TRAVEL SCAMS - Don't be the victim of one.

I have been travelling for over 40 years now and during all these years travel scammers have become
more cunning and more sophisticated in trying and
sometimes succeeding in ruining your hard earned holidays.

Here below are some of the most popular scams going around.

This article is to help not only the novice travellers but also some of the would be "experienced" traveller alike.

Taking note and being aware of these scams will prevent you from losing your valuables.

SCAM No:1

The Hotel switch.

You get into a taxi and ask to be taken to a certain hotel, only to be told by the driver that he just tried to take someone else there and the hotel was full.
He helpfully recommends another hotel, which just happens to have a vacancy - and happens to pay
commission to taxi drivers.

Here's how to avoid this scam:ring from the airport to make a booking or ask the taxi driver to wait while you check that the hotel has a room (don't leave your bags in the taxi!).

SCAM No:2

The shoe cleaner.

A kid in the street points out that you have bird poo on your shoe and says he can clean it off for a modest sum.
He just happens to have a shoe cleaning kit under his arm - and guess how the poo got on your shoe in the first place?

How to avoid it: just laugh and pay up - many street kids make a living out of shoe cleaning. If
you don't pay up the hassles will continue until your patience is tested to the breaking point, is it worth it for a measley few cents?

SCAM No:3

The shirt slash.

Watch for this one folks as it is getting into the serious side and it may ultimately, make you loose
your cash or other valuables that you are carrying with you.

A member of a gang slashes the shirt of your travelling companion while another mugs you for your jewellery or camera.

How to avoid it: don't be a target - buy yourself a cheap plastic watch and leave all your jewellery in a safe place at home.

SCAM No:4

The card swipe.



The shopkeeper tells you he/she needs to go out the back to process your credit card, when what she really means is to copy your credit card.
This is also sometimes done under the counter, where the card is swiped through a second machine that records the details.

How to avoid it: never let your credit card out of your sight and only use it in well-established shops and restaurants.

SCAM No:5

The luggage slash.

You put your padlocked bag up on the rack while you sleep on the train and when you wake up you discover your bag has been cut open and half emptied.

Locking your bag to the rack with a bike lock is a good start but many thieves simply slash bags open to rifle through them.

How to avoid it: use a hard-shell, lockable suitcase or
invest in a Pacsafe protector, a tough wire net that goes around your rucksack.

SCAM No:6

The dodgy taxi.


It is amazing how often a "broken" taxi meter suddenly comes to life when you threaten to get another taxi. Or how a 10-minute trip can take half an hour, with a lot of twists and turns.

Dodgy taxi drivers are one of the most common complaints among travellers but also one of the easiest to get around.



How to avoid it: insist that the driver either use the meter or agree a price up front. Ask hotel
staff or locals how much the fare should be and make sure the driver knows that you know.

SCAM No:7

Money changers.

Some of the money changers you encounter on the street ought to be working as magicians.
Distractions are often used to short-change travellers and they have also been known to duck away
to "get change" and not come back.

How to avoid it: work out in advance how much you should be getting and don't walk away until you have counted it. Official money changers are a better bet.

SCAM No:8

The bag snatch.

This usually involves some sort of distraction, such as an altercation in the street.

How to avoid it: keep the strap of your bag across your body, or around your chair leg if you are
in a cafe. Try to avoid carrying a bag if you are just out for the day.

To finish this article off, one piece of last advice is: use your common sense and you will be in the clear.

Happy and safe travels.

Harry