NEW Travel Scams You MUST-KNOW in 2024! (Airport Scam is SO SNEAKY!)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 มิ.ย. 2024
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👉 • Top 5 AIRPORT SCAMS to...
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These are the top 7 MUST-KNOW tourist scams from around the world in 2024. From the notorious ATM scam to the sneaky fake flight booking scam, we've got real-life examples and red flags to watch out for the next time you travel. I'll also share my experience getting scammed in Vietnam with the photo scam and the fake menu scam, and Bali with the SIM card scam.
Have you ever been scammed?! Share your experience in the comments, you might save someone from fallng for the same trap!
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Welcome to Portable Professional: your go-to resource for stress-free travel. I’m Megan, and I’m here to share my tips and tricks from 300+ flights to help you feel confident about your travels while making the most of every trip.
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00:00 Travel Scams EXPOSED
00:23 Fake Customer Support Scam
02:14 Photo Opportunity Scam
04:09 Restaurant Scam
05:35 Airport Scam
06:15 #1 way to avoid scam
07:09 ATM Scam (there's a new one!)
08:40 Rental Scam (this was crazy!)
10:06 Phone Scam (I fell for it!)
11:45 Best phone hack or travel
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That's the difference between tourists and travellers.
As far as the scams you mentioned...The photo one has been a thing since the 1930's (People will take advantage), and since I was in my teens I've always kept at least one menu at the table so "I can possibly order more dishes or desserts". I've only had one server object to this in NYC in the early 2000's but the let me be after a brief exchange.
When I travel, I am very suspicious of “naturally friendly strangers.” I never accept any voluntary offer of help of any kind. To me, they are all scammers waiting for a victim. Places like Bali and Thailand are pretty well known for scammers passing as “friendly locals.” I always decline anything and I am always suspicious of everyone. You think I am bad? Well, I don’t care. My safety comes first.
You are justified in thinking that way. My wife and I are pretty well traveled. In Asia and India 98% of people coming up to you and being friendly have an ulterior motive. There is almost always a sales pitch at the end of the discussion.
When you rent a car, make sure you verify that they record the current mileage accurately. Take a picture of the odometer for proof.
Great tip! Thanks for sharing!
And take pictures or video of condition of car and any scrapes etc..
I learned from another TH-camr to keep the menu while you eat. That way when you pay you have the original menu they gave you. That way you know.
Good idea.... You can say I'd like to keep the menu in case I need to order something else.
Yes it’s a smart move.
Just take a pic of the menu with your phone.
@Photobug3042 yes but just having it is a good idea it’s just easy to keep it you already have it. And they know right away that you do. So they are less likely to even try.
I like keeping the menu while I eat. I tell the waiter I am keeping it because I want to order something else or dessert and want to do that while I eat. Since I travel alone it’s easy for me to tell them I want to read the menu to entertain myself as well. 😂
I got caught up in the photo scam in Nassau. The woman wanted my phone to take photos and after the first one I realized she was going to sell me my phone back. I quickly asked to view the photo then ripped the phone out of her hand. She yelled at us for several minutes the moved on to scam others. NEVER HAND YOUR PHONE TO ANYONE!!!!!!!
Not to mention the UK story where a lady loaned her phone for someone to make an emergency call and an accomplice distracted her the guy ran off with phone. She had her bank cards with it , drained 9700 pounds from her account buying up apple products.
You didn't report her or warn others?
@@wolfesound
Good thing your first attempt was successful, having to fight her to get your phone back would likely get you arrested or at the very least leave you feeling anxious and on edge for the rest of the day
Almost scammed in a very upmarket resort in Krabi, Thailand. Awesome dinner with the most attentive waiter. Genuinely best service ever. But he was very keen on serving alcohol, pouring our wine. When the bill came, even though I was quite tipsy, I decided to check. When I came across the 1st thing we didn’t order, he quickly tried to grab the bill back saying sorry small mistake. But I kept looking. Literally he added so many things, the bill was double. The 10% service fee is automatic, so he gets money from that. But I also suspect that the cashiers are behind the scam and probably reverse the incorrect bill. Was just surprised that it happened at that kind of resort. Afterwards he hid from my friend and I for the rest of our stay, but I saw him fawning over another 2 women. Always check your bill.
Shortly after I arrived at my hotel room in Mexico I received a call stating the hotel front desk was having issues with my credit card and they needed the number again. I didn't fall for it because I had read about that scam.
Wow! Great that you were aware of that scam. Thanks for sharing!
That’s an inside job by someone at the hotel. They knew you checked in & your room number. Do not trust the staff!
About seven years ago, I went to Paris, France with my sister and her two adult children. I've done a lot more international traveling than they have, so I immediately knew that the very friendly 'local' who approached us in the gardens by the Louvre was a scammer. Unfortunately, before I could warn them, the local had latched on to my niece and started making a friendship bracelet on her wrist and started up a conversation with her, my sister, and her brother. Then another friendly local came up and joined them, making a bracelet on my nephew's wrist. By then, local #1 had finished my niece's bracelet and had moved on to my sister. In the mean time, I was off to the side, obviously unhappy. Then local #2 came up to me and started talking. I didn't smile, but let him make me a friendship bracelet. My family couldn't understand why I was not enjoying the lively conversation, that is until #2 finished my bracelet and said, with a big smile, that it would be 20 euros for the bracelets. I glanced at my sister, who's face fell. I paid the 20 euros, the locals left, and then we had a good talk about what happened. They learned that lesson: never trust a happy stranger who comes right up to you and initiates a conversation.
If in Rome, watch out for the men dressed up as Gladiators! He put his arm around my Mom (without asking) and said take my photo. I have traveled a lot and thought it was a scam. So I asked him how much?( in English and Spanish) and he said "no money". My Mom looked excited, so I took a photo. Then we walked away from him and he started yelling at the top of his lungs that we did not pay him, we were stealing his childrens money, etc. This lasted 5 mins until I could find a shop to go into. Didn't work. He kept yelling at the door and finally my Mother wanted to pay him. But I said no. I spoke to the man in Spanish and reminded him he said it was free so we were not paying. I told him if he had said it was 10 Euro when I first asked him, we would have paid him. He finally walked away. Never again!! Great Video.
That is such a popular scam and so easy to get trapped into. Thanks for sharing!
They speak Italian if they're real natives, but I'm sure he understood.
The large cities like Rome are tourists traps and more scams. I am rude and walk away. I think France would be the same, several years past the company I worked sent me France for 6 months as a tech rep on military aircraft and so glad to leave and did not do sight see. A bunch of arrogant people that hate Americans. Never will I go again. Greece is also an issue that way but went in the off season and to the more remote islands. Most of my travels now is Asian countries and live the Philippines with my wife. We have been to Thailand but nothing to see in Bangkok though.
Last year, it started in Athens, Greece, at the bottom of the Acropolis. I saw at least two men dressed as Spartans. But at least they tell the tourists from the beginning that it was NOT free.
Take care when taking bus 64 that’s the pickpockets bus…I’m from Rome, I should know.
Never never leave your passport as a deposit for renting a scooter or a car never!!
I had Avis in Slovakia accuse me of swapping tires on our rental. They claimed we took off the new tires and put on old ones and were going going to keep our $1,200 deposit. We fought this with Avis head office and won but it had never occurred to me to also record the condition of the treads on the car rental.
Always take pictures of the car before getting in!
Welcome to post communist mess
Never leave your passport with anyone!
Very good advice!
Yes, I would never leave my passport with a rental company. Big red flag
We went to Italy, years back, and toured around the North with no problem. In the Northern train stations there are people in distinctive coats with name tags and clipboards who are paid by the government to be there to help travellers for FREE. I was suspicious at first and questioned the first guy about it. However, every suggestion given throughout the North was above board and straightforward. Once arriving in Naples (Christmas eve day) those guys were nowhere to be seen, instead replaced by 10x scammers. Here I am looking around for one of those guys when we are approached by a short, round, older man who is speaking fast suggesting a hotel and grabbing our bags and before we realize what is happening he's on the move, darting through rush hour trafic with our largest bags! We chased after him (of course) and he led us to this "hotel". Spoiler alert! At this point we should have bailed. Flustered we asked to see one of the rooms and they showed us. It was ok so we said fine. The woman behind the desk took our passports and told us we would get them back when we checked out (this also happened sometimes in the North with no consequenses). They took us to a different room than the one they had showed. This one had horrible black mould, but we didn't notice until late that night because we had gone right out again. That suffocating night we resolved (FINALLY ) to leave that "hotel" and find a better one ourselves the next day. When we went down to check out and pay the same woman behind the desk refused to return our passports. My Italian was not great and I was agitated so I didn't really understand what she was saying. After a couple of minutes I just said ok, we will get the police to sort this out. She argued a little longer, but finally gave our passports back Not a great experience, but it could have been much worse. Fantastic learning experience to a couple of newbies to the South of Italy! Hopefully this story helps others who might travel the same path!!
Take a photo of the menu when you order. Then if they charge more you have proof.
I’m getting pretty sick of googling a Company and the first four or five that show up are NOTHING to do with the Company I’m looking for. It’s extremely annoying.
Google is terrible!!!!
Google and Amazon are both falling apart. Theor greed is wrecking their value.
Almost all the front page is paid for results now
Google is so easy at your finger tip. But maybe it's time to bring the old yellow pages back. Didn't have the fake telephone issue then.
i was scammed by Norton, because it was a scam website and I got phoned from them. Never again. I search seperately for the phone number of the company
When I was in Tbilisi, a cab driver approached me after I got into the airport lobby. He harassed me while I tried to buy SIM card, he harassed me while I was getting coffee (it was 5am), he harassed me while I sat at the bus stop. The same thing happened when I took a train to Batumi. They keep screaming “TAXI!” at you, in your face, no matter what you say.
...... Scam this, scam that, scam here, scam there..... Think I'll just stay home.
Almost scammed in Cuba a few years ago. Arrived only to find there was a mix-up with my airport pick-up that was arranged via the airbnb. There are tons of the vintage cars at the airport that act as taxi's. I picked one and a short distance after leaving the driver pulls into a gas station and tells me he's running low on gas and that I have to buy the gas. He wanted me to fill his tank up and still pay for the ride. I told him to take me back to the airport. We went back and forth for a minute until he realized I wasn't going to give in and then proceeded to my accommodation.
Barcelona is also a place where scammers and pickpockets are literally everywhere waiting for victims. It’s quite an organised crime there. Stay away from anyone who comes close especially in public transport. Keep your bag in the front not the back and hug it at all times. Don’t ever accept voluntary help from anyone in the streets in Barcelona and always ask a policeman or someone at a shop if you need to ask for anything.
Yep. Happened to my mum in Rome on a bus. Backpack in front is a good protection
My husband books hotels using a vpn. He will say he’s in the country he’s booking the hotel for. A hotel booking from America is over $100. Booking from let’s say Thailand is $13.
The reality is for most of these is if you show up ignorant you are going to get taken advantage of. My work colleagues always jibed me about the amount of research I did before going to a new destination but in near 35 yrs of business and personal travel I’ve luckily never been scammed due to knowing what to expect.
However that still won’t avoid the typical credit card scamming that can occur. The one time this happened was kinda funny though. I brought a City Tour Bus ticket from a kiosk at Heathrow Terminal 2 as I was going to be stopping over in London for the weekend. A worker in the kiosk then proceeded to charge about 30+ other tickets on my card for the remainder of the day. The funny thing was the idiot then proceeded to order a bunch of food and have it delivered to his home address. I was on a business trip in the region so was still around when the CC company alerted me and I filed a police report before leaving. The CC company provided the charge details and the food charges enabled them to catch the guy.
🤣👏👏👏
A couple of scams in the DR. We were ushered very quickly into a hall at the airport after picking up our luggage under the pretext that we were being escorted to our airport transfer. In fact, the person was trying to force us to purchase excursions etc and refused to take no for an answer. On another trip to the same destination, a man came out of nowhere, grabbed our luggage from out of our hands and ran towards some waiting buses. He refused to release our luggage until we paid him. Keep a very tight hold of your luggage at airports generally. And don’t go with anyone purporting to help escort you unless they are wearing the company’s official uniform and/or have picture identification proving they’re an employee of the company.
Even name tags can be fake. Ask for them to say your name.
Another thing to look out for are people asking to hold on to your passport for any reason. There is never a good reason for anyone to hold on to it. It should stay in your possession for the entirety of your trip. Passports are worth a lot of money on the black market. I was in Rome one time and when checking into the hotel one of the employees approached me and said it was hotel policy for them to hold my passport until I checked out and when I refused he got aggressive and threatening. I didn't fall for that scam but a friend did and they had to go to the embassy in order to get home.
Lmao wow now that’s just silly how anyone could fall for that
The Ritz in Paris holds your passport .. Always .. but they are a reputable business
@@Flyrabbit1 I would never stay at a hotel that required me to hand over my passport for the duration of my stay. Sorry. That’s just me though
@@benjaminfranklin4760 I would agree that it’s not normally something I do and I travel for a living…I should also say this was maybe 10 years ago and it was a hotel that I was determined to experience because of Princess Diana.. I feel like an established hotel such as the Paris Ritz is likely the one and only place I would feel safe doing this ;) I’ve no idea if they still practice this policy. I was in many fine hotels across the world this last year and all asked to see my passport but none required me to leave it with them during my stay
Good to know.
Rule of thumb. If anyone approaches you, they want something 😊
Exactly. If they are approaching you they’ve assesses you as their mark.
True story: My Chinese friend and I just arrived at Poznan (Poland) and we were walking to the hotel when a young pretty Polish girl smiled at me and spoke to me in perfect Chinese! She was very keen to invite me to her church (I could understand a bit of Chinese). Red flags all around my mind, I cautiously but politely declined. I later found out she was genuinely proselytising. How I wish I could speak Chinese and also not an atheist 😂
Exactly, been asked for directions quite a few time myself 😅🙃 luckily I could help them sometimes
Especially if they speak English and that’s not the main language. Red flag!
There is also the fake valet parking scam. You pull up to your hotel in your rental car and someone dressed in a fake uniform offers to park your car for you. You hand them your keys and they take off with your luggage still inside the trunk. The worst part of this scam is your insurance is void since you voluntarily gave them your keys. In fact, even reputable valet parking is problematic with rental cars, as your contract most likely doesn’t allow anyone else to drive the vehicle.
Thanks for posting all of these! It’s scary how sophisticated these scammers have gotten! It’s getting harder and harder to NOT fall for them…
I agree! Thanks for watching!
@@PortableProfessional wow u need to stop getting scammed lol 🤣🤣🤣 this is why I only use my american wireless carrier for international plans
What an important video.
You have to study more about scams than you do about the destination you’re looking forward to visiting.
another new ATM scam in the EU, specifically with the EuroNet ATM's. They have a button that says CASH & BALANCE, if you select this and decide to cancel the transaction you will still be charged €2 for the cancelled transaction. This fee will be charged over and above any other fees that the machine will charge you. It's not a lot, but it can add up, if you do not know which ATM you are using.
In Caracas, Venezuela, an adult and a child were a team. I saw the adult corner the tourist to the wall of a store, as if he were trying to just get by in a busy street. As the tourist was taken aback, lost his balance, the child took the wallet. It was so quick, I couldn’t do anything. They were gone.
These are great tips. When you are on vacation you are usually excited and that can lead to you letting your guard down. You must also be aware of your surroundings. That applies at home as well as away from home. It is a shame that there are so many scams. Thanks for posting these tips as you will be saving someone's vacation from a stressful ordeal. ✌️
My pleasure! Thanks for watching and safe travels!
Years ago, I used to travel around the Nordic countries quite a lot. I would often take the last Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Arlanda in Stockholm, Sweden. This plane landed after 2300, and we often wouldn't be through customs etc much before 2330-2345. The airport is about 45 miles from the city. Shortly before I started doing this, Sweden had deregulated taxi services, meaning that a traveller could go down a line of taxis and pick the one they preferred, rather than having to take the one at the front of the queue. This meant that drivers/firms could set their own prices. Knowing I was going to Sweden, a colleague recommended two companies only and was very firm in his advice to avoid the "gypsy" cabs. The going rate from Arlanda to the city centre where my hotel always was, was 700 Kroner (SEK), around £60-£70. The gypsy cabs would quote "400 SEK to Stockholm". Those keen on a bargain would accept and jump in. The scam was that the city limit of Stockholm was 18 miles from the city centre, and marked by a sign by the side of a 2 lane major highway in the middle of a forest. The gypsy cabs would drive to the sign, and stop. If you refused further fees, you were literally deposited in the middle of nowhere at midnight on the side of the road. Fees from the sign to the city centre were 700-800 SEK upwards depending on how prosperous the businessmen looked. This was when mobile phones were rare and expensive, and coverage was urban rather than national. I was never hooked this way, but did meet a few unfortunates who were not blessed with the advice offered me.
the fake menu happened to myself and my husband in iceland. it is so disheartening that these people think it is ok to do this!
Wow, in Iceland? I would not expect scams there.
@@WaveRider-js8uh me neither! i dont think i will forget the shock i was in!
I lived in Istanbul for a few years, this was mostly in Sultanahmet (Blue Mosque/Grand Bazaar area). They have shoe shine guys with their boxes of brushes. As he walks, one of his brushes 'drops' on the ground. So you pick it up and call him that he dropped his brush. He's so grateful that he gives you a "free" shoeshine. Only it's not. The guys I knew would kick the brushes as far away as possible so the guy would have to chase it...and if someone else saw him going for it, they'd kick is farther LOL. There are also kids with broken bottles of polish, crying so that you will buy him a new bottle.
I encountered this in Istanbul too. I simply decline this generous offer because I noticed this dude deliberately walking ahead of me. Later my friend (who fell for this scam) told me that the free shoe-shine was indeed genuine (note the singular) but charged exorbitantly for the other shoe 😂
yes I saw this in Istanbul but I had read about it on our Australian govt world travel info site - so when an old guy suddenly crossed the street in front of us dropped a brush and my sister went to pick it up I told her to stop & explained the scam - she is a world traveller but didn’t believe me! Dude was cranky we didn’t pick it up 😂 - plus he was clearly not observant because we were both wearing favric sandals 😂
@@cazgreene3055 in Vietnam I bought a pair of brand new Nikes. The very next day a shoe shine man stopped me to tell me my shoes are dirty and need cleaning. I had to stop him. If you don't they already have a brush, liquid and cloth. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are notorious for shoe shine scammers. Also Hanoi known for taxi drivers who refuse to turn on their meters. Then when you find one who turns on the meter if you give a much bigger bill he will not give you back your correct change so now you have to negotiate with him. That's when I remembered I had a Grab app I used in the Philippines back in 2019. I was able to use it in Vietnam and Thailand.
In Paris (I'm sure in other cities too) there are restaurants in the touristy areas who have a tourist menu (meaning in English and/or other languages and higher prices). To be on the safe side if you're offered one, accept (if you don't speak French) but also ask for the French one. They might refuse so just leave!!
This why you should learn enough French to get from airport to hotel, order food, etc before you go to France. English has 80,000 French words. It's not that hard.
I always take pictures and videos of my rental car! It helped me when I was in Ukraine. The car rental company wanted to charge me for dents on the car. Because I had pictures of the vehicle before taking the car, he had nothing to say. 😊
This one is for travelers to the Caribbean. I’ve seen it done many times in the Dominican Republic. After you get in your transfer from the airport to the resort, you are offered a beverage and they act like it is included in the transfer package until you open it and then they demand $20-$30 per beer.😢
It's unfortunate, but i just operate on the assumption that anyone approaching me it trying to rip me off.
Lots of scammers from India . Government should do something about it.
It's such a big money maker with kickbacks to govt. It's not about to stop.
Scam.
Going into a restaurant ordering food and eating.
Then suddenly a musicians start to play and maybe sing.
Then when you pay they add on 'cover' charge for the music, and insist you pay for the "entertainment ".
Nowhere in the restaurant does it mention live music.
Or walking out as soon as live music starts and they insist you pay for leaving as the band started, which made you decide to leave.
Both these happened to me in Peru, the first I was the only foreigner in the group.
The second we were also with Peruvians.
The first they threatened the Peruvians an they ended up paying, the second we did just manage to walk out.
My husband & I took pics with Aztec Indians in Mexican. They wanted pay & it was fine. I actually had fun with those young ppl. They were very nice. I noticed after I went into a store to shop all the items I bought were not in my bags. The lady in the store had kept some of my things. The same thing happened in Miami, but I was already on to the person. I put items back & the store owner lost money instead of me!!!
Always take photos of your passport, important documents, and tickets. It helps, if you get it stolen.
I was in Mauritius seeing some of the sights. While looking at some ancient ruins someone came to me and start talking to me. He showed me different aspects of the ruins I was looking at. At the end of his talk, he started talking about his sick sister who needed money first and operation. As I was about to leave, there were two very large men blocking the exit. I ended up giving them $40 for the “talk!” 🥺
This is similar to what happens all over Egypt. I will never go back to Egypt.
@@jamesbinns8528 in Luxor a man came up to me to sell me a shirt. He won't let me walk he kept blocking my way as I walk forward. This is the most aggressive type of tackle I've ever seen. Eventually I bought the shirt that never even fit me. Just to get the man out of my path. In Cairo usually a man would come walk with me uninvited. I'm not sure which is more annoying the men who follow me or the flies that buzz around me.
I am not friendly nor discourteous when traveling. When confronted by the scanners I will smile, bow like a Japanese, keeping my eyes on them, do the Thai "Wai" prayer hands, and act like I don't understand, smile and bow coureously backing away as a big strong American male, looking slightly insane, and speak with a cheesy faux Japanese accent and say a few words of "Ah so, domo arigato I am Mr. Roboto" gibberish. They don't know what to do with that.
Dude I do the same bloody thing that's hilarious 😂
@@Rob636Ninja We should travel together as best friend 😃👍
@@evangelicalsnever-lie9792 because you said That pray bow motion I assume you have been Thailand and omg don't rent a jetski don't make a local lose face I feel kinda street smart in Thailand but I've put myself in some dumb situations I have dragged into an alleyway by a lady boy been chased down bangla Road by a ladyboy its how I. Become friends with a bar tout who saw the chase he shouted to come inside Oscar bar yea I bought some drinks if its the girls asking hey sexy men my reply kop khun kun swy krup as I bow switch to english I be back later. You use japanese I use hangug
Confuse then with neoneun hanguginmnida they're assuming I'm British so do the slight bow and say buem but yea I've been robbed in my hotel room I left a twenty pound note in a drawer my gf teelak of 1 year took it yea were not together going Seoul end of year but I got so many wild stories of Thailand 555
🤣🤣🤣 Luckily English is my second language, so I just switch to my mother tongue and babble at them in my own tongue. If they get aggressive, I get even MORE aggressive and I tell them to F off. Like, dude, I'm from South Africa. You can't scam me, LOL.
Don't carry a purse when traveling. My friend had her purse snatched in Lisbon and this can ruin your whole day!
I made the mistake of not taking a taxi from the airport taxi area and went with a guy to his”taxi” which cost me 25$ more than a regular taxi would have been….but I was so tired and just wanted to get home….and a similar situation occurred when I needed a taxi from Newark penn station….never again…..hustlers are all over😢 But I have learned my lesson and also keep watching videos like yours to stay up on information 😊
Being tired and in a strange place are what scammers count on! Thanks for watching, Michele and safe travels!
Hi Megan, I've only fallen for 1 scam and that was in Dubai by a taxi driver, I arrived at 1am and the driver took me to my hotel, he charged me an extra 50 Dirhams because of a night rate surcharge, I found out later by the hotel concierge there is no surcharge.
I have had scammers try other scams in London, Australia, the US and Mexico and they all failed.
I had a driver in Beijing try that one on me.. I told him I was going to teach him a new word in English .."Bullshit"
I would be interested in knowing what the scam was in Australia. It’s very unusual.
@@AlphaGeekgirl taxi driver tried scamming me by driving me in the wrong direction
@@geoff1971That happened to me in Paris. The taxi driver drove us around all over the place and charged us over €20. When we went home, the drive took 5 minutes and the driver charged us €6.
APPRECIATE your info allways! Its not a lot but I support your efforts!
So nice of you! It is great to know you enjoy the videos! Thanks for watching!
Thank you Megan. Sorry for your scary stories. Much prayers for your future travels. Please take good care.
Thank you so much!
Great tips! Thank you🤓
Good vid because these are scams that can be difficult to avoid and takes time to prepare for. I also want to mention that always be wary of restaurants that have people standing outside encouraging you to come in to eat. A good legit restaurant will always never need people outside to do their sales pitch.
Great advices to avoid the scams, thank you Megan! 👍
Any time! Glad you liked it!
Thxs for sharing
Excellent information. Thank you!
Great video. I just want to point out that these scams can occur right here at home. I’ve had my debit card cloned three times in my local Target (over a few years, one time it actually happened when I gave my kids my card to go shopping). I don’t go to Target anymore. You know that thing about fool me once, fool me twice. I’ve had a lot of people try to scam me but usually I speak up (I’m from New York). But these days you have to be diligent all the time, everywhere.
So true! You don’t need to travel far to get scammed!
That's disappointing. I wish you would share the location, as I hope it's not a Target near me.
@@user-ov4wr5yu4rPrinceton NJ! You wouldn’t think it would happen here!
Pay for things in cash if you can.
@@tandanielle3875 if you have a good card that does not charge international fees then it save a lot to use a card. The exchange rate is a lot better. Occasionally my bank will have a special on foreign currency exchange with no fees but in general the credit cards give better rates.
A tip I read said you should take a picture of the plate and driver of your taxi or Uber before getting into the vehicle.
Uber displays the lic#, car description and driver name. Match the car and ask for the drivers name. Don't say "Carlos?"
Im a new yorker and a scam everyone who travels to nyc is the over priced food carts around museums etc. They sell water and food extremely over priced.
Thanks! I’ll be traveling to NYC in 3 weeks
That is not a scam, if you know the price before you buy. That's a choice.
Thankyou for tip ,vert kind of you:Any good tips for safe accommodation as getting in late @nwk - already been coned by our locat flight centre - so Not sure who to trust. Can trust before we leave home, Not great. Can you private msg here? New to this
Take care stay well anna
we were in Paris in a nice restaurant for dinner. we were sitting inside at the back which makes this all more like a set-up. my husband did the usual US move of taking out his wallet to set on the table to prepare to pay. all of a sudden a guy came out of nowhere, talking really fast French and setting some brochures on the table. It was late and we were slightly drunk so did not see this coming and were confused as to why he was hassling us. We said go away and he picked up his papers (along with my husband's wallet underneath) and quickly left. It took about 20 seconds to figure out what he had done but by then he was long gone even though my husband ran after him. The waitress ran out too, opposite of his direction (?!). we filed a police report and we just lost 50 euros so lesson learned. NEVER set your wallet on the table, even inside a restaurant
The moral of the story never get drunk in Paris.
I've never set my wallet on a, restaurant table, but there's always a, first time. Good advice.
Not being scammed by a taxi driver, take public transportation: bus, train, subway, street car... so many choices to save on a commute and stay away from trouble.
I got scammed when I hit NYC...I got a taxi from the airport to my accommodation but did wonder why the meter wasn't running...he ended up charging my credit card well over $100, which equated to over $140 AUD...I found out that there is suppose to be a flat rate of $70 from airport to city..I contacted the taxi company afterwards but never got a reply back a**holes..
Did you put a block on the payment?
This happened to me in New Zealand!! 😂😅
@@well-blazeredman6187 alas it was to late..by the time I'd work/found out I'd been scammed it was a day later and the money would have already been taken out of my account..
You need to take a pic or write down the taxi id usually located on the dash.
Don't they give out a flyer at the airport yellow taxi stands that explains the system to you? I got one the last time I went out NYC. They even have them here in New Orleans.
The fake free wifi scam is also very common at train stations, seen it in many cities in Europe.
Good to know! Thanks for watching!
You have to be crazy to leave your passport to someone unknown...
I went online to see the menu, and got a bill for a somewhat higher price. Their excuse was "that online menu is from a couple of years ago."
Thankfully this is the best information ❤❤❤❤❤
Glad you think so!
Thx Sister, great intel.
Watch out in Barcelona. Never agree to take a pic with anyone. They will chase you all over for money. Thanks for these tips.
WoW it is a jungle out htere thanks for the informational video very much liked it :)
I never knew about the menu scam
Wow! I learnt a lot I didn't know about being a careful traveler.
Glad to hear that! Safe travels.
So many different types of scams lurking around the corner and yes, it goes far beyond imagination what those scammers can do! It is important to stay alert all the time about everything while traveling and never assume anything about restaurant costs and that includes charges for hot dogs sold by vendors on the street!
I'll be in Hoi An in March. Thanks for the tip pretty lady❤
Make sure whatever rides price they say is for one or two .
World traveler here and mostly for working so I have seen all these scams and more.
A couple of tips: Never leave your passport for any sort of collateral or deposit for any rental in any country. If they want it, go away to the next one or do with out it. Not worth the risk.
Common sense and simplistic vigilance everywhere you go. There are really cool people everywhere and also very bad people. Usually the bad people are not locals who hang in the local restaurants, pubs, offices, clubs, music venues...get a feel for the local people and customs before you arrive. Learn a few words/phrases in the local language. Goes very far with the real locals.
Be cool and be safe.
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your tips! Valuable advice!
I always book international travel with a travel agent. Then if you have a problem, you have a sponsor who is better equipped to resolve the matter and you can continue to be productive or relax. Absolutely worth it.
I always keep the menu till I’m done eating . I tell them I might get something to go
Great idea! Thanks for watching!
Thank you 🙏 for this video and for the helpful comments also. I think it can be worth “paying it forward“ on a trip. Perhaps over-tipping, occasionally, voluntarily, as an indirect way of protecting oneself. It might sound strange, but I just wonder if there is a goodwill that can get built up? I personally have had a local warn me when they see kids approaching. For example, after I arrived in a new place (the kids would attempt to distract and run off with a purse). Female travelling alone, I also wonder if some, if one won’t fall for a scam, would then attempt to steal something by assault. Anyway, it’s got to be helpful to be aware and have ways of staying safe. 💜
Wow, I almost fell for the photo scam once too, in Hoi An as well!!. And it also involved an old lady (on that famous little bridge). Incredible! Fortunately, I was aware of it and respectfully declined her offer to take a photo with me.
I was pickpocketed at the Acropolis, 2nd day in Athens. I made the mistake of wearing my backpack on my back. Took my wallet, cash, credit card and driver's license. I should have worn my backpack on my front although it made taking photos more difficult. Good thing they didnt take our passports.
That's what a travel wallet strapped around your waist underneath your clothes are for. How can anyone travel to another country without it? You keep your passport, wallet, keys etc in there. I don't understand why people would place any wallets/cash/cards in their backpacks and then carry it around on their backs. Like what planet did you grow up on?
Lots of Americans live in areas where you can leave the doors unlocked like the Midwest and Texas - reason: thieves can be shot. So they are not used to having to worry about thievery and are not prepared for travel abroad. In areas like San Diego or LA, California which is overrun with thieves that cannot be touched, locals learn to use neck or waist wallets.@@maruskaehrensdorfer
NEVER leave your passport as security for a scooter/vehicle rental. This is a common newbie error, especially in S.E.Asia.
Most reputable rental companies will accept a relatively small cash deposit if pushed.
Recently I was travelling around several countries in the Caribbean and Central America. Flying into Cuba I arrived in Havana the capital city. In the taxi from the airport to my accommodation the taxi driver tried to scam me with a currency exchange scam. He insisted that the official bank rate was 17 Cuban Pesos to 1 USD but he could exchange money for a rate of 25 Pesos per dollar. I refused his offer and he kept trying to convince me during the taxi ride. At my accommodation I was able to exchange money at a rate of 242 Pesos per dollar. Travelling around Cuba for about a month the best rate I got was 250 Pesos per dollar. Note, try not to leave Cuba with any Cuban currency as no other country will exchange it for you, it is valueless outside the country. When you can ask a few trusted locals such as people at your accommodation for a correct exchange rate.
I thought Cubans would like to have dollars so most likely can't you just use dollars there instead of exchanging them for pesos?
@@ontheroad5555 Both currencies can be used widely in Cuba. Some businesses only accept dollars. A desire from USA dollars is because it is more valuable. Dollars can be used to make purchases outside of the country. The Cuban Peso cannot be used outside of the country and therefore only has in country purchasing power. The Peso also continues devaluate over time. When I was there in Dec 2023 exchange was about 250 to the dollar. Leaving in late Jan 2024 exchange was between 260 - 270 Peso per dollar. So dollars are obviously more value stable. I was also able to exchange some euros for about the same rate.
@@dennisspackman7147 thanks for answering that question. Then the whole idea of trying to scam on the currency exchange would make no sense being it would be so easy to spend US dollars in Cuba.
Good video. Much of this was new to me.
I remain a fan of package-holidays from companies that have good apps, so I seldom have a need to call support lines. So far, I've avoided falling victim to scams - but, in June, I'm off to ......... Bali, so that might change.
Have a great trip to Bali! Beautiful place but be extra cautious of scams!
Don't let your credit card leave your sight when paying the bill at a restaurant, or anywhere else.
You may have a big surprise when you return to your country for things you bought in different countries that you never visited.
Use certain credit cards for travel.
Not bank cards. Get a low maximum charge for those cards, and keep them paid off.
You'll be less frustrated later if it got ripped or copied while traveling.
Always leave a paper copy of your passport with a family member back home in case you are pickpocketed, for example. Saves you hours of aggravation in getting a replacement. Also know where the nearest US embassy is to help should you get stuck.
Gave this advice to a friend who took her family to Europe. Her mother helped with the kids while she was in meetings. Her mother got pickpocketed on a train. Having the paper copies of the documents that she sent to her travel agent (who worked directly with the embassy) and their going to the embassy to collect a replacement permitted the continuation of the trip with minimal stress.
I have been watching your videos your videos for a while now as I will be traveling quite a bit soon. Thank you for all the tips. BTW, I love your dog! Too bad he wasn't in this video.
Glad you like them! Enjoy your travels!
They got me with the fake customer service scam. I was laughing at myself about that one lolz
They tried to get me with the overpriced receipt in Phuket but I said a whole lot of not nice words and contacted the police nearby. The tab was offered gratis.
In Rome - on checking out they claim you used mini bar - when you didn’t. Take pics of room and minibar when checking out.
A good tip: always ask them to empty the mini bar and only keep your own bottled water etc. in the mini bar. I have done this all over Europe in all sorts of hotels and I've never had a problem with my request to empty the mini bar.
Hey Megan, for the photoscam I usually start speaking another language when they start asking me for money; however, this wouldn't work for me in Hoi An for obvious reasons, lol :)) The only way to not get scammed is to have a local friend act as your guide and negotiate prices for you. Scammers are tenacious, it's a way of life for them, sadly.
🌺🤔Thank you! 🙏🏿
Traveling to Germany, i booked taxi pick up service from airport only to find it wasn't there. When called the dirm they said the driver was waiting for over an hour and left because i wasn't there. Complete lie. After30 minutes of arguing, they sent him but he was very unhelpful. 10 minutes walk to the parked taxi.
The only scam I've ever fallen victim to happened in Mexico and involved filling up at a gas station. My brother and I were staying in the Riviera Maya and wanted to rent a car in order to visit more distant sites like Chichen Itza. When we stopped for gas, an attendant collected the money and went inside. He came out a few seconds later to say that I had given him a 50 peso bill instead of a 500. Of course, like with the menu scam you mentioned, at that point it's your word against his. The first time this happened, I fell for it and immediately repaid in the "proper" amount. Found out it was a scam when the very next time we stopped the guy there tried to pull the same thing! The second time, in my passable Spanish, I told him that NO, I hadn't, and that I might be needing to speak to the authorities. At that point, he relented and we drove away without paying any additional "fees."
Watch out for well dressed men who near a tourist destination saying the site is closed and then offer to take you to another destination. It happened to me when I first started travelling (and was in Bangkok) and he took us to some neighborhood near a temple asking us to see his shop and leading us into an empty house. Luckily we didn't get locked in.
😱
Almost got done by the fake group of deaf mute young people outside the Louvre. They;ll ask you to sign a petition (written in English which should have been the tipoff!) then demand a minimum 20 Euro donation, getting aggressive if you dont. I gave them a 2E coin and yelled at them to go away!. They got pretty shouty but left in the end, Ive since heard stories of them snatching wallets if you get yours out. Beware!
YES This happened to me in front of the Louvre as well this past May- I was so mad at myself for falling for this scam- I didn’t give them a dime though but I shouldn’t have signed anything to begin with! They were very nasty women.
They were at the Eifel Tower when I visited. I shouted back louder though and they took off.
I'm sorry to hear your dad got scammed in Hoi An. I'm Viet-American who goes to VN yearly and not all are bad like her. Sad. Ruins it for the other innocent VN locals. As experienced as you are, you are still getting scammed. That's crazy. I've gone over 80 countries. Will be in Thail, VN and gotta watch out. Paris is full of scams too. This world.
There are scammers in every country! I got scammed in the US too. There is a fix fare from Miami airport for a certain miles and the driver charged me 100 USD. Another time I got sold a fake gift for a fat price! Scammers are everywhere.
Very true! Safe travels!
My favorite scam to avoid is when waiting to cross land borders. There are a lot of hecklers trying to sell you something. Many are legitimate, but many others are not. I mistakenly asked if there was a faster line or a different place I could cross - I only ended up in the same line at a different point (at the beginning) and was out 20 bucks. Still.
The fake menu scam was used on me at a London Chinatown restaurant this last September. I wish I remember the name of the place to warn others.
Oh wow, those really make me not want to travel……especially abroad 😲
have you ever travelled abroad?
Will one eSimm/slection is all I need as I travel to Germany, Switzerland , and Netherlands ? thx
Awareness and a more cynical approach can help avoid scams. I learnt the latter overtime and it helps to avoid any unwanted attention.
How much can links be trusted too?
Oh girl me too!
Ive used a vpn for years but they cant stop you connecting to a fake Wifi connection, that is down to you clicking on it.
I don't know what your accent is, but I like it.