gangs to collect money on their behalf.
Sometimes, an accomplice is waiting nearby to see where you keep your wallet so they can pickpocket you later - so keep your wits about you!
Since it’s impossible to know who is legit and who is faking it, I generally never give money to injured beggars or children other than small value coins.
If you do feel like you want to help, make a donation to a local charity or offer them food.
Fake Wifi Hub
A new one, but its getting worse. In a hyper-connected world, where everyone is on the lookout for free WiFi, a common scam hackers will do is create a free unlocked WiFi hub.
Once you connect to it, they steal your data.
The solution?
Never join any unsecured networks and always use a VPN when you’re abroad. Better still, travel with your own WIFI Hotspot to avoid wasting time being a WIFI hunter!
It will keep your data secure. Additionally, don’t access any sensitive data while on an unsecured network, such as your online bank.
If you’re not sure what network to connect to, ask the staff. Better safe than sorry!
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