How to Avoid Travel Scams and
Other Suspicious Deals

All that glitters isn't gold and there are plenty of travel scams that will try to part you from your money on the road.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

New scams crop up each day and the list of potential scams below is in no way exhaustive. All it can do is alert you to some of the more common ingenious ploys used on travelers with some success - and help you fight them.

Have you ever been the victim of a travel scam? If you have, please share your story with us - it'll help us be even more cautious.

Being a solo woman backpacker is sometimes like wearing a stamp on your forehead - travel scams welcome!

It's not that we're any less prepared or more gullible than men or groups. On the contrary, if anything we tend to be more prepared because we are aware of being on our own.

It's more about how others see us. Women on their own, young or old, vulnerable, and possibly without family. Oh yes, in many cultures we're to be pitied, as no woman would choose to travel on her own if she had someone to travel with, would she?

These scams can take many forms: product substitution, shortchanging, pickpocketing, accommodation scams, outright theft and more.

I've been traveling on my own for more years than I'll admit to and I have been scammed a few times - but far fewer than I might have expected. And most have been small scams in the grand scheme of things. You grin and bear it - these small adventures will occasionally happen because we can't always be on our guard and sometimes we simply have no control over a situation.

Still, being forewarned means you'll be able to enjoy your travels rather than keep looking over your shoulder all the time for potential travel scams.

How to avoid travel scams

Most travel scams involve money - the more money involved, the more scams it will attract.

The first thing you should watch out for is anyone trying to part you from your money, whether another backpacker or someone you've just met. Need money for an emergency flight home? Have a sick parent who needs care? School fees due but parents unemployed? These are just a few of the many heartrending stories you might hear.

Here are some absolute 'no-way' situations to avoid at all costs:

• losing sight of your money: if someone suggests taking your money out of the room or out of your sight, the answer should be a resounding No, whatever the circumstances
• always pay AFTER you receive a service - the temptation to run off with your money without providing you with a service may be just a little too strong
• anything to do with gems, stones or precious metals will probably never be legitimate and should send out a warning signal for travel scams - if you want to buy some precious or semi-precious stones, go to an approved government outlet

A Rolex Oster (misspelling included) for $20? A Vuitton bag for $35? A Lacoste or Ralph Lauren polo shirt for $2?

Despite letters missing and poorly drawn logos, these counterfeit goods never cease to please those whose ethics don't prevent them from buying.

The number of backpackers who have purchased counterfeit CDs on the streets of Shanghai or Stanley Market in Hong Kong or fake software and goods in Bangkok are legion. It's awfully tempting to buy a Windows operating system for $50 but beware, not only is this illegal but it is punishable.

Even in Asia, authorities have begun to crack down but your biggest concern should be your return trip. A number of countries are becoming seriously intolerant of copies, and have specially trained customs officers whose only role is to distinguish authentic from counterfeit.

Travel Scams when you shop

A typical scam involves your buying something you're not allowed to buy - but you often don't know that. There's little way around this other than knowing the law.

In Russia, it is illegal to buy anything older than 50 years. Yet these things - especially religious items and communist military artifacts, such as medals - are openly on sale on the street and in flea markets. It's hard to imagine you might end up in jail as a smuggler for buying what is openly for sale.

Another hot item is the precious stone. You might be offered gems to take home and sell, along with promises of high profits. Beware. Genuine gem dealers have sales and distribution networks and don't need a lone woman traveler to sell their stones. They can do it without your help.

Unfortunately in most countries, ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law, so do your research and find out what's legal - before you do it.

Uniformed travel scams

A favorite - and this one is hard to spot - is the uniform scam.

Someone wearing an official uniform asks you to do something or go somewhere that inevitably costs you money.

In one of the better reported travel scams in India, a uniformed man warns women there is a bomb scare at the airport and that she'll have to spend the night in a hotel. Needless to say, there is no bomb scare, and no prepaid hotel.

In Bahrain, thieves have been known to pose as plainclothes tourist police asking for identification - running off with wallets when they are produced.

The good thing about these travel scams is that they quickly become common knowledge and countries that want to keep tourists coming will usually take quick action.

For us, though, this type of scam is harder to see coming. It's impossible to be familiar with all foreign uniforms, and the fears we carry of terrorism and crime will usually override any doubts or questions we might have.

If approached by someone in uniform with an unexpected request, make sure you move into a well-lit or crowded place, ask to see identification and take down the number. That will usually be enough to discourage a scammer.

Taxi scams

Taxis that try to overcharge are unfortunately one of the most common travel scams around. This can range from a trafficked meter ('it's broken, it's not necessary, we don't use them in this country') to asking for 'extras' for carrying a backpack to taking a circuitous route. In a new city, it's so easy to be misled - how will you know if you're driven in circles at night when all buildings look the same?

I was once taken by a taxi to a deserted part of town - where the driver then asked me for more money before going any further. I nicely agreed - you don't want to leave your life behind - and when we got to the hotel I jumped out of the cab screaming 'police! police!' He ran off, and I made sure I gave his licence plate number to the hotel receptionist.

Here are some common taxi travel scams:

• there is a riot/demonstration/accident up ahead so we'll have to take a detour
• there is too much traffic so we'll take the autoroute/motorway and you'll have to pay the tolls (at many times the real price)
• the meter is broken - it may well be, but if so, get the driver to write the agreed amount down on a piece of paper
• if he quibbles at arrival, waving the paper and mentioning the word police several times should do the trick (find out how to say 'police' before you go!)
• starting the meter at a higher rate - the only way you'll know is if you've done your homework, so find out the starting cost of a taxi meter before you get into the cab

TIP: If at all possible, try to team up with someone for a cab ride - it's usually quite easy in a taxi line at the airport - look for any other backpacker. Chances are they might be going to the same hostel as you are! Don't get into an unofficial taxi unless that's the country's norm, like in Cuba, where most taxis are unofficial. And always make sure you can open the doors from the inside.

Product substitutions scams

These kinds of travel scams are the bread and butter of those who prey on travelers.

In Marrakech I bought a perfectly white sheepskin. The kind vendor took it into the back of the shop to wrap it for my backpack. When I eventually got home and unwrapped it, it was a muddy shade of brown - not at all the one that I'd bought. I fell for the oldest of travel scams in the book.

For a long time (and this may still be true) it was best not to trust the bottled water in Nairobi. Thieves had found ingenious ways of breaking the seal and resealing the bottles and passing off tap water (not that healthy in Nairobi) as bottled water.

Internet scams

As traveling women we often use the Internet to keep in touch with home.

There are hundreds of strong internet scams afloat and just because you're on the road doesn't mean you're protected - in fact, it's more the contrary, since you are less in touch with news.

Take the well-known Nigerian scam (and its many imitators). You receive an email from a seemingly important personality who needs to place his or her money abroad - usually a relative of a head of state or equally important person. You'll have to go to Nigeria in person to get the money - but of course there will be 'taxes' to pay and transfer charges and subsistence money for the poor relative and backhanders for the bank employee to turn a blind eye and...

When you're on the road, there are only two ways of getting your hands on money legitimately: either by getting a proper job, or by using your funds back home. Anything else is probably shady.

Common travel scams

To avoid travel scams of a more common nature (and there are many of these) it helps to at least be aware of them!

Here are some of the most common repeat offenders:

• the 'turkey drop' or dropped wallet: a wallet or cash is left on the ground in full view and when you pick it up, someone approaches you and accuses you of stealing it - and then asks you to pay to stay out of the police's hands.
• diversion tactics: a young child will grab you (this one happened to me) by the hand or arm, and while you look down, another child will grab whatever is available from your pocket or bag (in my case, my only pair of reading glasses, which I had to buy back in a street market just an hour later!). There are hundreds of variations on this one.
• first night in: you'll be jumped at the airport or bus station by touts offering great discounts if you stay in their hotel - don't. Most often you'll pay more. Always have a reservation or know where you're going the first night in.
• wrong change: a taxi driver or shopkeeper will hand back the (hence the need to familiarize yourself with the currency) or bills that are no longer in circulation
• overcharging, especially food or drinks: avoid this or worse by always asking about costs before you order.
• keep an eye on your drinks and don't let them out of your sight
• pickpockets, particularly at crowded transport hubs like bus stations, train stations, boat docks and airports
• passport theft from your pack or daypack - I was on the receiving end of one of these travel scams in Beijing once, on a crowded city street
• ATM theft - thieves follow you from the machine and then steal what you've withdrawn (there are plenty of ATM scams so check out these ATM tips)
• if someone offers you something for free, it probably isn't: 'friendship' string bracelets, corn to feed birds, good luck coins to toss into a fountainby the time you realize you have to pay it may be too late
• beggars, especially pregnant gypsies - a few might be, but most are not. One famous gypsy beggar in Madrid drives a Mercedes on her day off!
• child street beggars in Asia - often they are trafficked by gangs and forced to beg - the money goes to the slavemasters, an unfortunately common form of modern-day slavery. Don't give money - it just encourages the trade.
• anything alcohol-related: always be particularly vigilant if you drink - things can be poured into your glass, and when you drink your guard is down
• theft on public transport - train compartments, buses... always make sure you are wearing your money belt and that you sleep on it; lock your backpack to something that can't move.
• pretty much anyone trying to sell you something directly on the street - it will most probably be stolen or of inferior quality at a higher price
• signing something, like a petition or other document - you don't know what you're signing and if it is an authentic petition, your signature won't carry weight anyway since you're not a resident
• ticket sellers - for subways, buses, museums or attractions - don't buy from scalpers - the tickets may end up being more expensive, and they may be fakes
• don't let anyone other than an official porter part you from your luggage and even then, keep your eyes on it

Don't let all this scare you! These travel scams may seem a little scary but they shouldn't make you afraid. Travel is a wonderful adventure and over the many years I've been on the road, I've rarely faced anything other than kindness. I can count the travel scams I've encountered on the fingers of one hand.

The point is to be aware and to stay away from potentially dangerous situations.

Your best weapon is your knowledge, and I won't be doing you a favor by glossing over dangers and pretending nothing ever happens.

My main rule: if a situation gets a bit uncomfortable, just walk away. This will work in 99% of situations in which people approach you.

So be armed, be informed, and then just go and enjoy!

Have you been the victim of a travel scam?

If you backpack a lot, you may have had the misfortune of running into the occasional dishonest operator who is only after your money.

There are travel scams of every kind, and the more we know about them the less often we'll be taken in. Have you ever been ripped off on the road? If so, please tell us about it - your story can help someone else someday. It's all about paying it forward!

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