Scams are an unfortunate part of life. Everywhere in the world are people looking for unscrupulous ways to make money, all at someone else's expense, loss, and sometimes quite terrible suffering. Many scammers are quite smart; they know how to cheat money out of others in a manner in which identification and prosecution of themselves is difficult if not impossible, and where the victim has little if any recourse.
They take advantage of weak laws and law enforcement, thereby allowing themselves to effectively operate indefinitely while nothing is stopping them.

 

Tourists are among those most vulnerable to scams. There are many reasons for this. Tourists are unfamiliar with the area, are often in need of help and information and tend to be trusting of those offering it, are likely not to question what they see or are told, do not know alternatives, often cannot speak the language where they are, carry large amounts of cash and available credit, often do not have a vehicle and therefore the freedom to travel anywhere they wish within the area, are unfamiliar with the area's law enforcement agencies, are afraid of getting in trouble with police themselves, are unlikely to return to the area to assist in the prosecution of the offenders, and are unlikely to ever cross paths with the scammers again.

 

One who has travelled enough is very likely to have been a victim of such a scam at some time in their lives. Some scams are quite obvious once they have occurred; the victim realises they have been cheated but only after it is too late. Others are more subtle; the victim may never realise that anything went wrong and that they spent money they never needed to spend.

 

There are common scams that occur in many places that the traveller should be aware of. These are designed to get your money or business from you under false pretences. They fall into three categories: overcharging you, deceiving you or coercing you into paying for a service you don't want, and outright theft.

 

Prevention is based on knowledge: researching your destination will both alert you in advance to scams in the area and let you know what the usual prices and truly good sights are so you will be less reliant on the approaches of helpful individuals when you're vulnerable.

 

At the same time, if you do get stung, don't be too hard on yourself: you were dealing with people who knew the location a lot better than you and with people who were out to deceive you. In some cases, you were dealing with hardened criminals. If you think what happened to you was illegal and the police are trustworthy, report it, otherwise, just chalk it up to experience. Note that if you wish to make a theft-related claim against an insurancepolicy, you will generally need to make a police report within 24 hours and keep a copy for your insurance company.

 

The Rose

A man comes up to you and hands you a rose, telling you you’re beautiful. 

Common in: Europe

 

The Bracelet

I experienced this one first hand outside of the Louvre. A man came up to me and started to tie a “friendship bracelet” around my wrist and then demanded money for it. 

Common in: Europe

 

The Shoe Shine

A boy approaches you offering to clean or fix your shoes and when you’re ready to walk away, he screams that you haven’t paid him.

Common In: India

 

The Tea Ceremony

Two Chinese teenagers approach you about going to a traditional tea ceremony. 

Common in: Asia

 

Gems and Carpets

These scams usually take place in busy market area.

Common In: Asia, Europe, Middle East

 

Closed Attractions

You’re wandering around a city and ask a local how to get to a major attraction. They tell you that it is closed today, but don’t worry, they will take you on a tour.

Common In: Asia

 

Volunteer Programs

You think you’re doing the right thing by spending a portion of your trip volunteering. But is this volunteer opportunity what you think it is?

Common In: Worldwide

 

Tuk Tuks and Taxis

You tell the driver you want to go to a specific site and instead they take you to their aunt/cousin/friend’s souvenir, dress, gem, carpet store to buy. 

Common In: Asia, South America

 

The Border Crossing

Whenever you cross a border by land in many countries, you will be told that you need an additional visa or have to pay a bribe or something of the like.

Common In: Africa, Asia, South America

 

Fake Tickets

When you approach a travel agency about booking an overnight bus or train, they can tell you that you’ll need to pay a higher rate and pay for your visa in advance.

Common In: Asia, South America

 

The Mustard

There are many distraction scenarios, but typically someone tells you that you have a stain, bird poop, or mustard on your shirt and offers you a napkin to wipe it off.

Common In: Worldwide

 

The Clipboard

Someone approaches you about signing a petition and while you are signing the clipboard, another person pickpockets you.

Common In: Europe