Watch out, Cookies! These are the most common types of travel scams you will encounter on your travels that are designed to con you out of your money, possessions, and/or physical safety and control of your body. Of course, you want to do your research and find out what scams are more common in the areas you’ll be traveling. But this list of the most common travel scams and con archetypes to avoid will get you started.
The general advice here is to be wary of any of these scenarios or “characters” you encounter on your travels, and always question what you see or are told. Ask questions. Hesitate. Set boundaries. This will likely feel very uncomfortable, and you will likely be tempted to be nice rather than cause offense or seem rude. But what’s worse – seeming a little rude or being assaulted, robbed, and possibly killed? It’s important to keep this in perspective.
It’s my personal motto to always question everything. So ask people questions. It can be an incredibly effective litmus test for any sketchy situation. Anyone who doesn’t actually wish you harm will be able to adjust easily to your cautious behavior. But anyone who does have ulterior motives will not be as prepared to handle your questions and hesitation, and will start showing their true cards more clearly as you do. If they start to grow angry or anxious in response to your questions, that is a tell-tale sign to remove yourself from the situation as quickly as you safely can.
Scam General Precautions
Let’s start with some basic essential advice to follow no matter where you’re traveling or what travel scams are common at your destination. This should go without saying, but never ever give anyone your personal identifying information such as your social security number, bank account info, passwords, address, ID or passport number (except when filling out that airport customs form of course).
Scam “Grooming” Behaviors
These are general behaviors con artists and scammers will use to gain your trust and lay the groundwork for their scam. So be extra mindful if you notice someone exhibiting any of these.
Telling Lies – They’ll often be following scripts they’ve used many times so they can focus more on you and your cues as to whether you’re believing them. So it won’t be easy to spot the lie, but pay attention to any missing details or holes in their story, excessive or shifty eye contact, high-pitched voice, sweating, fidgeting, itching, playing with their hair, or other micro expressions and body language that could indicate lying.
Testing Boundaries – This may be someone asking you lots of questions, trying to get personal information, or get inside your personal bubble with light touching, shaking hands, moving in to tell you a secret, etc.
Process of Isolation – They’ll often try to take you or keep you away from the public, your friends, family, travel companions, etc and isolate you from any support. This could be as gentle as leading you somewhere, or as rough as grabbing you, pushing you, or even drugging or intoxicating you.
Deepening Control – If you resist, they will try to reinforce their control over the power dynamic through a few possible means, such as acting offended and angry at you, or debating or blaming you to make you feel sorry for them or feel guilty about being rude to them.
Of course, these behaviors aren’t always hard and fast “always a bad thing” rules. And I certainly don’t want to make you distrust everyone you meet on your travels. But caution is usually a good thing. When in doubt, don’t do what you’re being asked to do. If you’re not sure, tune into your intuition and if you feel your warning bells go off at all, just walk away. Better safe than sorry really applies here.
Now let’s get into some of the more specific types of scams and cons you may encounter on your travels. I’ll do my best to give you a quick but thorough overview of each, but one can never be too prepared. So remember to do your own research – before you go as well as while you’re traveling – and always keep your wits about you, listen to your gut, and when in doubt get the fuck out.
The Pretty Gift Scam
Don’t let anyone hand you or put anything on you – like jewelry or scarves or pretty flowers – as they may then demand payment for that item after they’ve got it on you. I’ve encountered this in street markets everywhere from Tijuana to Marrakesh to London, so it can happen in a wide variety of destinations, but is especially common in larger, more touristy cities. Now there’s a fine line between a pushy salesperson and a scam artist, and it can be hard to tell the difference when you’re in the thick of it. So if you’re not sure, trust your gut and be polite but firm. If you don’t want the thing, don’t buy the thing. If you do want the thing, make sure you agree on the price before you hand them any money, take the item from them, or give them any other indication of agreement.
The Shiny Object Scam
Similarly, people may try to distract you with a pretty object, gift, piece of jewelry, or fancy trick while they or someone else (working in cahoots) picks your pockets and steals your valuables like your wallet, phone, watch, jewelry, etc. So when someone walks (or more often, rushes) up to you waving something pretty or shiny in your face, be extra aware of what else is happening around and behind you.
Another trick is to distract you with such an item by insisting that it’s actually yours which you dropped earlier. Now of course, maybe you did drop something earlier, and they’re just being a good samaritan. But if you’re traveling smart and strong like a Tough Cookie, and staying aware of your possessions at all times, then you should know immediately whether it could be yours or not, and respond accordingly.
The Pickpocket
Ah the classic pickpocket. The most common trope we see on heist shows and movies. We think we know what they look like and how they do it, but if you’ve ever actually been pickpocketed before, you know it’s not like in the movies. It’s rarely just a smooth bumping as they walk by you. It’s more often when you’re in a crowded and/or distracted environment. So watch out for pickpockets especially when people are crowding or distracting you, such as on public transit or in large groups on tours or at attractions.
Your wallet may seem like the biggest prize, but pickpockets will actually go for your phone as much if not more often. Because people tend to be super careful with their wallets, but quite cavalier with their phones. I’ve seen thieves simply grab a phone out of someone’s hand and run off with it. So be mindful of who is around you while you have your phone out. And if you have it tucked away in your pocket, keep it in your front pocket, which is much harder to pickpocket than a back pocket. Or better yet, no pocket at all, and instead keep it out of sight altogether in a well-enclosed, sturdy, cross-body bag over your shoulder.
The Photo Scam
Before you take any photos of tourist attractions, performances, or really anything at all, make sure you know whether it’s permitted, and also whether it’s free. You may be allowed to take photos in some places, but you have to pay first. Or someone will come and demand payment for it afterward, whether it’s technically forbidden or not, even if you didn’t notice any signage indicating so. You won’t always know or be able to verify the actual rules, so just be aware of what the customs are. And if you’re unsure, don’t take the photo (or be really really stealthy about it).
The Taxi Scam
Watch out for taxis either overcharging you or where you’re being guided too forcefully to a specific car or destination. Don’t let anyone steer you to a taxi not in an official legitimate taxi line, especially if you don’t know the driver or person steering you there.
Once in a taxi or other public transit vehicle, don’t let the driver talk you into another hotel or other accommodations you don’t know where he insists he knows a great deal. It’s likely not as great as he says, and is possibly downright dangerous. Agree on the route beforehand and insist on your chosen destination. You can always research the place he recommended once you get where you already feel comfortable going, and change your plans then if it’s warranted.
Also get to know the usual local fares so you’re not overcharged. Make sure you agree on the fare with the driver in advance. If the taxi runs on a meter, watch the meter carefully. Tell the driver that you’ll need a receipt, so they know you’ll be able to identify them later.
This one is important. Make sure the driver is alone. Don’t let them take others you don’t know in the same taxi. Then sit behind the driver, not next to them, and lock the doors during your journey, though of course making sure you can open them in an emergency. Keep your belongings in the backseat with you too, or if they must go in the trunk, then stay in the taxi until your bags have been fully removed from the trunk so they can’t drive off with your stuff after you get out.
The Car Accident Scam
In your research beforehand and on your way, make sure you learn the local customs if you’re involved in or witness a traffic accident. In many countries and cases, stopping can put your life at risk. The accident may have been engineered to ensure you stop in a vulnerable situation.
Also watch out for carjackers at intersections, in slow traffic, and in accidents if you’re approached or hit from behind. If you suspect that is happening while you’re in or stopped at an accident, remain in your car, write down their license plate number, and call the local police or other applicable authorities to report it from inside your car.
The Corrupt/Faux Police Scam
If you’re unsure about a police officer or other authority figure who’s approached you, ask to see their badge (nicely, of course) and write down the badge number. You have the right to ask for this information. And never give rides to uniformed personnel. If asked, politely decline and make up some excuse about running late or anything else that gets you out of the situation as quickly and calmly as possible.
Do NOT offer bribes to authority figures, even if you think it will speed things up at seemingly sketchy checkpoints. It probably won’t, and it may get you in even hotter water. Now there’s a difference between offering a bribe and being asked for one. The former is far more likely to offend, but the latter does happen from time to time in some countries and areas. If you do find yourself in a situation where you’re forced to pay a bribe to avoid greater risk, do so, then later report it to authorities you trust.
The Victim Scam
A quick method often used by con artists and predators to gain your sympathy and get your guard down is to play a victim. This ploy can be very difficult to spot depending on their acting skills. However, it’s also difficult for them to maintain if you don’t give them what they want or start asking them too many questions. The more they stay in charge of the play, the more control they have. So take away their control of the situation and narrative by hesitating, asking questions, and generally following your gut instinct.
The Damsel/Child In Distress
Using a young child or having a woman ask you for help is a common and effective way to play this victim card, to get you to lower your guard and want to come to their rescue. Once you’ve bought into the narrative they’ve presented to you, it’s easy for them to convince you to do or give up any number of things you have – your money, your phone, your physical body to follow them somewhere – under the guise of being their savior.
The Hero Scam
Along similar lines, this predator will conveniently show up to help you with something you seem to need, such as directions or recommendations of where to go, or to rescue you from something they declare is or could be dangerous. This predator is trying to gain your trust and assess how vulnerable you are. So again, trust your gut and know your own situation, and then hesitate, ask questions, be skeptical, to throw them off their game if they are indeed trying to scam you.
The Best Friend Scam
This predator tries to become your friend quickly by sharing what they present as very personal information about themselves. Once you’re engaged and your guard is down, the predator begins the interview process to gain more knowledge about you. Basically, your personal information in exchange for their (seemingly) personal information they just shared with you. The important factor in this con is that this person wants to only share what they have rehearsed and then does not allow you to direct the conversation. They want to keep the conversation focused on what they are looking for from you. So if you ask questions and take the conversation in a different direction they aren’t prepared for, their story and friendly persona will start to unravel.
The Group Hunt
There’s a higher level of danger when you have a group of people working together to prey on isolated victims. These predators will have a group hunting technique that they will have rehearsed extensively. As a group, they may feel more powerful and be bolder to violate your personal space more quickly. So pay attention to groups moving in on you or trying to get friendly with you too quickly. This situation is easy to spot when the target (that’s you) doesn’t follow the behavior they expect of you, or creates a distraction, or interrupts their plan, as the group usually has little practice for what to do in those unplanned scenarios. In that case, the group will then usually look to their leader for direction and/or look around at each other for signals of what to do.
Remember, these scam types aren’t always going to look the exact same or be true in every part of the world. So it’s vital that you do your own research as well before you leave, while on your way, and after you arrive at each destination to stay up-to-date on what to expect where you’re traveling. But hopefully now that you’ve read this article, you are much more prepared to do that and have a good foundation for what might be waiting out there for you.
Now of course, there’s a fine line between being prepared and being overly anxious. Sure there may be travel scams and dangers and ill-intentioned people out there, but there are also plenty of good, lovely people who truly do want to help, or sell you their honest wares, or become your friend. So it’s a balance. Stay informed, alert, and cautious but also stay calm, confident, and have fun. After all, what good is protecting yourself on your travels if you’re not also enjoying your travels, right?
