These are the world’s most common tourist scams, where you’ll find them and how to avoid them
Cons range from simple taxi pricing and menu fixing to express kidnapping and fake police
On holiday, we're often easily confused about local practices and currency, so easy pickings for opportunistic scammers.
Cons range from simple taxi pricing to much scarier situations, like the Kiwi tourist in Bali who was recently kidnapped and swindled out of £1,245 in a card game.
But which cons are we most at risk of falling victim to, and where are they most likely to happen?
Here are 20 more of the world’s most common travel scams.
Drink up
This involves local women or taxi drivers luring male tourists to a bar where the women are overly friendly and order a lot of drinks.
When the bill comes it’s exorbitant, the women refuse to pay and the staff and bouncers insist the male tourist coughs up the cash.
The same applies to teahouses in China.
Faking it
A common unlicensed taxi scam sees drivers pretend to be lost and take tourists further than they want to go in order to jack up the price, so always get in a licensed cab and ask to use the meter.
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Hot dog bother
Scammers eat hot dogs and “accidentally” squirt mustard on nearby travellers or drop bird poo on them.
While they clumsily “help” clean up the mess, valuables are stolen.
Bogus monks
Dressed just like the real deal, these fake monks in South East Asian tourist spots walk around collecting “alms”, but they’re really after financial donations.
Express kidnapping scams
Express kidnappings occur when tourists are abducted for short periods by criminals who hope to receive a pay-off from the victim’s family, business or debit cards.
Gold ring scam
A scammer will approach a tourist with a gold ring and ask if it’s theirs.
When the unsuspecting tourists picks it up for a closer look, someone else steps forward to demand money for the “newly-found gift”.
All tied up
Someone will approach a tourist and place something on them, like a piece of string on the wrist or a flower in their pocket.
They will then demand payment for the object.
Hotel hassles
It’s a red flag if hotel staff say they are having trouble with your card details, but tell you to go to your room and they’ll call if there are any issues.
Later you may receive a call asking you to repeat the card details, and somehow a large sum of money will be transferred out of your account.
Make sure you always go to the front desk for transactions.
Good Samaritan scam
Scammers target tourists who look lost, with seemingly innocent intentions of helping out, but will then attempt to rob the unsuspecting tourist.
Dual menus
A bar or restaurant will lure tourists in by providing a menu with cheap prices, then switch it with a pricier “tourist menu” once inside.
Driving you crazy
Travellers to small towns in East Africa may be approached by a bystander claiming their wheel bearing is spilling oil, when they just sploshed a cup onto it.
They tell you there’s a garage around the corner that’ll fix your problem, where your payment is shared between the bystander and garage owner.
Fake police
Phony police officers are common in places like Thailand, where they falsely accuse travellers of committing crime, like an on-the-spot fine for putting out a cigarette in public.
Paint the town red
In Argentina there’s a scam where someone will put paint on a traveller’s bag, be very apologetic and try and wipe it off, then they grab it.
If someone does this, hold onto your bag tightly and say you do not need help.
Tuk-tuk trickery
A tourist may ask the driver to take them to a particular hotel or shop but he’ll claim it’s closed or no good.
He just happens to know a better one close by, which he gets commission for.
Jetski claims
Gangs claim the hired jetski the victim is trying to return has been damaged, and demand a huge sum of money for compensation, so always take a picture before using one.
“Outrage of modesty” scams
Singapore has strict outrage of modesty laws, including those that prohibit inappropriate language and behaviour.
Scam artists have taken advantage of these laws by issuing fake fines to tourists and confiscating passports.
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