Travel enriches lives. From endless white sand beaches to crumbling ruins dripping with history the world unfolds. The kindness of strangers across the globe teaches us compassion and understanding of humanity. Sadly, in the background, lurks the dark possibility of travel scams.
Over our decades of travel, we have faced many of the most popular travel scams. Unfortunately global travel scams exist. However we feel just because there might be a weed in the travel garden, does not mean one should miss all the blossoms of exploration.
From our own learning, some of it the hard way, we hope the following ten examples will give you the tools to feel confident in dealing with scams around the world. Common tourist scams are not likely to go away. However, being aware of travel scams to avoid, will help to ensure your safe travel ahead.
10 Travel Scams Around The World
Baby Beggar Scam
On a street corner in Cape Town, South Africa a woman’s pleading dark eyes connect with mine.
“Lady, lady please I need money for milk for my baby.”
She holds a sleeping toddler in her arms. As my heart pains, I realize the women is likely attempting one of the most popular scams. Using babies and small children, gangs gather money from compassionate individuals, exploiting children and sometimes drugging them in these common travel scams.
My look is dubious as the woman becomes tearful and her volume increases.
“Please lady! My baby is very sick. It is her second birthday today.” An extra attempt at eliciting sympathy to add the mention of a birthday.
Both at home and while traveling, when asked for money on the street, we offer food. I tell the woman there will be no money. She agrees to my offer to purchase milk. However once inside a corner store, the woman immediately changes from emotional mother to businesswoman. She demands the clerk retrieve a gigantic container of powdered baby formula from a top shelf.
“I am not buying that.” My stance is firm
“My baby needs it. She is hungry and sick!” The tone is now angry rather than distressed.
“Your baby is two years old and does not require formula. I will buy one container of milk. Take it or leave it.”
Thankfully, I am aware of the practice of selling baby formula on the black market. Formula is stolen and then resold at a cheaper price. It explains why the clerk has needed a step ladder to retrieve it from the shelf.
The woman grabs the milk and without so much as a thank you, swinging her long, dark hair she marches back to the street corner where the conversation first began. It breaks my heart that the child is the pawn in one of the most common scams in the world.
What to do when faced with the baby beggar scam
Think long and hard before giving money to children. Often the child is being exploited. At the very least, they are being kept out of proper care and schools. Give money to local charities, shelters and food banks instead.
Although we went with the woman into a store please do so with caution. Should we be faced with this situation again we would have walked away, hearts aching.
Unlicensed Taxi Scam
Of all the scams to avoid, this taxi scam is one we completely fell for. We feel extremely fortunate to have come away unharmed. Arriving in Toronto, Canada, after a long flight, our bleary eyes give away our sleep deprived state. Plodding out into the airport arrivals area a man approaches us.
“Need a taxi?” Well indeed we do.
“Right this way.” We follow behind like hypnotized sheep.
Finally coming out of my stupor I ask why we are going to the parkade rather than the taxi area at the front of the airport.
“It’s too expensive. I have to pay airport charges.” I ignore the red flag of most common scams at an airport.
As we drive out of the parking garage, and appear to be heading away from the city, alarm bells begin ringing unmercifully in our heads. Now with a dose of fear bringing us to full alert status, my cell phone has 911 ready for dialing. Dave pulls up a GPS map on his phone. We do our best to push away visions of being robbed at gunpoint.
It takes our driver 60 minutes to deliver us to our destination. The taxi scam cost us an additional 40 minutes, some extra money, but thankfully no loss of limb or life. We were idiots, albeit tired ones, to fall for one of the most common tourist scams.
How to deal with an unregistered taxi scam
Never get into an unlicensed taxi. Be wary of individuals approaching you within the airport to offer rides. If you require assistance, seek out the information desk at the airport or call your hotel for guidance. We now use a ride share service, where we can monitor the ride and share where we are with family and friends in live time, or public transport.
Money Currency Scam
“That will be 50.” My head begins to ache in the Vietnamese market. It is the third southeast Asian country we have visited in three weeks. My math calculation wheels are as rusty as if they have been out soaking in the oppressive humidity.
I wonder if the clerk mean 50 US dollars? That’s about 1.1 million Vietnamese dong. Such a handy number to calculate. Or does 50 mean 50,000 Vietnamese dong? That would be just over 2 US dollars.
When paying in US dollars, change is commonly given back in the country’s own currency. It may seem like a great deal to hand over a 20 dollar bill and receive several hundred thousand of the local currency as change. In actuality, you may be short changed in dramatic fashion. Tourist scams involving currency are common.
How to avoid currency travel scams
Prior to your trip, take the time to understand exchange rates of the destinations you will be traveling to. Make notes to carry with you as needed. Don’t feel rushed to accept the change given to you.
If at all possible learn to count in the local language. Although I have only managed it in a couple of countries, it increased my confidence in ensuring we were not being taken advantage of. Vietnam was not one of them.
Helpful Stranger Scam
While traveling, the kindness of strangers has showered us like a downpour on a scorched desert. In countries all over the world we have had a passport returned, a camera and GoPro brought to our hotel (twice in one trip) and multiple train connections made with locals pointing us the way.
However popular scams, especially in crowded, confusing places like large train stations, can give the kindness of strangers a very different meaning.
At a central train station in Rome, Italy, while attempting to use a ticket machine, an individual wearing what appeared to be a uniform but with no official identification, offered assistance. Having read about non-employee scams in Europe and seeing signs in the station warning of this as well, we politely declined.
How to deal with the helpful stranger travel scam
Be wary of anyone who offers to help you use your credit card as it can be scanned or stolen. Besides these credit card scams, the kind stranger once having given assistance, may demand money. Never hand over your credit card to a stranger, kind or not. If you require assistance go to official help desks and those with proper identification.
Timeshare Travel Scams
Stepping out of the customs area in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, the noise is deafening. Shouting from individuals dressed in crisp shirts and name tags, bellows forth from both sides of a corridor in a choir of chaos.
“Where are you going?”
“I can take you to meet your driver!”
“Don’t go our that door you’ll never meet your driver. Stay here!”
Even to the most seasoned traveler, the demands and questions can be overwhelming. You are bearing witness to one of the best scams in airports. Upon accepting a ride, you agree to listen to a timeshare presentation. What is billed as a short talk, turns into a high pressure, relentless half to full day of sales tactics.
How to deal with the timeshare scam
Organize your transportation from the airport to your destination prior to your arrival. Research exactly where in the airport, or outside the airport, you will be getting your bus, shuttle, taxi or rental car.
Walk confidently, and be firm and clear with a “no thank you.” Despite the piranha-like feeding frenzy, where the latest scams snap wildly, no means no.
Red Rose Tourist Scam
Venice, Italy
The gentleman thrusts a red rose toward me. “For you beautiful lady.”
It is a hot and crowded day in Venice, Italy. I don’t feel beautiful and luckily I’m not much for roses. Should he have presented me with a cold beer the story may have ended differently.
This romance scam often comes in the form of a red rose. Once the flower is taken, the generous person who has given it will demand money in exchange.
“Sir you would not buy this lovely lady a single rose?” His tone showers guilt over the partner as if he has the worst boyfriend/ husband/spouse on the earth.
Should you try to the return the rose once taken, this business scam is having none of it. You took it and it is yours. Try to walk away and an angry tirade continues to follow until you pay up. The same tactic is used with bracelets, ornaments and nic nacs of every description.
Tips for dealing with the rose scam
Nothing is for free. Never take anything that is handed to you by a complete stranger. I often walk with my hands behind my back or my arms folded in crowded cities, so that by instinct, I don’t grab something thrust in my direction. Politely decline and keep walking in a confident manner.
Telephone Travel Scams
“It’s the front desk calling and we need to confirm your credit card information.”
It seems like a reasonable request but you feel uncomfortable as you are wary of credit card scams. Thinking you are being proactive, you decline and tell the person you will call the front desk yourself.
However the person who called does not hang up. You may get a recorded dial tone, making you believe you have a new connection but in actuality you are still on line with the phone scam individual.
How to avoid a telephone travel scam
Under no circumstances should you give your credit card information to an unknown caller. If a hotel is requesting the information, proceed to the front desk in person. If you feel compelled to solve a situation over the phone, use a different telephone to ensure you are not the victim of a phone scam.
Brand Name Clothes Scam
Is it the real thing?
Walking along a sidewalk the man thrusts a purse toward me. “Gucci purse for good price.”
I smile and politely decline, moving on. Leather jackets, scarves and watches are high-end designer items offered for unreasonably low prices. The seller may say he obtained them from a store that closed out. Or was in town for a fashion show and can’t take them back to the cost at customs.
What to do when offered designer items on the street
The old saying of it’s too good to be true is suitable to this situation. Know that you could be buying stolen property. Most likely this is a fake brand name scam. Buy at your own risk.
Crowd Distraction Scams
Of the scams to avoid while on the road, this one can happen in a matter of seconds. A crowd of children, often begging for money and holding a piece of fabric or cardboard, surround you.
Being overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and noise, you won’t notice your pockets being emptied by fast fingers.
Another situation may happen with adults who begin arguing with one another. As your attention is drawn to the loud confrontations circling you, a super-swift pick pocket relieves you of your valuables.
Istanbul, Turkey
How to avoid crowd distraction travel scams
Always be alert to what is going on around you. If you see a crowd headed your way do not allow your self to be pulled into the center of it.
Keep your valuable safe at all times. Never carry your wallet in a back pocket or a fanny pack on your back. We use a money wallet and in more notorious destinations we will carry a fake wallet in a front pocket as our own distraction.
Never wear expensive jewelry and dress to blend in with the culture of the country.
Overcharging Taxi Scam
We will never know if we were victims of this taxi scam or not. Arriving after more than 24 hours of travel to Sydney, Australia, we stumble into a registered taxi. Waiting in the official airport taxi queue, the driver was welcoming and pleasant.
Watching the meter add up I realize our hotel is some distance away. Understandably this cab ride was going to relieve us of a substantial amount of Australian dollars straight away. At the end of the trip I calculated a tip suitable for a North American cab ride.
The taxi driver advised their would also be a 20 dollar additional fee.
We ended up paying over $80 AUD. Doing some research later it appears we may have paid almost double the cost. Our ride share cost back to the airport was under $30 AUD.
What to do to avoid the taxi scam of overcharging
If you must take a taxi, rather than public transport or ride-share, which will almost always be more economical, do some research ahead of time.
Prior to departure inquire at your accommodation what you can expect a taxi ride to cost. Are there any additional fees such as tolls or airport fees? Always be sure to use a registered taxi and discuss the cost prior to beginning your ride.
We would love to hear your experiences and tips for safe travel. Have you encountered any travel scams?
Other articles on travel tips
60 Best Travel Tips – An Ultimate Guide
International Travel Tips – Travel Advice in Uncertain Times
The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Travel – 10 Tips to Travel Responsibly
I had no idea there are so many scams our there related to travel, wow! Thanks for the read. those who do this stuff eventually pay the price… I’m glad you’ve seen through the scams.
John unfortunately there will always be a few bad eggs out there. Since we have traveled so much we have just gradually accumulated an education. The other week I had a comment from a reader who ran into a situation and it dawned on me that helping our readers be safe is as important as sharing wonderful places to go.
Two attractive young women were arguing blocking the entrance to the subway in Barcelona. Suddenly instinct struck me and I turned to find their male partner trying to relieve me of a wallet fastened to my belt. All fled when I shouted thief as loudly as I could.
A few years later, a well dressed man offered to help us with the wheelchair entrance to the subway. After some fussing, we went through, and he turned and fled — in that case he did get a calculator from my pocket, but it was a inexpensive and broken one for which I had not found a wastebasket.
Ray I’m so sorry to hear of these instances but they are examples I am grateful that you have shared. I hope others will read them too. Good for you to be so on your toes and to sense a distraction scam! I also am chuckling at the thought of the thief finding he had a broken calculator rather than a wallet. I have a feeling you are far too savvy to ever carry your wallet in your back pocket anyway. Here’s to safe travels ahead!
In Thailand we nearly fell for the “this temple is closed” scam. They tell you about another temple that is open and that they can take you there in a tuk tuk…but instead they take you to shops and places that you don’t actually want to visit. Travel scams can be hard to avoid, thank you for highlighting this issue and reminding me to not get complacent.
Gilda thank you for sharing that example. Although I have read about the ‘destination being closed’ scam we have not encountered it. I appreciate your reali life example as I think it is more powerful and sticks with people when it comes as a story. Complacency can happen no matter how much we travel. Our Toronto incident is a prime exxample of letting our guard down in our own country.
It’s difficult to be vigilant at all times, but it’s worth it to make the effort. We were stopped by a woman in Paris who claimed my husband had dropped his wedding ring. She blew it instantly because he doesn’t wear one. But she was insistent, even as we walked away. It can be very daunting.
Well she didn’t do her research very well did she? I appreciate you sharing the example of another distraction scam. Large cities are notorious for it and I think the more people are aware of different scnearios the better off the learning. Glad you were wise and walked away confidently.
That fake taxi scam is frightening. Glad you made it out safely if a bit poorer…
It makes my hands sweat thinking about what could have happened. Thankfully it left us with a well learned lesson and with no harm come to us.
When we lived in Las Vegas, I would see gals in a local mall parking lot claiming they were abandoned by an abusive boyfriend and begging for money to get home or use the hungry child gig. Fortunately, I knew they were scamming, and thus no heart strings were pulled making it easy for me to say no. Great list of travel scams to be aware of.
Ingrid I so appreciate you sharing that example. There are so many variations on the scam and I think the more examples readers see the better prepared they will be to avoid them.
Good list 🙂
Thank you Joshi.
You have quite the comprehensive list here! The more you travel, the more likely you are to encounter a scam or two to relieve you of your money.
We’ve been very lucky and if we’ve ever been overcharged for anything along the way, it wasn’t within the realm of causing me alarm. The worst we encountered was in Rome with a pickpocket on a crowded subway train. It was our first day in the city and Gilles was promptly relieved of his phone – from a zippered pocket. THAT’S how good they are.
The use of children alarms me the most though. We encountered one a few days ago in an open air cafe. No one was buying it though.
Joanne as much as we enjoyed our time in Rome I do think it is a haven for pick pockets. Many large cities are but the speed and dexterity by which people are relieved of items is astonishing. Sorry to hear about the phone loss.
In so many parts of the world we have seen children being used in this begging scam. South Africa, Peru, Cambodia…it can happen anywhere really. I’m glad to hear people were resisting.
Yep! Money scams happen a lot.
Once, my dad and I were in a country and he gave this bureau de change money only for him to realise he was cheated.
Because he knew a lot about currency, he gave the woman a stern look and she credited him the balance.
Oh good for your Dad! Definitely understanding currency and knowing what to expect in exchange ahead of time is so valuable. I really appreciate you sharing that example. I think most people, including me, wouldn’t be expecting a problem in a currency exchange setting.
These are all good tips to avoid being scammed. Here in Spain young people will approach older folks and hug them saying things like grandpa or grandma. When they leave you will find jewelry, wallets, etc. missing. The other thing, people asking for directions is often a ploy to steal something from you as you try to give them directions. That’s how my backpack was stolen. You just need to be aware and vigilant.
Darlene I had never heard of the grandparent hugging trick. Thanks for sharing that. So sad.
Asking for directions is a unique distraction scam trick. Sorry to hear about your back pack and thank you for bringing that forward. As I’ve said to others I think the more we hear of other’s experiences the more aware we become.
Yes, it helps to hear about others experiences. On the plus side, I got my backpack back with everything still in it (including passports, credit cards, etc) except for my camera, a change purse with 3 euros in it and my red lipstick! A shopper found the backpack under her car in the mall parking lot, found the card from the hotel we were staying at in it and returned it. My insurance replaced the camera but I still miss that red lipstick.
Excellent tips, Sue. We’ve unfortunately become suspicious of any approach from a stranger whilst on our travels. The phrase, “No, thank you” is oft repeated and although it may seem rude to ignore fellow human beings, I’ve become quite inured to rejecting advances from anyone who offers me free stuff. Being harassed can somewhat spoil the travel experience, as one has to be always on one’s guard.
Sylvia I remember the issue you had in South America. Yes I’d like to say Travel is all carefree but as you say one must be on guard. No thank you and walking confidently on is a must do in a lot of situations.
A very helpful and informative post! Thank you, guys. What a good idea to carry a fake empty wallet. When it’s crowded (and the opposite, when there is nobody around) in cities, I’m always weary of my surroundings. That being said, being in the middle of a chaotic environment, you never know what might happen.
Since I’ve traveled to many poor countries in a far past, I’ve trained myself to become immune to beggars. I feel I have to – just like I attempt to ignore stray dogs – for my own sake.
One of these scams that almost happened to me is the one where a woman gave me a little trinket in the street as a gift. I don’t remember which country this was. As I smiled and said “Thank you,” she demanded money. I gave the item back, which made her mad. This was many years ago and I managed to just walk away.
Another scam is being taken for a rickshaw or tuk tuk ride and instead of being transported to your destination, the driver brings you to the shop of his cousin.
Liesbet we so appreciate you sharing your personal experiences here. That trinket/bracelet/rose scam is so prevalent that I think the more examples people hear the better prepared they will be.
The tuk tuk ride has not happened to us but I’ve certainly read about it. Do you have any tips on how to prevent that happening?
Great list, Sue. I’d never heard of the telephone scam! I am super wary when traveling and this has probably meant I’ve missed out on a few authentic interactions. Better that than relieved of my belongings .. or worse … I suppose!
It is a balance to be sure. We have met so many friendly and genuine people in our travels. I think with traveling a great deal one gets an education, sometimes the hard way. After a reader commented on an old post about an incident that happened to her, it made me think that sharing with others what we have learned could be helpful.
“Telephone Travel Scams” – another expression for excessive roaming fees?! 😀
Great. Advice, Sue! Pickpockets scare me, even though they aren’t likely to physically harm me. Clothing Arts has a line of pickpocket resistant clothing, and there are bags made by Travelon that help prevent items from being stolen off of your person.
I am am huge fan of Travelon and always use one of their bags. On a side note I had a zipper break in one and they replaced it no questions even though it was two years old.
Like you it’s not that I fear physical harm from pickpockets but the inconvenience of theft while traveling has a pain all unto itself.
Wow, you did a great job, Sue, of listing the popular scams and advising what to do. Great personal examples, and lovely places in the world. I’m with you, we can’t let the desperation of a few opportunists ruin our travel adventures, or let it color all the kind people we have come upon in our travels. Staying attentive, proactive, and firm are the keys. Mostly I just keep my distance and do not engage, stay sober, especially in congested situations. Never wear flashy jewelry or clothes. As always, your writing and photos are a joy. Had to laugh at what you wrote in the red rose scam: “Should he have presented me with a cold beer the story may have ended differently.” Excellent post.
Jet wise words you have shared about paying attention, being proactive and firm. Also the point about not wearing flashy jewelry is key. I often even leave my wedding ring at home when traveling to areas of more concern. Your feedback and sharing your own tips is greatly appreciated Jet. It was with some hesitation that I wrote the post as I know it may scare people away from traveling. The world is full of kind and honest people and yet we need to be aware of the few bad eggs in the basket.
Excellent post Sue. I feel like I’ve had so many of these things happen to me especially when I was first beginning to travel. I now always arrange a taxi from the hotel in a destination. I’ve been ripped off (and even mugged in Peru) too many times.
Yikes Nicole that is definitely reason to arrange transportation ahead of time. How about when you are traveling in the US? When we went to Africa we had every single bit of transportation arranged for the whole month. Quite the organizational web but we felt well worth the time. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences. The more we know the more empowered we become.
Excellent post Sue. We’ve been the victim of the overcharged taxi scam, not surprisingly both times in Italy, and of the baby formula scam. We’ve had strangers approach us to help and they’ve turned out to be genuine and I hate that we have to be suspicious of them. I fell for the tea scam in China, but it was so sweet and benign that I didn’t mind. We *never* arrive at an airport without our transportation already arranged so unregistered taxis there have not been an issue. I can’t believe you got taken for a ride (literally) in Toronto of all places! It would never occur to us to give credit card details over the phone to anyone. Don had his pocket picket in Guatemala. In Egypt I think it was, someone put a postcard in my hand and I dropped it like a hot potato because I knew if I didn’t I’d have to pay for it. And so it goes. It seems that one can be an experienced traveller and still get caught out from time to time.
Alison our sincere thanks for sharing all of your experiences. The more we know the better protected we are. I don’t like being on guard but it seems this is the way it has to be. Good job on dropping the postcard and being always prepared for transportation. you are the only folks I’ve ever heard say they too faced the formula scam. As to Toronto yes it seems unbelievable to us even now. Just overtired and unprepared. Now when disembarking we have a little meeting of the minds to get our heads on straight before facing whatever is coming our way.
It’s interesting to read that these scams can catch anyone including seasoned travellers like you Sue! We’re fortunate that in all our travelling so far, we haven’t had too many issues but it’s so important to be aware of them. I was caught out with the bracelet scam in Paris and India was full of possibilities! Thanks so much for your honesty and for sharing this very useful information. I’m also sorry that you may have been fleeced while in Sydney!
Debbie I’m glad to hear you have avoided most of these scams. The bracelet one is so common and it happens so quickly it is very hard to avoid. Thank you for sharing your experience as I think the real life examples stick better in people’s minds then just the possibility. Well the great thing about Sydney was the rest of the trip was absolutely marvelous. It’s funny because our issues with taxis happened in Canada and Australia, not two countries known for travel scams.
This is all very good to know! When arriving in New Orleans someone called our hotel room and they wanted our Credit Card info from the front desk. Thank goodness I could not understand them and I said you have the wrong number. They did not call back. So there are people out there ready to take advantage of us.
Great post!
It’s sad and funny to read how familiar these scams are. In India, an old man handed me a flower but I was so scared to accept it, so I walked past but my friend quickly received and then gave it to me. I felt very bad afterward. I don’t think he meant to charge me for it but that was automatically what I thought.
And where I live, the beggar scams are more common. I’ve had people ask me for money for clothes, sick babies, exams and so on. Sometimes I choose to ignore my first instincts and give anyway.
Because I have found myself twice in a situation where I was left without any money. (i.e my cards were blocked by my bank and I didn’t have cash). Strangers I walked up to and asked for money or train tickets bailed me out. Twice. In two different countries (Italy and Ghana). I think about this often in my travels – and now I make sure to carry multiple cards with me and some emergency cash.
It sounds like you have had a great deal of experience with a variety of situations. Our sincere thanks for sharing them here. The more we learn from one another the better off we will all be in handling such situations. I think you did the right thing not accepting the flower. There is no way to know the intent but I believe no taking anything a stranger hands you is wise practice in travel.
As to the begging we just don’t give money ever but we do give food. That’s often easier at home but I try to carry something like a granola bar or fruit. Only twice has it been turned down and I’m sure we have done it hundreds of times.
That must have been so scary to be without any source of money. There are so many kind people in this world who want to help. I think its important to remember that the scammers are a minority and shouldn’t keep people from exploring. Just to be sure to be safe doing so.
Sue you have done a great job with this comprehensive list. Definitely good reminders here and as well some new ones.
I had a $100 bill taken out of my purse in Barcelona in a crowd. A classic pickpocket story as old as the hills. The guy behind me stood on the back of my sandal which took me by surprise and made me stumble a bit and in that moment, the money was gone! My passport had been there too as it was the days we had to go into the bank to get cash, and I was just so relieved that my passport was intact .. I actually felt lucky.
The taxi scam we have fallen for too, when we have arrived tired or late at night is I think when one is the most vulnerable to these taxi scams.
I am sure I have given money to people that perhaps were scams… as I tend to be a sucker for people on the street needing money. And interestingly most of those times have been in the States where there always seem to be SO many homeless people everywhere. I am okay being scammed out of a dollar or two as at the end of the day I would rather give a small amount than assume that people are scamming me… I often watch the people in the US who have a sign and walk up to the cars as they exit or entrance a highway. So few people actually seem to give them anything.. But I guess they MUST do so, or why would so many of them using that strategy.
Very good post. Critical reading for everyone and anyone.
Peta
Peta many thanks for sharing your experiences. I, like you, would have felt very lucky to come away with my passport. I had not heard of that distraction trick of stepping on one’s sandal. As I’ve mentioned to others, I think the more real life examples shared the wiser we can all become.
I so agree about being vulnerable after a long flight. Dave and I now are in the habit of when we are getting off a plane of having a little strategy meeting. We review where we are going, check each other’s bags to make all are secure, basically a little pep rally to get our heads on straight.
As far as giving people money on the street this has long been a challenge for us. We don’t want to ignore the need of these people. In speaking to organizations here who work with homeless folks and those in need, they guided us to give food rather than money. The concern being that the money is going toward enabling an addiction.I only share this to tell you what we have adopted not that this what should be done. Now I always carry, both in the car and in my purse, a granola bar or something of the like. If I have an apple or orange that comes too. I’m sure we have handed out hundreds of food items over the years. Only twice have we been turned down. Usually the small gesture is met with genuine appreciation. I just can’t turn my back on these folks so this resolution has been a good solution for us.
Lastly many thanks for your generous and kind words about the post. Although sharing such dangers of travel is not my favorite type of writing, I know first hand these can and do happen. Wishing you and Ben safe journeys ahead.
I don’t like travelling in the first place, and all these travel scams make me that much less interested in going anywhere. Still, though, I had to laugh (ruefully) at the taxi scam in Toronto. The same thing happened to us: We stumbled off a red-eye flight in the far-too-early morning and were staggering toward the taxi stand when a guy accosted us. “You need a taxi? You’re going in the wrong direction. Come with me.”
So we followed him all the way to the parkade, growing more doubtful with every step. At last we arrived at his car and I put my foot down and refused to get in. But here’s the funny part: Why did I finally refuse? Because I looked at the Ontario license plate on the car and thought, “There’s no way I’m getting into an out-of-province vehicle!” In my sleep-deprived state, I’d forgotten that we WERE actually in Ontario. 😀 Sometimes stupidity gets rewarded…
Oh Diane what a great story! Well whatever the reason good for you to not get in the vehicle. It is that sleep deprived state that often leaves travelers most vulnerable. The post has not been written with the intent of scaring people off from travel, although i can see that it might. We just felt strongly that to be genuine, honest and helpful with readers, these realities to be prepared for are important.
You’re right – these are the kinds of experiences that can turn a dream trip into a nightmare. Forewarned is definitely better. You’re a huge help to travellers. 🙂
Oh my gosh, I am so naïve. I didn’t know about most of these scams. The next time I travel out of the country, I’m going to re-read this post. The one time my guy and I almost ‘fell’ for a scam was with the gypsy woman as we stood in line at a museum in Florence Italy. Her young wide-eyed little girl pleaded with us for money. We knew we needed to ignore her. So her mother started berating us and yelling at us. Fortunately, my guy realized that while the mother screamed, the little girl’s hand was in his pocket, trying to get his wallet.
It’s so hard when our heart is tugged to help those with little, yet most times, the help we try to bring does not help. Thanks so much for sharing your traveling expertise with us here.
Sue, I have experienced the baby beggar scam in Nepal. A mother can,inning to want milk for her a baby took me to a supermarket and then started loading up on other products. I refused saying I’d only buy the milk. She then asked me back to her house for tea to say thank you. I declined and moved away quickly.
I was recently in an awkward situation in a remote area of India involving an ATM and being watched assisted by several local men who had had trouble with the machine. I wasn’t alone, my travel companions followed the advice of the man in using the machine. Mine was a debit card with limited funds on it so after three others went before me, while I wasn’t 100 percent comfortable, on this occasion I thanked the man for his help but would not be inclined to do it again.
This is a great post. You’ve opened my eyes to things I wouldn’t have known were scams but you always have a sense when travelling when something is not quite right, hey?
Thank you for this seriously useful tip and for sharing some personal experiences reminding us that even savvy travelers can get ‘gamed’ every once in a while.
Such an informative write-up of the travel scams out there, and the tips to avoid them. I really like the tip of walking with your hands behind your back or crossed to avoid someone trusting something in your hands. It makes me think how I like to carry a sling bag (bag slung towards my front, zipped with an additional cover over it) and wrap my hands around the sling, so I think perhaps that is a good tactic too.
The noisy crowd and people arguing situation is a very clever one, one that plays on your emotions like the begging person/children one. It could be that a crowd of people genuinely need help, but I guess if in doubt keep to yourself. I’d rather look like a rude person than be taken advantaged of. One time walking to work, someone a few feet away from me passed out on the sidewalk (this was in Melbourne city). I didn’t stop, thinking it could be a scam. But then a bunch of people rushed towards the guy and I guess that was genuine.
I am sorry to hear you got scammed at a taxi in Sydney. It does happen in Australia unfortunately 🙁 Clarifying the fee before the driver drives you off can’t always guarantee you won’t get scammed. As you mentioned, plenty of research before getting into taxis or pre-booking rides can take the worry away. Again, great piece, Sue 🙂
Mabel I like your idea of the covering of your sling bag and then you hands tucked in.
It is very hard when you see someone who appears to be hurt or in distress. It is the scams that play on one’s emotions that can be the most challenging.
As to the taxi issue in Sydney it was very good learning for me. You can never research too much.
Hi Sue
Unfortunately we’ve come up against a couple of these on our own travels. The Cape Town baby mile scam resonating most strongly as it seemed to be everywhere in the city and the people concerned can become incredibly aggressive. These scams inevitable make you weary of people in new countries, even those who are genuinely trying to help. Thanks for the other tips as to what to look out for.