Travel Scams

Wallet Drop Trick: How It Works This trick is a very calculated scam, and it could happen to you in your city or while traveling. Let's say you are waiting for a bus, taxi or train, sitting on a bench. Your bag (suitcase, bigger purse, etc.) is just beside you. Somebody passes by you […]

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How the scam works: India is a hot place and water sells like nothing else. As you buy some bottled water, you might feel safe to find that they all have their caps sealed and seem legit, but what you should do is check the bottom. What crooks do is refill the bottles through a […]

Water Bottles in India Read More

How the scam works: (with video below) You have landed at your destination and are happy to start your well-deserved vacation. Either in the airport or at any popular place (Eiffel Tower, Sacre Couer, Colisseum, etc), a kid comes up to you and says: “Welcome to our country, please accept this bracelet as a hospitality […]

Welcoming Bracelet Read More

Wi-Fi Login Scam: How It Works (with video below) Did it ever happen to you that while you wanted to access a Wi-Fi spot there were no networks available? Of course it did. While the Wi-Fi Scam has been occuring since the beginning of the Internet, it is still going strong, especially with the […]

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How the scam works: You're in Thailand and have seen all Bangkok has to offer. You want to move to one of the neighboring countries for a couple of days and decide on Laos. You've met a few locals and have become quite chummy, so they recommend places for you to go to get the […]

Smuggling Tourists Scam Read More

How the scam works: Most students work hard to pass all their exams. At the end of term, a vacation feels long overdue and students will find flyers are posted all over campus, on school announcement boards, or on Facebook walls. The offers are very tempting. Headlines such as “A Christmas break trip well deserved” or “Student Discount” might […]

School Break Packages Read More

How the scam works: You are enjoying walking through the streets of Beijing and a young Chinese fellow approaches you for some reason. You are nice to him and chat back. He will claim he is a student and before you know it will tell you about his amazing art exhibition across the street. He […]

Students in China Read More

How the scam works: This scam takes place in most of the European capitals’ subway stations, but it could easily occur in any other country, so beware. Whenever you are purchasing tickets from the dispensers located underground, somebody will come and help you, while you are trying to figure out the machine. Besides the employees […]

Subway Ticket Dispenser Read More

How the scam works: This scam belongs to the Timeshare Scam group. Somebody conducting a survey approaches you on the sidewalk. After a few questions, they will politely give you a scratch card as a token of appreciation for your time. The card is a winning one (lucky you!), but in order to receive the prize […]

Survey and Scratch Card Read More

How the scam works: In Vietnam, one of the most efficient ways to travel fast is by bike. Indeed, for tourists, there are several taxi-bikes available on most of the streets. They are called Xe Om, which means “Bike Hug”. The problem is that – just like in any other touristy place – these rides […]

Taxi Bikes Read More

How the scam works: Alright, if you have never heard of this one, you have probably never traveled outside your city. As a tourist, you most likely don’t know the cab rates or the map of a new town. Scammers pose as taxi drivers at airports, without being licensed, using this knowledge on tourists. They will […]

Taxi Ride Tricks Read More

How the scam works: You are in China and decide to check out the street market. As you are walking through what seems to be hundreds of vendors, you're approached by a woman who speaks very good English. You're happy to have someone to talk to and she gives you a few great tips on […]

Tea Ceremony in China Read More

How the scam works: Scenario 1. You are traveling through Thailand and getting closer to the border. Along the way, the bus stops for breaks. At one of these breaks, the shops around offer visas to go into Cambodia. “Get your visas from here. It is cheaper than what they charge you at the border”, […]

Thailand Visas Read More

How the scam works: The Egyptian markets are beautiful, but be careful not to touch the items. There are vendors who will demand that you buy the item, once you have touched it. They might even cause a scene and try to embarrass you, threatening to call the police. How to avoid: You are not in North […]

Touching the Item Read More

How the scam works: If you are traveling by train in India, an employee of the railroad company might approach you while you are patiently waiting for another two hours to pass until your departure. He will advise you on the potential thieves around the station, and offer to “lock up” your luggage so it […]

Train Station in India Read More

Beware of the travel club scam. You're invited to a travel conference offering a great opportunity: a travel club membership like no other.

Travel Club Read More