Airport Scams EXPOSED (Don't fall for these on your trip!)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- I forgot to mention an important airport scam in the video...hackers will set up a “fake” free airport wifi for you to connect to. Then once you’re connected, they steal your personal data. To avoid this, I always use this cheap VPN on my phone/laptop when connecting to public wifi: swiy.co/VPN
Have you seen any other travel scams? Leave ‘em in the comments below!
🟡LINKS MENTIONED:
▶ AVOID These Carry-On Packing MISTAKES At All Costs: • AVOID These Carry-On P...
▶ Pleasant Green’s Airline Scam Exposed video: • Airline Ticket Scam Ex...
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▶ 11 Tricks to Prevent THEFT While Traveling Abroad: • 11 Tricks to Prevent T...
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I forgot to mention an important airport scam in the video - hackers will set up a “fake” free airport wifi for you to connect to. Then once you’re connected, they steal your personal data. To avoid this, I always use this cheap VPN on my phone/laptop when connecting to public wifi: bit.ly/3KmorFV
Good point. Sadly mainy airport wifis do not work with a VPN.
Safest bet would be to have a travel eSIM ready to rock on your phone (or buy one in the airport) and use data instead
@@ProjectUntethered True. Can't wait for all phones to get iSIM / eSIM. Would also help greatly if you need to replace a stolen SIM from your home country. At the moment you need someone home to mail it to you. And actually you're not supposed to send it with a regular letter (same for credit cards). When you travel a lot you realize that many services are not tailored for us.
Yep happened to me on a flight switch at Korea airport. Tried free airport WiFi at an airport Starbucks. A week later my card got flagged for over $500 Uber charges in San Francisco. Luckily I wasn't charged but my cards were not any good on my trip thereafter until I got new ones at home.
Can someone explain how someone can set up a false wifi network on an airport that has since 9/11 a very secure place monitored by police, security, tsa, etc...
If I'm asked for any directions in airports I always maintain a friendly attitude but ALWAYS say "oh check with Airport Security / Information, I secure my stuff and then look to get their attention.
Genuine people are happy for the help. Scammers leave very fast.
Airport scams are the worst! Preying on people who are unfamiliar with the territory, and often tired from a long journey.
I like to research (and sometimes pre-book) my transport from the airport to my accommodation before I arrive, so I'm not lured in by fake taxi drivers and other scams.
That's a smart idea! Do you have a go-to place to pre-book? Or is it always different?
@@ProjectUntethered Nope, it's always different. Usually starts with a google search to see what transportation options are available from the airport. I also check Rome2Rio and Google Maps (directions feature).
You?
My parents were in Italy and someone unbuckled my dad's waist pack. He got the last laugh as he threaded it thru his belt loops. Go belt loops!
Your dad is a smart guy!
I just replied to someone else about this very thing. Get a waist pack with a stretchy band and it's wonderful!
Car rental scam... paid for in advance including extra insurance, arrived at Heathrow, London to be told the insurance was not valid…buy theirs or no car. Turns out they get commission. On returning home, I disputed the extra charge and sent several letters/emails to Avis head office in Canada… eventually got my money back and a load of money off vouchers
I was scammed in Paris! It was my first time there and got off the Eurostar from London… My friend and I were headed to the taxi line when a man came up to us as we were about to get in line and said he was a taxi, grabbed my bag and started heading out the door. I hadn’t spoken French in years and had no idea what was going on. my friend was yelling at me, and I was like I can’t help it. He grabbed my bag and went outside, we got into his taxi and he took us to our hotel and charge us about 75. American dollars we were both pissed because we knew were being scammed but we’re helpless to stop it as he had my bag. Big surprise the trip back to the station at the end of our stay cost us less than 20 American dollars. So be aware in train stations too!!!
Wow that is so frustrating! It’s crazy that you actually have to mentally prepare to deal with these types of scammers before traveling. I think traveling through Egypt kinda put us through a trial by fire. Now we’re skeptical of everyone (which also probably isn’t healthy)
@@ProjectUntethered hahaha, Egypt is the worst, really. May be only at par with India.
I like what the other person did m to,d the text driver the money was in his bag ,that was in the trunk …. I will remember that ..
Something that happened to me in Bucharest, Romania. I'm sure it can happen in other cities also. I had someone approach me as I got off the train at Gare de Nord. He asked me if I needed a taxi, and I said yes. He told me to follow him and he took me to a car that was a private cab instead of one that was registered with the city. For a 15 minute ride he asked for 400 leii (which was about US $80 at the time). I didn't know that because he wasn't a registered cab that he wasn't allowed to charge money to transport people and he wasn't subject to the standard rates that registered cabs charge. When I questioned the amount he said he'd call the police so I paid him. I should have let him call now that I know he wasn't allowed to transport without a licence. Moral of the story: only use cabs that are licensed and tegistered and only ones you call for yourself, not one that some randome person guides you to.
I’m sorry that happened to you! Thank you for sharing with everyone!
Private taxi's in Romania got own fare prices, some of them are crazy, 15€ per kilometer.
Even if you let him call the police, if he got his license with those prices and you agreed to it...
Never really been scammed despite traveling to England by myself. It helps to be a New Yorker and knowing the language of the country you’re in. The best thing to do is to keep your stuff close to you, and act like you’re a local
Amen to that!
Avoiding pick pockets is easy. Don't have anything in your pockets. Except maybe something sharp they can poke themselves on.
Haha yeah that's true.
Thats a good one!
Put poison inside your decoy wallet
I don't know if it was miscommunication or actually a scam attempt, but when I landed at Taipei Taoyuan, it was around midnight and the subway airport line wasn't running, so getting to the hotel that way wasn't an option.
A man approached me and my two friends asking if we needed a taxi, I told him the destination and he said it would cost us 800 TWD (around 24 euro that time) and we of course declined.
Once we left the airport, we went to the actual taxi terminal and took a real taxi (for a 5 minute ride) and it ended up costing 170 TWD (~5 euro) total.
Amsterdam Airport is also one of the airports people should watch out for scammers. Mostly to try to take people to another taxi than those at the official taxi stand (and almost always have a line of people waiting). Regular taxi's to Amsterdam will cost about €60-80, hear of people who got on one of those scammers and were told to pay up to $1000. Also, if you ever come to Amsterdam Airport and want to go to Amsterdam, take the train, station is under the main concourse, has about 10 trains/hour towards Amsterdam Central and a single standard class ticket is about € 5,90.
Another taxi scam is that when you get to your destination and want to pay the taxi driver will claim he does not have any change so you will have to give him a larger amount. So be sure before you get in the taxi that you have enough smaller bills as well.
That is so true! Great tip!!!
happened to me at bangkok airport 😤
Knowing we were going to take taxis all over NY city, I made certain to get a lot of mixed bills so that I could give them exact change plus tip. Not change needed.
Yup. This happened to me in Amsterdam.
I live in Queens, NY Leaving JFK I secured a taxi. The fixed rate is for airport to Manhattan. Airport to Queens is a metered trip and taxi drivers do not like doing trips into Queens. The taxi started out and when we got onto the Grand Central the driver by-passed the exit he should have taken. When I mentioned this the driver he became very argumentative and threatened to leave me on the shoulder of the Grand Central Expressway. I shut my mouth and when the driver requested payment for the amount on the meter, I told him my money was in my bag which was in the trunk. Once the bags were on the curb, I reached into my pocket and gave the driver $10 not the $45 on the meter, and walked away. This was a rather dangerous move on my part because the driver could have easily attacked me as I walked away. He did not. I was lucky.
That was extremely smart of you to take your bags out first - that's a master tip!
Friends took a taxi to the airport, got to chatting with the driver, and mentioned they were going on vacation. Later that same afternoon, their house was burglarized. They had told no one, except the taxi driver and a couple close friends, that they were going on vacation. Be careful what you say to the taxi driver.
Many international hotels will let you book a dedicated car and driver for airport pickup and drop off. Not just resort or 5-star properties either. Call the hotel and ask. It is often less expensive than taxi or ride-share. When renting a car, always check to make sure the spare tire or inflation kit is there. These are often missing (stolen?) and could leave you stranded or liable upon return. I always inspect the rental car before I depart and have the agent note existing damage in the contract. U.S. based major rental car companies will generally forgive dents or scratches smaller than an inch in diameter, marking it as normal wear/tear. International rental companies may not. When I rent a car in Korea for example, I do a detailed walkaround with the agent, noting everything and I mean everything that isn’t showroom like-new condition, plus still photos and video. Also, if the interior smells like smoke, have the agent note that so you don’t get hit with an extra cleaning fee when you return it.
These are all awesome tips, thanks for sharing!!
Whenever I travel, I've always research everything from point A to point B including when you arrived at the airport to the time I leave for home. Scams are everywhere including in your hometown where people want to sell you things and services you don't kneed. You have to always be on guard. A couple of monthe ago I took my car to a new place for an oil change and ended up paying $1000 for services that not needed to be done. I was off guard and was a little pressured to go on a trip.
Oh no I'm sorry to hear that! Yeah the more prepared you are, the safer you are from scams!
No matter how smart you think you are or how much time you do your research their will always be a scammer one step ahead of you, especially when you enter his country.
Great info for newbies and veteran travelers. Many get complacent and think, "I'm a pro traveler!" Ha... Hmm... we are all just a mark to the scammers
I have definitely gotten complacent from time to time over the years!
Agreed.. thank you for sharing these
absolutely! The thought that 'This couldn't happen to me' is what helps you get scammed.
just got back from my first trip to Chicago, first plane ride in 20 years (a bit anxious) and landed in O'Hare. Big place. First Uber ride (a bit anxious about that too). Used Uber Black, met Frank and all my anxiety was blown away. He was wonderful, helpful, friendly. I was Chauffeured and I can't recommend him enough! Note to self: in O'Hare, the large vehicles pick you up at the lower level.
I’m glad to hear everything went well!!
Great video, thank you for sharing ! At international airports, a person in a uniform will offer to shrink wrap your bags, and then take the bag to check in. They then want a lot of money like $300.
If you refuse to pay, they threaten you that they will have the airline take away your luggage. Which is utter nonsense, the airline won't do this. This has happened to me internationally.
Do you remember what airport it was?
Thank you for your time and posting. Isn't it so sad that there are so many dishonest people?
Very sad 😢
If you go to Cancun, where many of the sights are miles away from the city, it's better to rent a car. On foot, you are at the mercy of taxi scams where they charge one price to go to an attraction but it costs double to take you back.
it's so easy to research all this stuff, I always know all the steps of my trip. Is there rideshare? How much should the taxi cost from point A to point B? What's a reasonable price for meals, rooms, attractions. It's so much easier now; I started traveling when you used a travel agent and traveler's checks! Reading books and travel guides to know where to go, what to do and what to expect.
Always wear a moneybelt under your clothing. Put a zipped jacket over top. For women, carry a cheap decoy purse with nothing inside. Do not access your cell phone in public unless you have an old, cheap model. A favorite trick is theives run up and snatch iphones while you are taking a photo on it or talking or accessing data. Take public transit out of the airport to the station nearest your hotel. If you have too much luggage arrange transport with your hotel in advance. Wear backpacks turned to the front of you and put a little lock on it to secure zippers. While on subway try to find a wall to put your back against. Do not talk to anyone! Do not smile. Do not make eye contact. Scan for danger. Quickly use the toilet before leaving the secure area of the airport or use toilet on plane. Toilets in unsecured areas of airport can be an invitation to crime. Try to dress like a local or in a nonflashy way.
These are all great tips, but don’t forget to enjoy yourself! 😂😂
An alternative to having a cheap decoy purse (because as a woman, I refuse to carry an additional empty purse around bc of pickpockets) is to carry your purse or bumbag against to your body, across your body in the front, and use something with zippers and internet pockets with zippers.
Scammers and pickpockets prey off of ignorance and inattentiveness. Research the area your going to and have a plan for transportation ahead of time, research some of the common scams in that area and make sure you have situational awareness.
Thank you for these great tips.
Great tips bro,thanks for Indian govt for outstanding arrangements for everyonr in India,
BTW as an Indian I would like to ask everyone of you that is US safe for tourists, BECAUSE india is becoming very safe for tourists and we try to give them best hospitality available,then also some people potray only poor image of India on the west,please reply in detail
I learned the hard way to always shoot photos and video with good light before accepting a rental car. I was flying into LAX and booked a rental car at one of those lesser-known car rental agencies for an exceptional price. At the desk we completed the paperwork, then were sent to their large garage to pick out a vehicle, note any damage on the paperwork, and drop the information at the garage exit. We noted obvious scratches and dings, but didn’t realize that the bright overhead lighting threw much of the lower part of the vehicle into shadow. It was late, so we drove the car directly to a family member’s home, parked in their driveway, and went to bed. The next morning in daylight we could see a moderate sized ding in the lower body panel. We immediately contacted the agency. They basically said too bad, you must have hit something, you have to pay for it. We returned the car and they sent us a bill for over $1000 for what was really just a ding, not a dent, with no creasing or scraped paint, and certainly not serious damage. Fortunately we had insurance, but our initial claim was rejected because I had stated we did not damage the car. We had to go back and amend my statement to indicate that I had “remembered” what happened and take the blame. I recently found out a friend had something similar occur with the same company.
I'm glad you ended up getting it covered in the end! I might use this tip in a future video someday!
You should be brave enough to say which car company it was.
I had just landed at Monterrey Mexico. You would pay for the cab at the airport kiosk, not the driver. I had just handed the man a twenty for a nine dollar ride. Then he grabbed my arm and pointed out the door. The driver was giving me a frantic "Hurry Up!" gesture with his arm through the window. So I ran outside without thinking of my change. Didn't catch it till miles down the road. I knew in an instant, they were working in concert to create a distracting sense of urgency at the moment of transaction.
Ex Adelaide (South Australia) Taxi driver here, also, don't be *that* passenger..
In Adelaide there is a major hotel in the CBD called Hilton Adelaide, it is part of the Hilton Chain, there is also a suburb called Hilton with a small pub also named Hilton Hotel, in order to get to the Hilton International Hotel, you drive past the Hilton Pub.
Story told to me goes that a loud obnoxious tourist gets in the cab, you can probably guess which country, asks to go to the Hilton Hotel and then instantly launches into an ongoing tirade about how Taxi Drivers always try to rip people off, how they always go the long way yadda yadda, he just will NOT let up.
So driver stops the taxi at the Hilton Hotel (pub), points to the sign that says Hilton Hotel and asks for his payment....
I know that there are plenty of honest taxi drivers out there (yourself included). Unfortunately the bad ones tarnish the reputation of the whole industry 😕
we had trouble in Cancun also. We were headed to the place where shuttles pick you up. A man in a uniform offered to help us, and grabbed one of our rolling suitcases. We followed him to his desk, he was with a time share company. I reminded my husband, we are supposed to head outside, talk to no one. It was printed on our shuttle instructions.
One of the best ways to avoid the taxi scams abroad is to do carry-on and take public transportation. I've experienced great public transportation from airports in recent years is London, Amsterdam, and Dublin. On my last trip to the Netherlands, I took an Uber from the hotel in Haarlem to the train station, where I caught the bus to the airport. I don't trust local taxis abroad, unless told otherwise by the hotel.
As far as pickpockets go, my money, passport, etc are placed in accessories, like an infinity scarf with a hard to find hidden zipper.
Chicago O'Hare, transatlantic arrival, tired.....asked a Flight Attendant with luggage for directions to the subway. Told me to follow her. She'd just arrived from a flight from Mexico. We walked endlessly through underground parking lots. She definitely knew her way around. At the subway station she asked me whether I had enough USD. Yes, I was ok. She then "handed me over" to a subway employee who helped me to get a pass for the duration of my stay. He then opened the ticket barrier, telling me with a broad smile this ride was free and welcomed me to Chicago! Just to recount a much nicer experience.
You're advice is spot on, and a great reminder to be vigilant ....
*Another warning about Miami airport:* My wife and I got into an official taxi in the official taxi rank and had done our homework in advance about how taxis operate. I was immediately suspicious when the driver tried to put the meter on _after_ he started moving off. He struggled with it, and after kerb-crawling for about 50 meters, announced that the damn thing wasn't working. I said, no problem at all, we'll get another cab. We got out, walked back to the taxi rank, and the driver lost his place in the line.
I plead guilty here on a version of the taxi scam, the rental-car damage scam and the sign-the-petition scam, not all airport-related. No major financial damage incurred, just irritating. But lessons learned.
Sign the petition scan? Tell me more please.
I am a bicycle traveler. Many years ago I flew from Sydney Australia to Manila Philippines. I was exhausted and had to pull my bicycle in a box and another large bag out of the airport. Non taxis bribe the Airport staff to drive up to the doors. Some friendly guys said we have a large American car and can take all your stuff. Once I got next to the trunk of their car I realized the danger I was in and pulled my stuff back to the curb. I found a grandfather and his grandchild with a small truck and headed into the City to my hotel. On Roxas Blvd that same car that wanted to help me went past us without any victims that night. Close call!
I rented a car in San Diego once, and I was a truck driver so I inspected the car, no turn signals, probably needed a new turn signal relay, a 5.00 part. Next one, tail light bulb out and bulb over license plate out, probably 2 bulbs for 4.00, Next one, passenger side wiper blade GONE, completely, no wiper arm. Probably a 25.00 part. The next car was great. 3 Days later, in Austin Texas, I turned it in. If I had not bought their cheap ALL-COVERAGE insurance, when I rented it, they would have hit me for THOUSANDS for every tiny scratch on that 3 year old rental car. Scammers at turn-in office, maybe just careless at pick-up office.
Ride shares in other countries may not be called Uber but are the same concept. Sometimes those ride share will have significant restrictions placed on them about how, when and if they can pick up passengers at the airport.
Forewarned is forarmed but the only reason most of these work is that people are always looking for deals. If it is too good to be true, it is too good to be true! If you aren't expecting something than why would you jump at the opportunity to accept it? Be prepared before hand, how are you getting to from the airport etc should already be done. Remember the airport is 9.5 times out of 10 not your destination just somewhere you have to pass through to get to where you want to go.
Preparation is key!
You are right, taxi scams are the most prevalent. I was once in Jakarta and had to do a self transfer to Bali in another terminal. We have no idea how to go to another terminal and asked a staff outside the arrival door. He told us there’s a pickup shuttle but the time schedule is not fixed. They come as they like. Since we are in a rush to check in and catch our flight, we decided to get a taxi to bring us to the other terminal. We fixed the price at USD$6 for a 2 minute ride, which is already expensive. At the destination, the driver demanded USD$12 citing that USD$6 is for per person and there were 2 of us, which is ridiculous. I have never been told taxis charge by passengers rather than per trip. We had no choice but to pay since we are already running late for our flight. 😢
Sooooo annoying!!!
The taxi pickup at terminal 3 in Cancun is wild. Its like you breeze through the nice quiet airport and then get thrown to the wolves. Caught me by surprise.
Same scams happen at train stations, especially in Europe.
Good point! Always have to be on your guard! 😣
30 years ago I was in Italy, young and dumb. Years before cell phones. An older gentleman and a younger one came up to us and said that they had their wallets stolen and that they were clothes designers. Asked for some money and in exchange would give us a leather jacket from his show that he was in that he said was worth much more than the money he was asking. So I ended up giving him money. Jacket was in a plastic bag. After they left we opened the bag and it was a cheap crappy jacket. It was then I realized that we had been scammed. I left the thing in the rental car.
Wow I have never heard of that one before! What would you have done if you’d opened the bag to check the jacket before he left?
@@ProjectUntethered good question! It was so long ago. Actually he did open it. It was leather (well I thought) It was later I discovered that it was all stained.
I can confirm this. Also more than 25 years ago. But I refused the deal.
Another ticket scam in Paris Metro. long queue in front of the ticket office. Practically only foreigners, an older man sold tickets at the normal price. However, these were tickets for children and the price was reduced so he made a nice profit, but the buyers were at risk when checking the tickets. This happened 25 years ago.
@@ProjectUntethered a very old trick in Europe, especially on parking lots. People tell you they have some leftover sample items from a fair or a similar story and give you a very special price. They show you a very expensive item and once they have the money, they exchange it with some very cheap crap. Always keep in mind: If it’s too good to be true, it’s probably not true.
Also when paying a taxi be very clear on what denominations you are giving the driver. In Rome we had a driver try to tell me I had given him smaller bills than I had. Fortunately, when confronted he gave in quickly.
I just wanna say thank you for all your information you’ve given up there I always watch your videos. Thank you again.
I got off the Eurostar in Paris and needed a taxi. I walk out the front door, a man asks if I need a cab. I said yes, he waved and a regular car pulled up. I smelled a rat and walked away and found the legit cab rank is to the side of the station building. That is the only time a scam was tried on me and that was 19 years ago.
Buy a timex watch and use that when you need to check the time. Don't pull out your expensive cellphone
I feel fairly confident to avoid most Airport Scams, The Taxi one can be harder to avoid, I found myself in a Turkish Police station recently because the Scammer thought insisting on payment would make me quit, was kinda fun ended wasting quite a lot of his time because he did not want to back down his small overcharge and admit, the police were quite nice and ended up not paying any overprice. Yeah I also never every even try to use Airport wifi as n´most are so bad or perhaps I only tried to connect to a scammers hotspot. in any case stay safe out there travel is never too easy and they are looking for fools to hustle.. Keep Smiling nice video @Project Untethered 🙂
From IST Attaturk airport I take the subway located on the lowest level of the international terminal. Loads of pick pockets working in teams on public transit so beware. I get off at the station nearest my hotel and take a taxi. Or I spend the night at the TAV airport hotel. Walk like you are going to the subway but exit by turning right when you are facing subway gates. Take the moving ramp and when it ends turn right on that service road and the hotel is a 5 minute walk downhill. Comes with free Turkish breakfast. There is a convenience store across from the subway that has a deli and snacks at good prices. Sandwiches are priced by weight!
@@happycook6737 A good trick in Airports is to move as fast as possible, gives them less time to target you, try to have a plan and look like you know where you are going. Good Luck in IST Airport. I always try to sit with my back towards a wall. 🙂
First time visitor to South Beach - Miami in Feb 2020 - my hotel was on Collins Ave cnr 17th Street
Trusted my Lyft driver to enter the correct details on his sat nav
We reached 82nd Street before the driver turned back
Lyft gave me partial refund for the unnecessary diversion
Wow that is nuts. It only takes one of those experiences and I bet now you'll always look at Google Maps. That is crazy how they were able to get away with it on a rideshare app though! A similar thing happened to us once in Uber (though not quite as drastic) and I complained and got a refund.
It happened to me in Paris. I arrived in Paris from the airport. From the drop-off point I took a taxi to get to my hotel. The taxi drove around and around to my hotel. Costs me more 50 francs for a less than half kilometer ride.
Ughhh I’m sorry to hear that! It happens to the best of us (including myself!). Hopefully it’s a lesson you only have to learn once!
Set direction from your location to the hotel on Google maps and then watch your path.
Great video. Thanks for posting this. Have a nice day.
I TH-cam arrival videos for specific airports prior to arrival. They will usually tell you where to go and what to avoid in specific airports.
The moral of the story? Avoid people at all costs
OMG I had no idea! Thanks for the heads up everyone🙏
Great content!!
Thank you for all those great tips!!! Just have fond you and immediately subscribed. Could you please share what Osprey Backpack you use, haven't found that yet. Thank you in advance❣
My wife uses the osprey Fairview as her carryon. And my big big was an osprey waypoint but I don’t use that one anymore because I’m doing carryon only now 🤓
Thanks for your tips, always appreciated
I had my passport, drone and other items stolen from me on an ADO bus at Cancun Airport…Long story short …I was stranded in Mexico for a total of 6 additional weeks waiting for a replacement…fortunately my drone was replaced under my insurance policy.
Oh no I’m so sorry to hear that! Do you know how it got stolen?
😢
If you go near the Eiffer Tower in Paris beware of people asking for "signatures". I don't even remember right what was the purpose of my signature but I know it was some kind of charity, the thing is that they only ask you to put your name, once you write it you'll notice there's a field called "amount" and that's where you'll know they're going to ask you for a "small amount" to this supposed "charity" and the thing is that, because you signed you name you'll feel pressured to give them money. In my case it was a women who did that with me and my mother, she even asked where we were from and tried to be awkwardly friendly with us.
I had someone approach me in Barcelona with a petition. Now mind you I cannot tolerate people approaching me when I'm traveling. So as she is coming towards me with this petition I started very nicely saying "Don't get near me." She starts pressuring me, something about getting a wheelchair ramp for the museum we were headed to. "Don't. Get. Near. Me." I said it a little more tersely. "Please ma'am...yada, yada, yada". She's shoving this clipboard at me. "Get out of my way. Don't get near me." I'm marching now. She's still at me. She's walking backwards while doing this so I lean a bit closer to her "DON'T GET NEAR ME!!!!" Everyone around me is startled, my cousin who was with me was dumbfounded. And that idiot woman says "Oh you don't care about the handicapped. You Americans..." "Oh shut up!" And my cousin and I marched up the steps to the museum. Lo and behold, right there at the top of the hill was the parking lot for the museum along with the ramps.
Wow the nerve of some people!
Manny Thanks for your video the information was helpful.
2 times out of 3 while renting cars in Germany(!) they have tried to take advantage of me by claiming new damage. Kerb rashed rims, pretty common claim. They even claimed damage far(1ft/30cm!) in UNDER the front spoiler there where some old damages (deep scratches in plastic trim nothing broken off or missing). It was easy to tell damages where old because the scratches in the black plastic was aged to grey. Fresh scratches woud be black. Like you say, take video, look for stains on seats/carpets/trunk etc aswell (Yes! Lift the rubber carpet and take a peek).
Wow that is so frustrating! It’s a shame we have to be so careful to avoid getting screwed, but I guess you gotta take the good with the bad sometimes when traveling!
Cancún airport is notorious for the taxi “mafia.” I had ordered a shuttle through my hotel before hand. When he got there they gave him a ticket and told him he wasn’t allowed to pick me up. He took off and I was left with the jackals. They tried to pressure me to pay $1000mx for a 3km ride. I flat out refused but finally gave in when they offered $500mx, which was still too much. Hahahaa beware of the Cancún airport 💀
Wow that is ridiculous! Got any tips for anyone traveling to Cancun on how they can avoid this?
@@ProjectUntethered Arriving during morning to early evening hours I think would help.
Book a hotel, hostel, or airbnb in the central, downtownish/beach area because there are cheap buses/shuttles that service those areas.
I arrived to Cancun airport after 10:30pm and my hotel was closer to the airport and further from the central zone so there where no direct shuttle options (that I was aware of) aside from the shuttle that got blackballed which I had reserved thru the hotel.
I would also suggest doing a few google searches to read a few articles and get some anecdotal suggestions and tips about the airport. I’ve heard that they are trying to push through some legislation to introduce price and service standard regulations. All we can do is hope.
p.s. (Also there’s a shuttle that runs between the 4 terminals ca. every 20 minutes. Not sure how late this inter-terminal shuttle runs. The taxi jackals will even put pressure on you to use their “service" in between terminals instead of using the inter-terminal shuttle.
Here’s a link with some shuttle info. for transportation out of the airport.
www.cancunairport.com/transportation.html#:~:text=Services%20are%20available%2024%20hours,to%20your%20arrival%20to%20Cancun.
@@ProjectUntethered Take the local bus
Did you make a complaint to the hotel since you ordered the shuttle through that hotel ? Who knows if the hotel employees involved in that scam.
I hope you have written a review of that hotel and mention that matter to warn/help others tourists avoiding that scam.
One of the biggest scams at airports is actually run by the airport itself. The unreasonably high price to park
Always double check any conversion rate of cash. And strangely enough a good local tour agency guides if you can find one will not only take you to places that you might miss out on but save you a lot from scams and theft
I got scammed in New York when I'd just arrived there from Boston. I needed a taxi to get to my hotel, the driver pulled up, helped me with my bags and asked about my destination. I made the mistake of not using google maps, at a certain point he says he'd got lost but I should't worry because he was going to drop me off at my hotel anyway. At the end of the ride he said I didn't need to tip him but I'm pretty sure he took a longer route and charged me more than he would have if he'd taken me straight to my hotel; even though he did't get tipped.
Watching from the Philippines. Great tips. Manila taxis have a bad reputation for high fares. Cebu City they are mostly honest...but some will quote high prices instead of meter.
Yes, many years ago, we made a rookie mistake of changing money
at a Thai airport & had not studied the bills
closely prior to arriving & the change back we received was much less but we missed it because the bills looked like a higher amount to us
Watch out for Airport Security to I got ROBBED by a security guard in the Philippines .He told me I had to put my carry on bags and backpack on the luggage cart with my other luggage
Then when I wasn't looking he somehow got into my back pack and I lost $1200. dollars THANKS TO AIRPORT SECURITY
That’s horrible! What did you do??
I had Them file a police report and asked them to check the security camera but they said the cameras were not working so yeah Nothing I could do at that point @@ProjectUntethered
A Thai guy got a worker at Manila airport on video taking money from his friend’s wallet and stuff it into another coworker’s pocket while the friend was going through the X-ray scan. Another scam is those workers putting a bullet in a young missionary guy’s luggage and then they say if you pay up, they won’t make a big deal out of it.
This was caught on video with a Thai tourist who went through Manila airport.
When a went to NYC, I crossed security and I was looking for the taxis to Manhattan when a woman came to me, talking super fast, saying that she need 20 bucks, she could pay me O don't know when and how and don't stop following me, talking about de 20 bucks she needed. Finally i said tjay I was a tourist and I don't want troubles with security fpr doing some stupid thing in an airport. "Please don't talk to me" and I walk away.
1st time to Vietnam we got scammed by the coconut guy. There are videos about this so if you are going to Vietnam for the 1st time be sure to do some research. Apparently Vietnam has a issue with pick pockets, taxi scams and more but we've been there 3 times because we LOVE it but only got scammed once. Pro Trip: While in Vietnam and maybe anywhere really, No matter what someone wants to sell you ALWAYS ask the price first, If you want it, haggle or pay the price. If you don't want it, smile and walk away. Saying NO or No Thank You means nothing to Some of these people.
Thanks for the tips! We just arrived in Vietnam! 😎
I made this mistake in my own home town. Went to the tourist area and walked into a store. It was hot and I picked up an ice cream bar, thinking it would be a dollar or fifty cents extra. They didn't have a price marked. When I got to the counter, it was like SIX dollars more than usual. Or so the clerk said. I was stuck because I has started to unwrap it on the way to the register.
What if the scammers are LITERALLY IN the official areas. I was travelling to bali and this guy was at the scanners and was loading off the bags off the belt. After loading my bags off, they asked for money. Wtf. This is legal?
Not sure if it’s a scam, but it sure sounds annoying! Reminds me of Egypt 🙄
Huge scam in Germany is stolen passports. I experienced this coming from København to Amsterdam. Our rail pass and passports were checked just as we entered Germany which was Normal, what wasn’t normal was that just before we entered the Netherlands it happened again. My daughter and I thought it rather odd but since we’d never been to Europe we didn’t know this wasn’t normal. Thank goodness we were being met in Amsterdam by my cousin as the next day I spent the entire day at the American Embassy getting a travel passport. I was then put on Interpol for the next seven years so that the European Union would know I was a safe person. Apparently this scam is prevalent in Germany. They work in tandem and distract you and return your rail pass but not your passport. Sly of hands type of work. Needless to say the rest of our trip I never let my passport out of my hands.
Wow that is insane! Thank you for sharing! Did being out you on interpol affect you at all?
@@ProjectUntetheredNo… I have actually liked being on Interpol because when I traveled last Summer again to Europe I had comments made to me at many areas where I had to show my passport. They were all positive.
I was in Moldova in the summer, and had no alternative but to get a taxi, they changed about 200LAU more than a cop told me it would be. I asked the hotel how much they would have charged to send me a car, and it was about 60LAU more than I paid.
To be fair the first price the taxi quoted was double the normal fair.
Yeah some hotels definitely charge a premium as well. If they offer their own airport pickup service, then they might not be upfront with you about the “normal” rates. Long story short when taxi is your only option, you may end up paying more - the goal is just not to get screwed TOO bad 😕
Important to know the currency in any country you visit. It’s so confusing.
Read online where a person was charged because they were accused of damaging a bedspread in a hotel. They did nothing. Be aware there also.
Wow that is crazy! I guess it's a good idea to take photos of anything you see damaged whenever you arrive at your room - what a pain!
I read of a scam where a special "polish' is used on a hotel night stand between beds. It causes a wet glass to leave an ugly ring on the furniture. Then you have to pay for it. And then they wipe it oof and do it all again...
I've taken a taxi in Vietnam that looked official and requested that the driver use the meter which he was happy to do as the meter had been doctored so that it ran at about twice the speed as normal, doubling the fare.
😡😡😡
How did you find out about that ?
@@CL-mp4vn I was surprised how expensive the fare was and mentioned it at check in at the hotel. I was told it was a common scam to use fake meters.
I worked for the airlines and many times, people would check their luggage at the curb. They would sit down their carry on and show their tickets to get their bags checked in and not pay attention to their carry on. Someone would just walk by them and pick up or pull away their carry on. It would be gone in just a couple of minutes.
Car renters - don't forget to film the spare tyre! Film yourself walking up to the car. Slowly film it and then open the back to see if the tyre is there. If not, keep filming whilst informing the clerk.
I've read where a clerk was so helpful - that he loaded the family's luggage in their car.
A week later, surprise surprise, upon the car's return, the clerk made a beeline for the spare tyre - and it was missing. Customer suspected there was NO spare tyre at all but without proof had to cough up the cash.
Cool Idea! It is a crime in Germany to record voice of anybody without PRIOR consent
Very good tip!!
Mexico city > to the airport. Make sure to confirm the price before entering the vehicle and that they accept cash! Never give them your credit card 💳!!!!
I was scammed at the Ruby's Diner at the Houston airport. They charged me extra for condiments. I'll never eat at that Ruby's again.
In Santiago, Chile I had someone grab my suitcase at the counter as I picked it up. He wasn't trying to steal it, but he pushed it to outside to the curb and I then found myself having to pay him for being a porter when I could have wheeled it out there myself.
I love the idea of taking a snapshot of the menu in a restaurant to avoid having the menu switheroo pulled and being faced with higher prices.
Yeah I really don't like it when people touch my luggage.. You never know who is being friendly and who is digging for a tip.
Passport/ticket check TO ENTER Manila airport . FRONT OF THE LINE SCAM. Uniformed guy approaches you and asks you if you are flying in Premium seating. I said "well premium economy". He said follow me. We go to the front of the que 70 people long. He talks in Tagalog to the security person at the front of the line ( at the X ray machine ), the guy then asks for a 500 peso tip ( $10 usd ) ..so really a scam/bribe.
🙄🙄🙄
Taxi: Yep, me too. I got directed into an unlicensed taxi between airports in Buenos Aires. I hate to say how expensive the ride was.
I've had a guy needing me to make a call for him on my phone, when I saw the number it looked like another country code so I said sorry, can't do!
You forgot the pickpocket mekka in the world.. The nr 1 is Barcelona
Not at a scam as legally define, but once I arrived to the JFK airport in NY, but my hotel was in Newark, the taxi driver said that it was cheaper to use the fee book instead of the meter machine, I ended paying $148, when I went back I took an Uber and I paid $120 (I gave the Uber driver $20 additional, but it was because a previous Uber driver came to the hotel to said "either you cancel the trip or you need to pay me $30 additional because I won't take there for that fee", I asked him to reject the trip and he didn't want to do it, I filed the complaint with Uber).
My bum bag, I added a neck strap, so I can undo waist band, but bag is attached to me..
Good for sitting times.
Or putting on a jacket.
Cheers...
Genius!
Yup I got caught with the fake online customer service contact number. I realized it while talking to them but not before I gave them credit card information. I hung up, locked my credit card and called the bank to cancel the card before they could use it. Subsequently Tto attempt were made but unsuccessful .
I have gotten solicited by scammer taxi drivers right after I stepped out of the airport gates!
When we landed in Paris this past summer, we were headed to Disneyland resort and, everyone knows they're thorough and they have everything tied up in a neat little package. So we're looking for the bus and this guy was trailing beside me like a puppy. I said "No thanks, we're just heading to the Disney buses." he said "Oh, they don't have them." I just laughed and said "Yes they do, we even have tickets for them." Two other groups (tourists) started following us because they were going to Disneyland and didn't know how to get there. I told the scammer he must be a newbie because why would he think that Disney wouldn't have been very thorough with our travel plans?
I had one where we were told the price of the taxi trip at the airport in Paris what the price would be for the area we were going to, when we got to the hotel he charged us extra, when I told him what the listed price was he said it was because we were paying by card and had luggage. Excuse me, who doesn’t have luggage when you are leaving the airport. We had waited in a line of people for 45 minutes for a taxi and got ripped off. Disappointed.
Wow that is ridiculous!
Wow, the bus we took was free!
I just got back from Greece and turkey and and had troubles with taxis.. in athens we got into a taxi for meter he said yes ., older guy acted like he didn’t understand.. we get in taxi ge drives the 30 min to our hotel and it ended up being 130€. Seemed too high . We started to get upset . I went to the front desk ashes the hotel guy and he confirmed it to be Way expensive. Talked the guy down to 100€.. hotel guy was arguing on our behalf .. then in Istanbul was the worst !got into taxi at airport. I noticed he changed the route from his original route took us the longer way whuch coincidentally took us through the toll .. our trip was 100 Turkish lira or so more then what it should’ve been we called her cousin who was local and spoke Turkish… basically telling the guy he was scamming us knew what the right price was. We got hotel involved like last time they didn’t help stating taxi driver is honest ., I mean yea but he took as different way whuch yes he was honest about the pricing the longer way …., even Uber isn’t always safe in Istanbul.,
Wow that is such a pain!! And the worst part is that they actually get mad at you when you when you fight them on it...when THEY are the ones doing the scamming! 😡
UBER states the price upmfront. There is no difference in price mno matter the route. If you are paying the price to the driver directly then it is not Uber.
Use the internet for research. I’ve been in Istanbul for a month. You can catch a bus to and from the airport to just about anywhere in the city for about $6.
@jaimetarne9436 I thought this was the case, but this year in Brazil we learned it’s not always true. That said, our ride was about 1.5 from the airport to a nearby beach town, so perhaps things work differently for longer distances. Either way, I got a refund when I sent a screenshot of the differences in routes.
@@ProjectUntethered I did not realize Uber operated differently in different countries. I just used it extensively in Portugal this past month, and have used it in other countries. I wonder if they are upfront about that? Glad you got your refund.
Someone tried to do the distract and pick pocket me on my last trip by asking if the phone they had was mine. I only realized after I was unpacking when I got home. My fanny pack was cut, but thankfully mine has an internal cut proof strap
At OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg to Durban: I was still in a sleeping mode looking for my gate one of the employee’s was assisting me he checked my ticket saw that I’ve got time, and he said he wants to show me something, I thought he wants to sell me what ever, he said I should sit down and all of a sudden he’s cleaning my shoes and for the worse his colleague cleans my bag. Costed me 200zar 10 usd 5 for him and five for the colleague. I’ve been pickpocketed in Amsterdam Schiphol yeah I learned to keep my guide up at airports, I always thought things like that happen at train station’s or bus but it happens at airports aswell.
Oh wow! Yeah for some reason it's easy to think the airport is a "safe space" when in reality, that's not always the case!
@@ProjectUntethered When I was preparing for my trip to Italy and have read about pickpocketing, I thought that the airport could be a possible place for pickpocketing: crowds of people (who do not know the place, tired and have money), quick changes, people are in a hurry. I just noted for myself that in the airports people should be careful as in subways.
Good tips to be reminded of.
I no option when I was at Delhi airport, trying to get to AeroCity hotels. My Uber wasn't working - which cost me £2.50 previously. I was forced to book a taxi - cost nearly £20. Then the driver had the nerve to ask for cash to enter the hotel compound - which I know isn't required, therefore, he never received.
What a pain! 😤
I know it's nearly a month, but where be the link for Pleasant Green's video?
I don't mind going to search for it via C&P-ing the title since I'm on computer but...! XD
Sorry about that! Here it is! th-cam.com/video/hxzIFsyE2qw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=9uHL8NJAVjRyY5eB
@@ProjectUntethered No worries, thank you!
I have never experienced an airport scam. One time I even left my phone charging while I got a drink. I now realize how stupid that was but luckily nothing happened to me.
I wonder if videoing the initial taxi interaction is a good idea 🤔
thank you
Once I book a ticket online
They issued the ticket and 750 pounds I paid through by my card
When I reach the airport when I check in only I knew it was scam
There is no such PNR number book
I lost 😡 😮
Oh no!!!! Where did you book it online?
@@ProjectUntethered when I checked that page was not found
Good tips. Take photos of the rental car. It gives you proof.
Always check the public transport system before you arrive. You should know how far it is to your hotel and how much it should cost on average. Sometimes there are cheaper trains connecting the airport with the city center and the station is right inside or next to the airport. One time my boyfriends parents arrived at the airport at night & did not know where their hotel was. They took a taxi and drove ~20-30 minutes. Next day, they stepped outside their hotel - and saw that the airport was located maybe 500m down the street.
Wow that taxi driver had some nerve!!
Never use the white taxi that is outside of the Philippine airport (NAIA) because they will ask you to pay equivalent to $100-$500. Even though I'm Filipino, whenever I go to Phil. I always book a Grab.
Grab is like Uber in the Philippines and was always more expensive as a taxi. But before you use a taxi, you should ask if the metre works. If it works, you should tell him that you pay just the metre at the end and wants the fastest way not the shortest (otherwise you going to be stuck in the traffic
Good tip! Yeah we are using Grab here in Thailand right now - quite a handy app!
@ProjectUntethered grab is always 30% expesivier. The main thing is that they take more on advance. You never know If the taxi driver is correct. But if the driver is correct, I give always a 20% raise in form of tips in the Phillipines.