Being scammed as a tourist is the one thing that can put a damper on any vacation. I’ve had it happen countless times in different countries, and it made me never want to come back to certain places. Luckily, I mastered avoiding scams with time!
Today, I want to share my experience so your precious time off can be scam-free.
In this guide, I group all major travel scams targeting tourists in countries around the world. For each scam, I’ll tell you whether it’s worldwide or region and country-specific, so you can pay special attention to those that apply to your potential destination!
In the end, I also provide tips on how to avoid getting tricked, but I’m sure that by reading the scams, you’ll already understand how to stay on the safe side!
1. Airport scams
Prevalence: Worldwide
The airport is one of the few places where I’m always both thrilled and annoyed. While being there gives off that cosmopolitan vibe, buying or using any service feels like a rip-off.
I mean, who hasn’t splurged $15 for a cup of coffee at an airport or paid way too much for a taxi ride?
Here are the 3 most common airport scams circulating in airports across the world.
Money exchange and ATM scams
Money exchange offices at airports have the worst currency exchanges! Definitely avoid exchanging money at the airport. If you must, use an ATM or pay for a ride using your credit card, and then exchange money once you’re in town.
Also, be careful with ATMs at airports (and in general). Only withdraw money from reputable banks and have a close look around the ATM for hidden cameras or hidden card skimmers. Reddit travelers report certain ATMs in Brazilian airports have a secret card skimmer that allows scammers to pull thousands of dollars from the victim’s bank account!
PRO TIP: Never accept “DCC” or Dynamic Currency Conversion if you see this offer at an ATM. This is a legal scam that charges insane conversion fees for withdrawing money in a different currency from the one used in the country.
SIM card scams
At the beginning of my travel adventures, I had this practice where I’d buy a SIM card if I stayed in the country for over a week. And, of course, what place is more convenient to do this than the airport?
Well, it turns out airports charge for these services way too much! I once paid $40 for a SIM card with 2 GB of data in Antalya’s airport, only to find the same plan for twice as cheap in town!
I honestly never went back to buying SIM cards for my travels after trying an eSIM. I like Airalo‘s flexible plans for single countries, region packages, and even global eSIMs that work worldwide! I tried their worldwide eSIM during my trip to Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan and absolutely loved it.
Taxi scams
Airport taxis are way overpriced! And while you can’t always get away with cheap rates, you can at least avoid absolute scams.
For starters, always ask if there’s an official taxi zone at the airport. Never accept taxi rides from assertive drivers right outside the terminal. If they jump in your face pushing you for a ride, they’re most likely scammers.
Use official ride-hailing apps or call a reputable taxi company to schedule your ride. Depending on the country, you may find different ride-hailing apps like Lyft (US, Canada), Uber (worldwide, US, Europe), Grab (Southeast Asia), Gett (UK, Israel), or others.
NOTE: In some cities, taxi drivers are at war with ride-hailing services and may tell you, for example, that Uber is “illegal” despite it working just fine in the country.
2. Car and motorbike rental scams
Prevalence: Worldwide
Renting a car or a motorbike is a great way to move around a new place, but there are so many “read between the lines” moments when it comes to the process that you need to be aware of!
Most car rental “scams” are directed at charging more money for the service, and these are the most common ones:
Hidden fees – make sure you get a complete price breakdown and read the fine print before signing an agreement. Companies often charge extra for additional drivers, fuel, insurance, etc.
Damage claim – the company can claim that you damaged the vehicle and ask for money for repair. Always take close inspection of the car the moment you pick it up and report any existent damage or scratches to the company official.
Fuel scam – many companies charge exorbitant prices if you return the car without a full tank. Always fill it up before returning the vehicle!
Other common scams include charging for services you didn’t use (GPS, child car seat), returning the car during off-hours, or the pressure to upgrade to a better car category from the one you booked.
3. Tuk-tuk and taxi scams
Prevalence: Southeast Asia, worldwide
Tuk-tuk drivers in most big Southeast Asian cities (but especially in Bangkok) are super scammy! They can take you to the wrong destination, tell you the place you want to visit is closed, or make stops along the way so you can shop in places where they act as sales reps.
A tuk-tuk driver in Uzbekistan once charged us five times more for a 5-minute ride than what we paid to get from the city to the airport on a taxi (a 30-minute ride).
Taxi drivers can also be very scammy towards tourists regardless of the location. Here are some common taxi scams to be aware of:
They refuse to turn on the meter, claiming it’s broken. The same goes for the money machine. If the meter is indeed broken, make sure to establish a price beforehand.
Overcharging for rides, especially from and to the airport.
Taking a longer route, circling around in streets. Tip: Always monitor your ride on the taxi app or Google Maps.
Once in Yerevan (Armenia), my husband paid for a taxi using an official taxi app. The driver told us there was an issue with the payment and that we should pay with cash. We did as he told us since my husband’s bank wouldn’t show the status of the payment right away.
Later that day, we saw that the money on the taxi app also went through. We basically paid for the ride twice! After complaining about it to our local friend, we found out that taxi drivers in Yerevan can be very scammy towards tourists.
Another time, during our trip to Bethlehem, we agreed with a taxi driver on a specific sum. He agreed to take us to nearby ruins and a restaurant, and the trip would take around two hours.
By the time we were done, he had asked for more money because “it took us longer,” but he was the one who kept insisting on showing us these extra things we never agreed upon in the first place. We paid what we agreed initially and basically ran away from him as he was becoming more and more aggressive.
Be strict with your drivers if you see they’re trying to scam you!
Subscribe here to get up to 35% off your accommodation for your next trip!4. Fake police officers
Prevalence: Latin America, the US
Beware of people dressing up as police officers in touristy areas. They may ask to see your documents and then require you to pay them money.
No government official or law enforcement officer will ask you for money without explanation or a written statement.
Scammers may also approach you and tell you that there’s an ongoing problem with counterfeit bills in the region, and they want to make sure yours are real.
Never give your cash or wallet to anyone, and double-check what the official law enforcement uniforms look like in the place you’re going to.
Even some taxi drivers in Latin America are known to pull the counterfeit bills trick on you and then exchange your money with fake ones.
5. Wi-Fi scams
Prevalence: Worldwide
A frequent Wi-Fi scam includes hackers creating a network similar to an official one (think hotel, airport, or restaurant) and stealing all your private data once you connect to it.
In truth, no public Wi-Fi network is secure, especially those at airports and other large public spaces. I always use a VPN (I like ExpressVPN) if I absolutely need to use public Wi-Fi.
However, the best way to avoid getting scammed via Wi-Fi is to use data on your own eSIM plan!
6. CD scams
Prevalence: Europe, US, Middle East
This is a common scam I’ve encountered in multiple European countries and in Israel, where I currently live.
I just recently had a suspicious person approach me in a Tel Aviv mall. He said I was exactly who he was looking for (I spoke English, not Hebrew) and that he was selling his music and wanted me to buy it.
His weird attitude, being too flattery, and just the overall vibe gave me the impression he wasn’t honest. I said I was not really interested in that type of music (some reggae stuff) and started asking questions about his wife (he also previously mentioned he works hard to sell CDs to support his pregnant wife). As soon as I mentioned the wife, he said he had to go and wished me all the best.
I later read online that there is indeed an ongoing CD scam in which “musicians” ask you to buy their music, and then you find a really poor audio recording on it. If you say you have nowhere to play the CD (this was also what I said to the guy), they say they’ll send you a link with the album so you can listen online.
So, just don’t buy CDs from random people on the street, and you’ll be good to go with this one!
7. Shoe shining scam
Prevalence: Turkey, North Africa, Southeast Asia (especially Vietnam)
This scam involves a person on the street who pushes you into shining your shoes. They say the service is free, but after they complete the job, they’ll ask you for a tip since they did such a good job.
In Turkey, they will throw the brush next to you “by accident”, and when you pick it up and hand it back to them, they offer a free shine as a thank you. Once they finish the shining, they start asking for money.
People report having these street shoe shiners insist they pay them money even though they wear sneakers! What nonsense!
8. Unofficial tour guides
Prevalence: Worldwide, around major attractions
Beware of tour guides who approach you while you’re visiting an important landmark. Any tour guide service booked on-spot will be more expensive than when you book in advance. But unofficial or pretend tour guides are just taking it to another level.
Apart from charging exorbitant prices, they’ll also take you to really expensive gift shops and then get a percentage of the money you spend there.
Some guides also trick you into thinking they offer the tour for free and then ask you for a donation after they’re done. They may also tell you an attraction is closed to the public, and only they can take you in privately.
9. Fake luxury products
Prevalence: Middle East, Southeast Asia, worldwide
Just a short note here: no street seller will ever sell legitimate expensive luxury products on the street! No Gucci, Armani, or D&G bag, wallet, or premium perfume street sellers sell is ever real.
I know this one is obvious, but sometimes, these sellers can be too pushy and try to convince you they got the luxury product at a special price. They don’t!
10. Restaurant scams
Prevalence: Worldwide
First of all, beware of restaurants in super touristy places! It took me multiple trips to Istanbul to realize that half of the restaurants in the city’s pedestrian streets are tourist-only and major scams. Just one block behind them, we discovered great places with cheap and delicious food where the locals eat.
Here’s how to spot a restaurant that targets tourists:
An aggressive man is standing in front of the restaurant, cajoling you to get in.
The menu is English-only but that’s not the language of the country.
There are no prices on the menu.
You’re told “not to worry” about prices.
Also, a scammy restaurant may charge you for stuff you never ordered. This one happened to me in numerous places in Greece. The waiter served bread (not ordered by anyone) right when we sat at the table, and we thought it was on the house as a welcome treat.
But then it cost an extra €6. When we tried to complain about it, the waiter said the bread had been there the whole time and that it was too late to take it back.
We also experienced a scam in which they added multiple drinks and salads to our receipts that we never ordered. When we complained about it, they issued a new bill. So always check what you’re paying for!
11. Flirting locals
Prevalence: China, Europe, worldwide
Here’s a major scam you’re likely to experience in China. It’s especially common for white men. A young lady approaches you on the street and asks you if you speak English. She says she is learning the language and is super happy to practice with you if you don’t mind.
Then, she’ll invite you to a café, which is often a tea ceremony, where you end up spending a lot of money.
This is the Chinese version of the scam, but in general, beware of anyone who approaches you on the street and starts flirting with you or showing too much affection for no reason.
Versions of the scam also include friendly locals eager to show you around and grab a drink, and then have you pay for it.
12. Photo scams
Prevalence: India, Middle East, worldwide
If you see a photographer approaching you with a professional camera and asking you for shots – they most likely will ask a fortune for it!
I read so many comments from tourists visiting Taj Mahal where a person approached them offering to take their photos “for only 100”, with the visitors thinking the offer was in rupees (Indian currency). In the end, the photographer asked for US$100! And so many visitors fall for it, not wanting to look bad.
NOTE ON INDIA: A similar scam in India involves a person saying a prayer for you and asking you to give them money for it. It is especially common around temples.
Photo scams are common worldwide, and they don’t always include professional photographers. Sometimes, a local may take your phone to take a picture and then refuse to give it back to you unless you pay them. I know people who have experienced this in Egypt.
13. Golden ring scam
Prevalence: Paris, France, Europe
This is one of the oldest tourist scams in Paris, but you may also find it across other cities in Europe. It involves a person approaching you on the street and asking if you lost a golden ring. They’ll give you the ring (even if you say that you haven’t lost it), but then as you take it, they’ll start asking for money.
This trick plays on your emotions as you feel guilty for taking the ring that’s not yours, so you’ll want to pay the person to not look bad. I always found this scam ridiculous and illogical, but the fact that it’s still common in Paris after decades of existence only tells me it actually works.
14. Petition scams
Prevalence: Paris, France, Europe
Another common scam across Paris and Europe involves fake donations and petitions.
Kind strangers approach you on the street saying they come from a specific organization that collects money for X and Y causes. They often say you’ll be donating gifts for charity, but, in reality, they just put the money in their pocket.
In Paris, just around the Eiffel Tower, they can be very aggressive and demanding if you already sign the donation but refuse to give the money. Just to be sure, never sign anything nor agree to any donations while traveling abroad unless they come from a reputable source (not from questionable people on the street).
15. Bracelet scam
Prevalence: Europe
In many big cities in Europe, someone can approach you and try to put a bracelet around your wrist. Don’t let them do it, or they’ll start asking for money!
I had a person approach me in Athens once trying to put a bracelet on me, but I sharply responded in Greek that I wasn’t interested, and they dropped it.
The bracelet thing is also a very common scam around the Eiffel Tower or in Montmartre, Paris. While I lived in the French capital, these scammers were a common sight in almost all big tourist spots.
16. Souvenir shop scams
Prevalence: Worldwide
Ah, souvenir shops. They’re naturally attractive to tourists because who doesn’t want a unique souvenir from a special place?
The problem with these shops is that they’re often overpriced and can have manipulative sellers.
Here are 5 tips to make sure you don’t spend more than you should here:
Avoid souvenir shops in central, touristy areas altogether.
But if you’re entering a heavily touristy area like an Old Town or a shopping street with stalls, never buy from the first store. They’re often the most expensive.
Don’t engage in conversation with sellers who clearly try to manipulate you. In the Middle East, they’ll often make up stories that relate to you for psychological pressure. Of course, you’ll feel guilty not buying stuff if you hear the seller has family living in your hometown or that he once saved a girl from your country when she was in trouble!
Have small money on you because in many stores, they’ll only accept cash and pretend they don’t have change if you hand them a large bill.
Buy water and snacks in mini markets, not in centrally-located stalls. Water and groceries are always more expensive in touristy areas. I was once charged US$6 for a water bottle in the Old City of Jerusalem, while the same water costs less than US$2 outside the walls.
Once, when I was in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, I entered a shop selling local products in the Old Town. I wanted to buy kurt (salty Uzbek cheese, a common snack in the country), and the lady asked US$25 for a pack of 4 kurts (1 kurt is really small, just slightly bigger than a grape). The printed label on the package (added by someone from the store) said US$12, and when I pointed that out, she acted as if she hadn’t heard me.
I just turned my back and left the store when I saw she was clearly trying to scam me. I later found the same kurt package in a regular mini market outside of the Old Town for less than $US2! What a rip-off, I couldn’t get over it for 2 days!
Also, it’s pretty common for gift shops not to have price tags, and you need to haggle for the price. I’ve encountered this in multiple places across Turkey and Central Asia, but apparently, it’s also a thing in big European cities. I’ve been in one souvenir shop in Uzbekistan long enough to hear how the seller calls different prices for the same product to different tourists, and my colleague Kathryn had the same experience in Barcelona.
17. Pickpocket scams
Prevalence: Worldwide
Pickpockets often work in groups and play their game really well. For example, they may spill something on you accidentally and then help you clean yourself while stealing your wallet or phone without you even noticing.
They also participate in games like the ball and cup game (more on it below) or pretend they’re police officers who need to check your bags.
Also, beware of anyone standing too close to you on public transport, and always keep your bag and belongings close to you. You can use a phone lanyard to make it more challenging to steal your phone!
18. Street ball-and-cup game
Prevalence: France, Spain, UK, Europe
This age-old cup game is one of the most annoying but also complex tricks in the scam book (next to the golden ring one). There’s a whole team of scammers involved: the game players, the audience (onlookers), and the pickpockets.
So basically, you run into a crowd playing a game where someone shuffles the cups with a ball in front of a player, and then the player has to guess which cup hides the ball. There are always people around watching and cheering. The person shuffling rewards the player for guessing right, gives them money, and the crowd applauds. Everything looks super authentic.
If you stand by and watch, someone will invite you to try it for some small money, and then if you lose, they’ll push you to play again. The onlookers shout at you and try to manipulate you by saying how you promised to give more money after you lose the game.
As a cherry on top, pickpockets lure around you and steal stuff from you as you’re busy with the game.
The thing is that the game is made in such a way that you can never win. And if you think you can outsmart the scammers, think twice because they’re pros and work 20 angles the moment you engage in a conversation. Just walk away the moment you see this game on the street!
19. Closed attractions scam
Prevalence: Worldwide
Here’s one of the scams I hate the most because they always seem so real! Basically, you take a taxi ride or walk toward an attraction or a restaurant, and a person tells you the place you intend to visit is closed.
Being the good locals as they are, they invite you to another place that works and offers better service. But the thing is, they’re purposely redirecting you to a place where they’ll get paid a percentage for bringing you.
Various versions of this scam happened to me in Turkey and Jordan. For most places, we couldn’t figure out if the person was telling the truth because Google isn’t always up to date in these areas and doesn’t always give correct information.
Better see it with your own eyes and then have a plan B if the place is really closed!
20. Dodgy tickets
Prevalence: Europe, worldwide
Never buy event tickets from random people on the street! In Bracelona’s La Rambla (the most famous pedestrian street), people sell bogus tickets for flamenco shows. When you show up at the event, you find out your tickets are fake!
If you want to attend a show or a concert, only buy tickets in verified venues.
A variation of this scam involves someone selling you tickets for places that are otherwise free to visit. The Vatican churches are a famous example. Make sure to double-check online whether the attraction is paid or free, and when in doubt, see an official person who works there or ask in a tourist info center!
21. Baby milk scam
Prevalence: Cambodia, Southeast Asia
The baby milk scam usually involves a woman with a baby who tells you her child is hungry and asks you to buy powdered milk to help out. She sounds convincing, and since she doesn’t ask for money, you go for it.
But then she takes you to a nearby mini market that overcharges you for the milk, and the market later splits the money with the woman.
If you’re ever in this situation, it’s best to gently refuse the person and keep walking.
General tips on how to avoid getting scammed
Before I let you go, here’s a quick list of things you should know to avoid getting scammed as a tourist!
Use social media to stay informed on trending destination scams.
Don’t talk to strangers, especially if they seem sketchy or too assertive.
Be mindful of your belongings, especially in a crowded place.
Read the fine print if you rent a car or a motorbike or sign any agreement (make sure you know exactly what you’re paying for).
Be discerning of your surroundings.
Check the Google Maps rating of a restaurant or shop you want to go to.
Only book taxis or ride-sharing through verified apps.
Book tours beforehand; don’t wait until you’re at the attraction.
Don’t take anything anyone gives you on the street saying it’s a gift.
Final thoughts on the most common travel scams
This is all I had planned for you on this interesting topic! Hopefully, my list of common travel scams will help you save your nerves, money, and time on your next trip!
Just saying, the more touristy the spot you’re visiting, the higher the chances of scams – without exception! Beware of your surroundings and apply the tips from this article, and no one will be able to fool you!
Do you know of any other travel scams that I didn’t mention? What travel scams have you been the victim of? Feel free to share your experience or ask questions in the comments below!
Travel wise and far,
Darija
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