Introduction
Tourists often find themselves in situations where they are being ripped off or scammed. The tourist scam is one of the most common scams in the world. It is an easy way to make money for crooks and works well.
Unfortunately, tourists are often confused by the language and culture of a new place, and they are unaware of all the scams. Don’t let this happen to you!
The tourist scam can take many forms. Some involve someone offering something at a discount or even free, only for you to be asked for more money later in the transaction or after receiving it. There are many ways other ways that this can happen:
The old shell game
The shell game is a scam in which somebody thinks they’ve won something, but it’s just a distraction so that the scammer can take your money. An object is placed under one of three identical shells in its simplest form. The scammer then asks you to guess under which shell they’ve hidden the winning item.
The idea is that they will shuffle quickly, and you will lose track, so your guess will be random and thus likely to be wrong. Still, if it happens to be correct, then the “winning” shell may have nothing under it.
While this can be a legitimate street game, scammers often use sleight of hand or some other trick to ensure you lose. For example, sometimes, they will use one or more shills from the audience who work together to convince others of the game’s legitimacy. Alternatively, they may allow you to win once or twice before convincing you to bet a more significant amount.
Courier Scams
Couriers are being used to scam people out of their cash. The fraudsters will send an email or otherwise tell a victim that they have won a prize in a competition. The catch is that they must pay a courier company to collect their reward by paying up front for the package or by card when the courier arrives.
The courier then takes the money and leaves without handing over any prize, if they come at all.
Some scammers even send bogus invoices from courier companies demanding payment for services that have never happened. They may also send fake tracking numbers, so it appears as though there is a genuine delivery in progress.
Credit Card Fraud
Credit card fraud is a common scam in popular tourist destinations. A thief steals a credit card and uses it to buy things or withdraw money from an ATM. This theft can happen on the beach, in bars, or even in your hotel room. The thief may either use sleight-of-hand techniques or pick up your wallet when you’re not looking. Some people may consider getting a new card with a low limit and cancel it once they’ve returned home.
However, suppose your card is used fraudulently while traveling abroad. In that case, Credit card issuers will be able to help you even if you didn’t report the theft when it immediately happened. Always keep an eye on your valuables and report anything lost as soon as possible to minimize harm.
Fake police
The scammers will approach you and ask for your passport. They may say it’s a routine check and could claim to be police officers.
Once they have your attention and confidence, they’ll tell you there’s been some confusion with your passport. Such as maybe another tourist was using it. Then the phony authorities will need to take it from you to figure out what happened.
The fake cops will then excuse why they can’t return your documents immediately. Perhaps they will claim that there are issues at the station and need to take it from you.
Passports can be very valuable to criminals. But, of course, police will rarely want your passport for real. Still, suppose, for some reason, real police insist on taking it. Then, it would be best if you insisted on going to the police station and collecting a document for temporary identification.
Something is wrong if they insist on taking your document and refuse to accompany you to the police station. In that case, you should immediately call the real police as soon as you can safely report the situation.
Your nearest embassy or consulate abroad can assist you if your passport is stolen or lost. Make sure to report as soon as possible; they will help you figure out what to do next.
Distraction theft
When thieves see an opportunity to take your property, they will often use a distraction to get you to look away. This distraction can be anything from a child appearing and asking for money to having someone drop something nearby and then ask for help picking it up.
The key here is awareness: keep an eye on your surroundings. To give you an idea, someone may sneak up behind you and pick your wallet out of your pocket while you are distracted.
Suppose someone has successfully distracted you with one hand while stealing with another (or even snatching your wallet). In that case, there’s no shame in admitting that it happened as soon as you can contact the authorities to track down the person who took advantage of your lack of awareness.
Petty theft is common in most cities and tourist destinations. Often they are overwhelmed by similar cases or may be uninterested in looking. So don’t be surprised if the police cannot help you unless you provide clear evidence. For example, “find my iPhone” on a stolen iPhone and showing them the location will get you the best results, assuming the criminals haven’t wiped the device yet. So remember, be quick.
Conclusion
Remember, it’s always preferable to be safe than sorry and be prepared. If you think something isn’t right, trust your gut and move on. Don’t let people take advantage of you or your money. If you’re looking for a good deal on your next trip, check out the airlines’ websites or search for promotions online.
