Here is a long list of common scams that tourists are subject to but there may be more depending on the local context and culture. Always remember to stay vigilant, research your destination, and keep your belongings secure when traveling. Note that many scams are variations on the same themes:
- Menu Change: You order from one menu with low prices and are then given a menu showing higher prices when you claim the bill is too high.
- Fake Police Officers: Scammers dressed as police officers demand to see your wallet for inspection, then take your money.
- Pickpocketing: Often done in crowded places or on public transport, a common variant is where one person distracts you while another picks your pocket.
- The Overbooked or Closed Hotel: Taxi drivers claim your hotel is overbooked or closed and instead take you to a more expensive place where they get a commission.
- Currency Exchange Scams: Offering unfavorable exchange rates or giving counterfeit currency.
- Fake Wi-Fi Hubs: Scammers set up unsecured Wi-Fi hubs and when you connect, they steal your personal information.
- ATM Skimming: Devices installed on ATMs that copy your card information when you insert it.
- Fake Petition Scams: A group of people ask you to sign a petition, while others try to pickpocket you.
- Fake Charities: Scammers set up fake charities and solicit donations.
- The “Found a Ring” Scam: Someone claims to find a ring and offers it to you for a price, insisting it’s valuable. In reality, it’s worthless.
- Motorbike/Bicycle Rental Damage: You rent a bike, it gets stolen or damaged (sometimes by the owner), and you have to pay a hefty fee.
- Broken Camera: Someone will ask you to take a picture with their camera, but it’s broken. When you can’t fix it or accidentally “break” it, they will demand money for repairs.
- The Fake Ticket: Scammers sell fake tickets to events or attractions.
- Gem Scams: You’re persuaded to buy worthless gems at a high price, often with promises you can sell them for a profit back home.
- Restaurant Scams: Scams including adding extra items to your bill, charging exorbitant prices for cheap items (especially in touristy areas), or even menus where prices aren’t clearly listed.
- Taxi Scams: Scams including not turning on the meter and then charging a high fee, taking the long route to overcharge passengers, or having a rigged meter.
- Distraction Scams: Any scam where one person distracts you while another commits the theft.
- The Friendship Bracelet: Someone forcefully ties a bracelet on your wrist and then demands payment for it.
- The Spill on Your Clothes: Someone “accidentally” spills something on you and offers to clean it while stealing your possessions.
- Car Rental Scams: Scams including adding hidden fees or falsely claiming you’ve damaged the car when you return it.
- The Flirt Scam: An attractive local flirts with you, invites you for a drink or meal, and when the bill comes it’s exorbitantly high and they’ve disappeared.
- The Music Artist Scam: A local artist asks you to listen to their music and then demands payment.
- Phony Internet Cafes: Scammers use keyloggers at Internet cafes to steal information.
- Timeshare Scams: You’re offered a free trip, but it’s actually a ploy to get you into a high-pressure sales pitch for a timeshare.
- Group Photo Offer: Someone offers to take a group photo of you and your friends, and then either demands payment or steals your camera.
- Fake Embassies or Consulates: Scammers set up fake embassy or consulate websites to trick visa applicants into paying them money.
- Card Games: A friendly local invites you to join a game of cards, with the aim of tricking you into a rigged game and taking your money.
- The Gold Ring Scam: Similar to the “found a ring” scam, but in this case, scammers try to sell you a gold ring which is actually made of brass or other cheap materials.
- Street Games Scams: Street games like shell games or three-card monte. The games are rigged, and you’ll lose your money if you play.
- Street Beggars: While many are genuinely in need, some are part of organized groups. They’re especially common in large cities and tourist areas.
- The Mustard Scam: Similar to “the spill on your clothes,” someone will “accidentally” squirt mustard or another substance on you. As they help you clean up, they rob you.
- Airport Taxi Scams: Similar to other taxi scams but taking advantage of your unfamiliarity with the local currency and rates.
- Counterfeit Money: Giving counterfeit money as change in taxis or at local shops.
- Fake Guides: Offering services as a local guide, but either taking you on a subpar tour, to their friends’ businesses, or outright robbing you.
- Fake Entry Fees: Scammers stand at the entrance of public places, like parks or squares, claiming there’s an entry fee.
- Car Trouble Scam: Someone claims you’ve damaged their car and demand money for repairs.
- Fake Drug Dealers: Scammers sell baking soda or other harmless substances as illegal drugs.
- Drop and Swap: The vendor drops the item as they’re wrapping it up and swaps it for a broken or inferior item.
- Delivery Scams: In places where you can pay to have your purchases shipped home, some shops send a lower-quality item instead.
- Closed or Overbooked Hotel Scam: Taxi drivers will sometimes tell you your hotel has burned down or is overbooked and then take you to a pricier one where they receive a commission.
- Overcharging and Short-Changing: Particularly in busy tourist areas, vendors or taxi drivers may overcharge you or give you incorrect change.
- Bird Poop Scam: A person will point out bird poop or a similar substance on your clothes and offer to help clean it off, while they or an accomplice pickpockets you.
- Bump and Lift: This usually occurs in crowded areas where a scammer will bump into you and lift your wallet or other belongings during the confusion.
- Fake Hospital Admission: In this scam, a taxi driver takes a sick tourist to a hospital where the staff insist on an upfront payment and later it turns out the hospital is fake.
- Fake Monks: Particularly common in East Asia, these scammers dress as monks and ask for donations, often in exchange for a prayer or amulet.
- Rental Scam: Scammers rent out properties they don’t own, often to multiple victims.
- The Photo Opportunity Scam: Locals dressed in traditional clothing offer you a photo opportunity. Once the picture is taken, they demand an exorbitant fee.
- Fake Police Report Scam: After you’ve been robbed, someone offers to help you fill out a police report for a fee.
- The Map Seller: Someone offers to sell you a map, then another person approaches and accuses you of stealing the map.
- Fake Souvenirs: Sellers pass off cheap trinkets as authentic, local, handmade goods.
- Hotel Room Theft: Someone calls, pretending to be from the front desk, and asks for your credit card information to finalize your check-in.
- Motorbike Scam: A friendly local lends you a free motorbike, then accuses you of damaging it and demands payment for repairs.
- Taxi Overcharge: A taxi driver refuses to use the meter and instead sets an inflated flat rate.
- Shuttle Scam: A free shuttle service to your hotel turns into a pressured stop at a business that’s paying the driver commission.
- Border Scam: At a border crossing, someone pretending to be an official charges you for a made-up visa or entry fee.
- Overpriced Group Tours: These tours promise to take you to multiple locations, but they often involve long stopovers at affiliated businesses where you’re pressured to buy things.
- Fake Travel Agencies: They offer great deals, but once you pay, your tickets or booking confirmations never arrive.
- The Slow Count: When giving change, a cashier counts it out slowly and confuses you to keep some of the change.
- The Fake Accident: Someone creates a scene by pretending to have an accident or injury, and while passersby are distracted, accomplices pickpocket them.
- Airport Scams: Scammers at the airport offering to carry your bags for a fee, or stealing your luggage.
- Spiked Drinks: A friendly stranger spikes your drink at a bar or nightclub.
- Switcheroo Scam: You agree on a price for a product, but when you receive it, it’s of lower quality than the one you agreed to buy.
- Flat Tire Scam: Someone discreetly punctures your tire, then they or an accomplice offer to help you fix it, for a fee or while another person attempts to rob you.
- Fake Wi-Fi Networks: Unsecured networks set up by scammers to steal your information when you connect to them.
- Phone Scams: Calls to your hotel room requesting personal information, pretending to be hotel staff or local officials.
- Fake Tickets: Selling fake bus, boat, or airplane tickets that are either overpriced or don’t exist.
- The Snatch and Run: Simply snatching your phone, bag, camera, or other valuables and running away.
- The Fake Charity: Scammers pose as charity workers and ask for donations.
- Jewelry Scam: Sellers offer “gold” jewelry at a low price, but the jewelry turns out to be fake.
- Counterfeit Products: From handbags to watches, counterfeit luxury goods are often passed off as the real deal.
- Closed Attraction: A taxi driver or guide tells you an attraction is closed and offers to take you to a different (usually more expensive) one.
- The Photographer Scam: A local offers to take a photo of you, then demands money after you’ve handed over your camera or phone.
- The Lettuce Trick: In places where currency denominations differ mainly by size, unscrupulous vendors can sandwich smaller notes between larger ones and remove the latter when you’re not looking.
- Bogus Rental Damage: Rental companies charge you for damage that was already present when you rented the car, scooter, or bike.
