When I was traveling in Thailand with a friend, we were trying to find a boat tour to cruise along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. A taxi driver recommended a company to us; we went there and learned that a one-hour tour was only 30 USD.
Without considering whether this price was a good deal, we accepted it. For us—still thinking about prices back home—this offer seemed reasonable. However, when the boat tour ended early, we realized we might have been scammed (later, we learned it was double the price we should have paid).
After lunch, we headed to the Grand Palace. When we arrived, we didn't see a crowd. We looked at the left side of the palace, then the right side.
“Where is everyone?” I asked.
An enterprising tuk-tuk driver approached us and said the palace was closed for lunch. Scott and I looked at each other. Maybe it was true. After all, many museums do that sometimes, and besides, we didn't see anyone around. It seemed logical. He offered to take us to a few places that were open.
“Sure,” we replied—and we found ourselves visiting not just a few temples, but also a tailor shop, a jewelry shop, and a gift shop.
Later, he took us to the palace (unsurprisingly, it was open). That’s when we realized the palace never closes; we were just on the wrong side of the building.
We had been scammed.
My life as a traveler did not have a good start.
Travel scams are real—and they vary by country. If you are carrying a guidebook, it will list the most common scams in that specific country.
To help you stay safe, I want to give you a list of common travel scams to avoid today.
Avoiding travel scams requires a lot of common sense and a healthy dose of suspicion. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!
Here are some more universal scams you’ll want to avoid:
1. Taxi Overcharging: This is one of the most common travel scams out there. Either the driver tells you the meter is broken and demands a high fare, or the meter runs faster and higher than normal.
To avoid this scam, you first need to know how much a ride should cost. I always ask hotel or hostel staff how much a ride should cost so I have a reference point.
Then, if the taxi driver tries to negotiate the fare, I offer the correct price. If they refuse, I find someone who will use the meter. If the meter is going up too fast, I tell them to stop and get out. Many tourism boards provide ways to report bad taxi drivers, so always remember to note the driver's ID number when you get into a taxi.
When in doubt, ask your hotel/hostel staff to call a taxi for you. They will know which companies are reliable.
And never get into an unlicensed taxi—no matter how perfect the deal seems!
2. Your Accommodation is “Closed”: This is another taxi driver-related scam. In this scam, the driver will tell you your hotel or hostel is overbooked or even closed. It’s not. I mean, if it were closed, you wouldn't have been able to make a reservation, right? Ignore them and insist on going there. If they continue to insist, keep pushing and insist. They will usually shut up.
And while this scam may seem like something nobody would fall for, people do. I’ve been in many taxis where they claimed it had been closed for months.
A note: In this age of smartphones, we have regained our power. We are no longer helpless because we can look at a map and see the correct route. I love checking Google Maps to see what the best route is. If they are deviating from the route, I usually point to the map and insist they go that way. (In Bangkok, I got out of a taxi because the driver was trying to trick me by taking a longer route.)
If I am going to a country where I won't have phone access, I download the map to my phone. Your phone’s GPS will work even if you don't have a connection. Additionally, services like Uber greatly reduce the chance of getting scammed by increasing driver accountability.
3. The Shell Game: I see this all the time—I never understand how people fall for it. It’s a very old and obvious scam. It’s even in the movies! You’ll see people playing a card game on the street (sometimes known as three-card Monte) or hiding a ball in a cup, and see someone guessing where it is and winning money. Then you decide to play too—and you win! Thinking this is great, you bet more money... and then you lose—and lose again and again.
4. “Come for Tea and Write Me a Letter!”: This travel scam happened to me in Morocco. As I was leaving a shop, a man started chatting. When he learned I was from NYC (first clue), he said he had a cousin living there and asked me to come to the shop to write him a postcard (second clue).
The goal here is to lure me into the shop, maybe give me tea, and then pressure me to buy something. This uses the principle of reciprocity: he gave me tea, treated me well, so soon I will feel socially obligated to buy something.
Similarly, a tea scam common in China involves a beautiful local woman who wants to practice English. Due to culture shock, many men are happy to speak English with a friendly local. She invites you to try a tea ceremony, so you go to a tea house (usually near the Forbidden City).
After a while, the owners bring you the bill, which is a huge amount of money, and they threaten to call the police if you don't pay. Since most travelers don't want trouble, they pay.
To avoid this, don't follow people to a second location or believe that they suddenly have a cousin living exactly where you live!
5. Free Bracelets/Rosemary/Something Else: This scam is common in Europe. A friendly person makes brief conversation with you, then ties a bracelet on your wrist or puts a hat on your head or gives you a small sprig of rosemary. Once you have something on you, they demand money. If you refuse, they start making a scene in the hope of shaming you.
Don't let anyone put anything on your body and be extremely careful when accepting something for free. If they put something on you, just take it off, give it back, and be firm. Then walk away and continue your day. They won't come after you.
Another common variation of this scam is the fake monk. You will find this everywhere from NYC to Europe to Asia. The “monk” puts a Buddhist bracelet on your wrist and then asks for a “donation.” Real Buddhist monks don't sell cheap bracelets, so always ignore monks who are selling trinkets.
6. Spilling Something on Your Clothes: There you are, minding your own business, and someone spills something on you. It ruins your day, but accidents happen, right? They apologize profusely and offer to clean it, wipe off the stain, and apologize. While you are flustered, they are picking your pockets. By the time you realize what happened, they are already gone.
This scam is also common in Europe. Unless it is already a crowded area, watch out for people entering your personal space. If this happens, push people away and do the cleaning yourself.
Another variation of this is the “poop on the shoe.” Especially common in India, this scam involves someone splashing animal feces on your shoe without you noticing. When you notice, they help you “find” someone to clean your shoe (or clean it themselves) and demand a high fee for it. Conversely, sometimes they pick your pockets while you’re just looking at what happened to your shoe.
In either case, if you get poop on your shoe, be careful!
7. Motorcycle Scam: You rent a motorcycle and spend the day exploring. When you bring it back, the owner demands additional payment or expensive repairs because there is damage you are unaware of. In some cases, they may have asked you to leave your passport instead of a deposit because “it’s easier.” Then, when they inspect the motorcycle and find “new” damage, you are forced to pay a lot of money because they are holding your passport hostage.
I see this scam a lot in Southeast Asia and other developing parts of the world.
To avoid this, first take photos of the motorcycle and document any previous damage. Walk around with the owner so they know what you are photographing. Use your own lock and keep the motorcycle in an out-of-sight place, away from the main street when parking. Sometimes an owner will send someone to break or steal the motorcycle so you are forced to pay!
Also, always make sure to buy travel insurance so you can file a claim if there is a problem.
(This scam is less common with rental cars, but it can still happen, so always take photos and videos of the vehicle—and make sure the company knows you are doing so.)
8. The Flirting Local: You arrive in a new country and go to a bar; a beautiful local comes up to chat with you. You can't believe your luck. You have a few drinks and a great conversation, and you go to a new bar or club they suggest. However, after a wild night and many drinks, the woman disappears and you have to pay an exorbitantly high bill, and there are large men standing over you to ensure you do. Worse, you are drugged and wake up completely robbed of everything you had on you.
Another thing to watch out for is that attractive locals sitting alone in bars might be “working” (i.e., sex workers). It is important to be careful not to misunderstand what you think is chemistry for what it actually is: a business relationship you have to pay for.
The simple solution to avoid this situation is to be wary of attractive locals who promise to take you to the world’s best club, buy you drinks, or are overly flirtatious—especially when you stand out as a foreigner. Getting on a plane did not increase your attractiveness by 10 times.
9. Your Tourist Attraction is Closed for Lunch: As mentioned before, this happened to me and I took the bait! A friendly local approaches and informs you that the place you want to visit is closed for various reasons (religious ceremony, holiday, etc.). Then they direct you to another tourist site or shop where they pressure you to buy something or pay a high entrance fee.
To avoid this, go to the main entrance or ticket booth and check for yourself. Also, remember that most tourist attractions don't close for lunch—they close for the day. Even better, check their opening hours before you go so you know what to expect—opening and closing times are almost always available online. Don't be like me!
10. The “Found” Ring: An innocent-looking person finds a ring on the ground and asks if you dropped it. When you say no, the person examines the ring closely, then shows a mark “proving” it is pure gold. They offer to sell it to you at a better price. They make some money and you get some gold you can resell. Win-win! You think it's a good deal, buy it, and when you try to sell it back home, you find out it’s fake!
This scam is common in Europe. In Paris, a member of my tour group almost fell for it, but I intervened in time and sent the person away. The best way to avoid this scam is not to buy the ring. If it looks too good to be true, it definitely is.
11. Fake Petition: In a popular tourist spot, a woman or child (often posing as deaf or a student) tries to get you to sign a petition. You don't understand what they are saying and you sign the petition to end the awkwardness, hoping they will leave. However, the petitioner then demands a cash donation. At best, everyone who falls for this scam loses a little money; at worst, while you are arguing with the petitioner, your pockets are picked.
A tour member of mine fell for this scam (even though I warned them), but I saved them in time. To avoid this scam, ignore people who approach in groups and try to surround you. Just keep walking.
12. Drug Deal Gone Wrong: This scam is common in many developing countries, especially Southeast Asia, which has a lively party scene. You are in a popular tourist area and someone offers you drugs. You say yes, and suddenly a (real) police officer arrives on the scene! They threaten to arrest you, or demand that you pay a fine (i.e., a bribe) immediately. If caught red-handed, you will likely pay the bribe rather than go to jail.
To avoid this scam, do not buy illegal drugs in other countries!
13. Wrong Change: This happens very often in countries where bills look similar. People usually look at the colors first, so when you get change in the same color, you think you got the right change—but they have actually given you the wrong bills, and they have walked away by the time you realize it.
To avoid getting scammed, count your money carefully every time.
14. The Switch: This happens everywhere in the world and mostly with shirts, carpets, rugs, and antiques. You are in a store and see a designer product at an affordable price. Maybe they bought it wholesale? After bargaining a bit, the owner agrees to sell it to you. But while you are not looking, they give you a fake product.
To avoid this scam, remember that no designer product would be that cheap. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it’s not real.
Secondly, make sure the seller gives you exactly the product you want.
15. ATM Scam: When you go to use an ATM, a “helpful” local approaches and offers to help you avoid ATM fees. What they are actually doing is stealing your credit card information using a card skimming device. Usually, a second person, pretending to be a customer in line, confirms the “helpful” person’s tips.
To avoid this, always use ATMs located inside a bank branch. Additionally, check if the ATM itself has a card skimming device. Finally, do not let anyone approach you while using an ATM. If people are acting suspicious, take your card and leave.
16. Child and Injured Beggars: This scam can be found almost everywhere. Usually, an injured person or a small child (sometimes with their mother) approaches you and asks for money. This is a difficult situation because you want to help. Unfortunately, many children are drawn into gangs, and they collect money on their behalf. And sometimes, an accomplice waits nearby to see where you keep your wallet so they can rob you later.
Since it is impossible to know who is legitimate and who is fake, I never give money to injured beggars or children. Instead, I donate to a reputable charity or offer them food.
17. Fake Wi-Fi Hotspot: Nowadays, everyone is always looking for free Wi-Fi. A common scam hackers use is to create a free, unlocked Wi-Fi hotspot and then steal your data once you connect to it.
The solution? Never join unsecured networks and always use a VPN while abroad. It will keep your data safe. Also, do not access sensitive data (for example, your online bank) while on an unsecured network.
If you are unsure about the network you are connecting to, ask the staff. It never hurts to be sure!
18. Fake Money Scam: In cities with many currency exchange offices near popular tourist spots, someone may approach you and ask if you want to exchange money. They offer you a great rate and say they don't take a commission. They might even say they work at a nearby currency exchange office or wear a nametag. The money they show is real, and they demonstrate that it is not fake.
However, when you make a small exchange, you realize that some of the notes (usually in the middle of the stack) are fake—but by then, the person is gone. As a rule, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is, so stick to reputable currency exchange offices.
You have likely been scammed at least once abroad. It happens. However, to avoid being scammed in the future, be cautious of people offering you things in a tourist setting. Think of it this way: would you go for that in your daily life back home?
If the answer is no, it is probably a scam you should avoid.
On the road, a little common sense goes a long way.
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