avoiding scams Archives - Corporate Travel Safety

Common Scams in Developing Countries

Fake police. People who own a police badge and even a uniform may be crooks in disguise. Be suspicious of anybody who asks you to show them your money or passport. Ask to be taken to the nearest police station before they search you or your belongings.

Drugged food/drinks. Don’t accept food or drinks offered to you on a bus/train/etc. They may drug you and leave you vulnerable to robbery.

Money changers. In most countries of the world, you don’t need to look for black market rates. Sometimes you are approached by people who volunteer to change dollars at very good rates. They will show you a roll of banknotes, then switch it with another roll of worthless notes while they take your dollars.

Advice for Avoiding Scams Against Tourists

Avoid crowds where you have to slow down. Every time you slow down while walking in a street you become an easier target.

Be suspicious if somebody slows you down (eg, falls in front of you, his clothes get stuck in something, etc): it may be a pretext to facilitate an accomplice who is behind you.

Be aware of who is behind you. If the same person is behind you for a few minutes, be suspicious.

A decoy wallet may help distract the thief. The thief will target your very visible wallet, while your money is somewhere else (eg, in another pocket). Carry your passport and money in a hidden waist wallet.

Avoid traveling with big luggage. The bigger the luggage, the more visible you are, and the harder it is for you to defend yourself, chase a thief, etc. Backpacks can be easily opened even while you are walking. Travel with an Anti-theft backpack or bag.

Always ask for receipts at hotels when they make you pay in advance.

Always bargain the price of a taxi before entering it, even if it has a meter. Always use taxis that are recommended and referred by the hotel you are staying in. Always be wary of taxis you hail on the street.

In most countries of the world, it is inappropriate to approach strangers (especially women). Anybody who approaches you (no matter how big his smile) should make you a little suspicious. Keep your guard up and be careful when talking to strangers.

Anybody who speaks English well and approaches you is suspicious by definition. I am aware of many occasions that person will turn out to be somebody who wants to make money out of you, either by being your guide or by selling you souvenirs or worse. If you refuse, they will turn nasty.

Again, be cautious of strangers. Once they force you to behave friendly, they have the upper hand psychologically. They know that you were raised to be nice to people who are nice to you.

In most countries of the world women never respond to strangers, not even if they like the stranger. For a foreign woman, it is never a good idea to respond to men who approach her. The appropriate behavior is cold silence and indifference. Even a “no” is viewed as beginning a conversation. A smile is the worse course of action (in some cultures means “I am saying no but I mean yes”).

Advice for Reducing Your Victim Potential

Walk fast all the time. Every time you stop (to browse in a shop, to write a postcard, to take a picture), you become an easy target.

Don’t wear expensive clothes/watch. Your watch might be someone’s 6-month salary.

Try to dress as much as the natives (give the impression you “live” in the country, or at least try to blend in).

Dress as humbly as possible.

If Robbed

If you were robbed of something unusual happened in front or around you, don’t chase the thief, follow the person who generated the commotion: s/he is probably an accomplice. Don’t try to stop her/him until there is police nearby. If s/he is an accomplice, police will probably recognize her/him right away. Accomplices are often women and children.

If Attacked

Use violence only if the attacker is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Otherwise, you may be risking your life: he has obviously more experience than you.

In most countries, theft is an accident of life and police will not even make an effort to investigate, but murder, especially of a foreigner, is a major event. From the point of view of a thief, that means that he has no interest in hurting you: if he doesn’t hurt you, he’s likely to get away with his crime, but if he hurts you the entire police force of the nation will be after him. Unless you do something really weird, most of the time a thief who is after your wallet or luggage has no interest in hurting you, they want your money or valuables.

When Driving

The below does not apply solely to Third World countries but also here domestically.

Make sure your luggage does not show from the trunk.

If you are lost in an unsafe neighborhood, do not show that you are lost. Do not stop, keep driving and look at the map while driving.

Don’t rely on public telephones: if you are in a bad neighborhood, they are unlikely to be working.

The best protection is prevention: make familiar with the topography of the city before you start driving. If you get lost, you should at least be able to guess (without asking) in which direction you have to steer.

Get a map app on your phone.

Have an emergency number (can be a friend or local hotel) to call for help or advice.

Just don’t look like a tourist who is lost, helpless, and desperate. Look like somebody who lives around there and is about his business.

Additional Advice for Visiting Developing Countries

Get Medical Insurance
Medical care in developing countries is not up to the standards of care you will find here in the US. If you are injured or fall ill you need an insurance policy that will evacuate you out of the country.
Do Cultural Research
Before visiting developing countries do some research about customs, traditions, and language. Include religious beliefs and if they impact women traveling alone.
Understand Personal Earning Levels
Be aware of what locals earn. Err on the side of generosity if tipping or bargaining. The money means more to them than it does to you.
Visit US Government Advisory Websites
Travel safety tips for visiting developing countries keep evolving, so start your trip by doing your research before you travel.
Visit US travel advisory website.
Enroll in the Smart traveler program
Visit a doctor specializing in travel medicine

Where there are tourists, there are pickpockets and con-artists. Travel scams in Europe typically fall into two categories. Distraction thefts and thefts of opportunity. Some scams seem to be more prevalent in some countries while other travel scams are more popular in different countries. You’re more vulnerable to being ripped off in unfamiliar surroundings and street thieves take advantage of this.

Trending Distraction Travel Scams in Europe

Distraction thefts are usually coordinated efforts between two or more thieves. Typically they involve one or two members of the “ring of thieves” creating a distraction while the others take advantage of the moment where the tourists or marks lapse in their vigilance of protecting their valuables. In Italy recently a group of artists concocts a show where a street vendor accuses a woman of stealing from him and hiding the goods on her person. The argument escalates loudly and a group of onlookers gathers. To prove her innocence the woman starts to remove her clothes. Once she gets down to her underwear the shopkeeper apologizes. While the onlookers were distracted by the “show” pickpockets were working the crowd to relieve as many of them as possible of their wallets, cameras, and phones.

You can bet that any loud street scuffle in a tourist-heavy location is an orchestrated distraction scam.

More personal one-on-one distraction travel scams in Europe involve a personable man or woman who approaches you asking for directions while forcing a map in front of you blocking your view of your bag and pockets. A similar setup is a woman selling something large like paper flowers she forces against you while asking for a few coins. While you are flustered and trying to push them away they or an accomplice have pick-pocketed you, and you didn’t even feel it.

Thefts of Opportunity are Not Staged Scams

Typically thieves take advantage of a momentary lapse in the vigilance of a tourist and then take what is not theirs. One of the most common opportunistic thefts is when a thief runs off with your purse that you’ve left dangling on your chair behind you or dips his hand in it and takes your wallet while your back is to him.

Another crowded location where thieves target tourists is in subway terminals. The jostling and quickly moving people offer enough distraction for pickpockets to take advance of easy-to-pick bags and wallets visible in back pockets.

The best tactic is not to engage with any people who try to crowd your personal space and overwhelm you. Unfortunately, these thieves have honed their craft and are persistent. The solution to keeping your valuables secure on your body is wearing a hidden money belt and to use an anti-theft purse or anti-theft backpack that has locking zippers.

Popular Travel Scams by Country

Travel scams in Europe are constantly changing. Some, however, tend to remain popular in certain countries because quite simply they work. Here’s a rundown of some of the current popular tourist scams by country. Many of these travel scams occur across borders.

France, the string people: Around Montmartre, Paris a friendly young person will want to wrap and tie a string friendship bracelet around your wrist. While you think this is charming and say thank you as you walk away, the “string person” will follow you and insist you give him or her a donation. Often their tactics escalate to harassment and many tourists give them money just to make them stop the harassment and go away.

Spain, border fees: During the tourist high season scam artists armed with fake IDs locate between the border of Spain and Gibraltar demand an “entry fee” to Gibraltar. There is no entry fee to pass from Spain to Gibraltar or visa versa. You do not need to pay no matter what they threaten.

Italy, flat tire: This scam is a setup and more prevalent in southern Italy. Rental cars are easily identifiable and therefore vulnerable targets. The scammers puncture the tire of their intended target while parked. Once you’re forced to stop due to a flat tire, the friendly and kind good Samaritans will “help” you watch your car as you go for help or will help you change the tire. In both cases, your luggage and valuables are vulnerable to theft while you’re distracted. Don’t leave your car or luggage unattended, call the emergency number provided on your written car rental document and then ask the “good Samaritans” to leave.

Czech Republic, phony police officers: This scam can be intimidating and even scary. Don’t fall for a group of police officers, yes they dress the part, as they appear and accuse you of a crime. The crime could be not paying a fee, shoplifting, etc. They will insist on you handing them your wallet and passport. Tell them you don’t have either or simply refuse and ask to go to a local police station. Most likely they will issue you a stern warning and leave.

Hungary, counterfeit money: Two common places where you may receive counterfeit bills as change is from taxi cabs and from stand-alone currency exchange booths. The Hungarian currency is the Forint. Use a credit card where you can make sure you have plenty of small bills to give the correct change. Get your Forints from a bank or at the airport to avoid fake currency.

Poland, imposter cabs: Imposter and unregulated cabs will try to pick up fares and say their meter is broken and then try to overcharge you for your trip. If this is the case look for another cab, or pre-negotiate the fare. It’s best to know the going rate for the trip ahead of time before you start the negotiation. Another option is to ask what the rate is via a rate card.

Germany, fake train ticket inspectors: Often the fake inspectors appear on trains to the airport. Usually, men wearing a fake ID badge and even armed with portable credit card machines ask to see your ticket. Upon inspection, they declare something is wrong and demand payment of a fine on the spot. Some demand 60 Euro per person and can be very aggressive even demanding your passport as ransom, which you don’t want to give up, especially since you’re on your way to the airport. Never hand your passport to a stranger, even if he looks official. Tell the “inspector” to issue you a ticket (which a real inspector will do.) Call for the train conductor to intervene if you can.

The more you know ahead of time the more likely you’ll recognize when something is not quite right. Be aware of your surroundings and trust your gut, especially when interacting with overly friendly or overly aggressive people, read more about travel scams in Europe.