From the article: Street Scams - Rip off Reports from Travelers
Street scams often are effective because travelers in unfamiliar settings easily can be caught off guard. Perpetrators of these crimes are practiced in their craft and have pulled off their ploys hundreds of times. Many victims don't even realize a rip off has taken place until the criminals are long gone. Perhaps you've become a victim. Maybe you realized what was happening and escaped the scam. Either way, share your experiences with us in the hopes that everyone can travel safely and without falling prey to street scams. Share Your Experiences
Fake resort employees in the Bahamas
- My wife and I were relaxing on a beach that was "fenced" off from the public beach next door to the resort and we noticed a person dressed in clothing similar to the uniform for the resort employees walking along the beach where our beach bags were sitting containing our towels, cameras, keys, and wallets. My wife- thankfully- noticed that he was moving nearer and nearer to our bags and she suggested that I walk back to the beach to see what he did. As I walked towards our bags, he wandered away. As I went back to the waist-deep water, he again slowly began to make his way near our bags. Once more, I walked out of the water towards our bags. He began to shout: "No worries- we do not steal here!" I continued in his direction and he turned to run. Once at the fence, he squirmed under it -- he had dug a hole in the sand to make a quick exit. He jumped into a waiting car and they sped off. If my wife had not been so observant and suspicious we would have lost everything.
- —GMK2013
Phuket 'Timeshare'
- We were wandering around Patong Beach on Phuket. An Irish guy rode up to us on a scooter and gave us instant prize tickets for his hotel lottery. Two of us won t-shirts, and my partner won either USD $1000 or one free week of accommodations. We had nothing better to do, so followed him to the 'Absolute' hotel nearby, where he gave us a (yummy) coffee, told us to wait, etc. Then took us on a 'tour' while trying to sell us shares in the Absolute (not really-a-timeshare) timeshare. From the outset we told him that we were not and would not be interested, but he didn't listen so we tagged along. It was quite incredible to watch this guy go through his paces. He used every tactic under the sun, toured us around Phuket for a few hours (free tour....why not??!), then was most taken aback when he came to the end of it, he finally told us the price and we said we couldn't afford it. Love scamming the scammers! (and I don't care if that brings me down to their level!) We never got the t-shirts though.
- —Guest Ang
Travel Scams
- We love to travel and sadly, travel scams do abound...but, with common sense, so many can be avoided. If it's too good to be true, then don't buy into it...free tickets, even help from a stranger... If someone is trying to get your attention...ignore, move on and learn to say no in their language. Be aware of your limitations...Don't go down dark streets, be in well lit areas....etc., etc. We were told that Jamaican locals will offer you "great deals" and help you get into tourists sites free...Ignore it and move on. My elderly father was scammed when little children would throw themselves at his feet in several countries...They then pick pocket you. Don't travel and "look" like an American...The ugly American almost deserves what they get. When in Rome, be a Roman... Dress like the locals...learn several phrases.. Carry translation cards...be soft, not loud.. Use common sense and all will be OK.
- —Guest Bonita
Scam in India
- I was scammed in a private jewelry store shopping for antiques and jewelry for my wife. The owner's son approached me and after a conversation he learned I was living in China. They asked if I would carry some jewels to a store they owned there, and offered to pay me for this service. I was given the name of the store, location, owners details, and was told they would contact me once I arrived in China. By the way, they needed a credit card acceptance or personal check on file for the value of gems which they entrusted to me, and promised it would not be needed unless I did not show with the delivery. I fell for it. Once I returned home to China, I could see the billing on my credit card and I knew I had been scammed. Luckily I resisted a large delivery of $5000 which they requested, and said I would try $500 as a test. Good money down the rat hole.... I still have the fake stones in my safe and will use them to teach my children about how Daddy got scammed.
- —pwd2008
Dallas Love Field Taxi scam
- Once after landing at Dallas Love Field airport, my husband and I were looking for the airport shuttle for our hotel. Apparently we looked confused as we were gazing at an advertisement for the hotel. A middle aged man came up to us and said he was the "shuttle" person for the hotel. Like dummies we followed him to the parking garage near the shuttle parking. When he asked for 10 dollars and pointed to his beat-up minivan, we knew it was a scam and said "no thanks" and walked away quickly. Most shuttles do not charge anything and are well marked with the company name, so if someone asks you to pay, say no and run away!
- —Guest Sienna
Scammed by an American in Rome
- While waiting in a cafe across from the entrance for the Vatican tour in Rome, a young American girl started chatting with us. She offered to pay our bill saying "the cashiers here always scam you." We let her, but afterward realized we had also paid for her food! My daughter (age ~25) said, "Yep, she was way too friendly."
- —Guest Susan
Timeshare Scams in Mexico
- In Los Cabos and Cancun, Mexico, vendors offer tours and flight specials. They don't tell you there is a required 3-5 hour timeshare presentation. If you don't go, you don't get the price they promised. True in the Gold Zone of Puerto Vallarta as well as downtown and hotel area of Cancun or Playa Del Carmen.
- —Guest ANDREA
Slow with Change in Italy
- We sat in St. Mark's Plaza to listen to the music in the evening and enjoy a Cappuccino. When my husband paid for it with a large bill, the waiter put it in his pocket and proceeded to walk a few feet away, where he began talking to another waiter thinking we wouldn't know we were owed change. After waiting a few minutes, my husband walked over to him and asked for our change, which he received.
- —Guest patstgeorge@gmail.com
Scams in Europe
- Edinburgh: Beware of the taxi driver who loads you up with lots of "shrapnel" coins in change & dumps a mess of different denominations in your hand by the time you have worked out you have been cheated he has driven off long gone. Helsinki, Finland is somewhat worse, as you can be driven around the block a many times and then again be duped by getting "shrapnel" and driver is long gone by time you discover you have been cheated. Paris: the best cons by far at Gare Du Nord ticket & ATM Machines with the "helpful local" (all well known to Police who suggest you can make a claim but usually respond with "consider yourself lucky you didn't lose E200.00 like the last tourist." The helpful local will help you purchase a ticket from the machine or use ATM only to somehow skim your account for well in excess of withdrawal amount or ticket value. Great part of the world, but it's a shame about some of the people
- —sumotee
Variation on the 'Ran out of Gas' Scam
- Whilst holidaying in Orlando, Florida, my wife and I were approached by a fairly well-dressed gentleman on International Drive near the Wet & Wild area with a sob story that he had filled his vehicle with gas, only to find he was $9 short. He asked if we could "lend" him the money. He would post it back to us if we gave him our contact details, as he said he was an honest Christian and not a bum or anything like that. My wife was about to take pity on him, but I'm more cautious and simply said "Sorry, we don't carry cash." What set alarm bells ringing for me was in my experience of driving in various American states. You pay for a set amount of gas before filling up, unlike in Britain where it is the other way around -- so his story didn't add up. My guess is he had heard our accents and thought he could put one over on us. In fairness, he didn't argue and simply crossed the road to hassle an old couple who started to shake their heads at him.
- —Guest Benzade
Money Scam
- In Cuba they use two different cash systems, one for tourists (CUC) where one peso equals $1 US. Their own currency is worth much less, but looks a little similar. Someone will approach you and ask to buy your watch, shoes etc. and offer a high amount and then try to pay you in their pesos, which are useless to tourists and worth next to nothing. Also, never buy cigars from anywhere except a hotel or tobacco store unless you want cheap fakes.
- —mucco1
Scam artists in airports
- I was at JFK airport awaiting a flight when a man approached me and asked if he could "borrow" $10 as he had "broken down" outside and needed to get a tow truck. He said he would return with the money. I never saw him again. I had never been scammed before but it certainly makes you more aware and wary of being ripped off.
- —Guest Roseann
Street Scam in Hanoi
- A well dressed and well spoken girl approached me and politely asked for a donation for a foundation for disadvantaged children. She wore an official looking name tag around her neck and showed me a notebook in which previous donors had written their names, country of origin and the amount they had given. The usual amount was about $10. The list was impressive and included contributors from just about every country on the planet. When I offered her a donation of the Vietnamese equivalent of $2, she pointed out that everyone else gave at least $10. It was then I suspected a scam. I told her I thought it was a wonderful thing she was doing and asked if I could take her picture and write an article about her. She started screaming "no photo!" and when I persisted, she fled across the road to where a male accomplice was waiting on a motorbike. They both roared away at full speed.
- —Guest rrrobo
Paris Metro Pickpocket Duo
- While using the Paris Metro a man near me"accidentally" dropped his cellphone and then bent down as if to pick it up. Using this distraction, his accomplice went for my trouser pockets and then the one who was "looking" for his cellphone started to reach into my trouser legs looking for the leg pouch that many tourists use. I reacted by kicking strongly and then luckily the train stopped and I fled with my wife onto the platform, and the thief whom I had kicked picked up the Paris map I had dropped and handed it to me through the door as it was closing, acting the part of the good citizen. But my passport and cash were still on me. Be careful!
- —Guest dzohar
Snoozing Bag Snatcher at the Louvre
- While sitting in a cafe waiting for a third party, we noticed a man snoozing at corner table. Two girls sat at nearby table and put their bags on floor. We watched "snoozing" man wake up, pick up his bag, drop his jacket near the girl's table and while picking up the jacket, he took off with her bag too. That bag contained passport, ID, money, credit cards, etc.
- —jenckell
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