Be Wary of Tourist Scams

Dear Clever Traveler,

We’re going to several large European cities this summer. I’ve been reading that tourists are getting scammed all the time!
How can we stay safe? 

—Wallet Wary

Dear WW,
It’s important to keep your wits about you when you’re sightseeing in any large city—including in the US. But jetlag, exciting new surroundings, and unfamiliarity with the language make you more vulnerable when you travel overseas. Here are some scams to watch out for.

Taxis

Taxi scams are the most common way that tourists are taken for extra dollars. In nearly every major airport in the world, unlicensed cab drivers will offer rides to travelers as they exit customs. Do not take them up on it. The legit cabs are outside and are generally regulated by an airport employee.

Before you get in a taxi, make sure it has a meter. Don’t let the driver start without turning on the meter. If the taxi has no meter, wait for the next cab.

If you need a taxi between sightseeing points, find a hotel and ask the doorman to hail a cab from the queue. When there’s no hotel nearby, hail a passing cab at a busy intersection. Do some research online before you leave home to learn the standard cab fare between major points of interest. Don’t pay more than that amount.

Currency

The guy outside your hotel offering an unbeatable exchange rate for your dollars may seem enticing. But don’t go there. Most of us aren’t familiar enough with the details of foreign bills to spot a counterfeit, and that’s likely what you’ll get. Go to an exchange booth; you’ll find one at the airport, or ask for a recommendation from your hotel. Although the hotel will exchange dollars, the rate is usually poor.

Many travelers tell stories about giving a taxi driver or shopkeeper a large bill and getting caught up in a quick switch. The driver or merchant claims that the tourist paid with a smaller bill. Protect yourself by stating the amount of money you’re giving; “Here’s 100,” for example. This shows that you are aware of the game and know how much money you are handing over.

You can control your exposure to quick-change scams by having lots of small bills and coins in the local currency. Get familiar enough with the money so you can pay with exact change.

Large Crowds

My friend Mary Agnes is a smart professional who works in Manhattan; she did not just fall off the turnip truck. When she realized her lifelong dream of visiting the Vatican, she took photos of everything. As she was snapping away, a well-dressed man asked her to take his photo, and she cheerfully complied. While she was talking to him, her leather backpack purse was rifled, and her passport and wallet,  containing all her cash and credit cards, were stolen. She spent the next part of her vacation calling her credit card companies and waiting at the US embassy for a replacement passport.

Use your peripheral vision to get out of this situation before it starts. Be aware of the people around you. If it looks like several people are converging on you at once, move fast to get away or stand still and shout.

This happened to me. Late one night in Zurich, we were walking back to our hotel when a group of teens converged on us in a dark square. We saw them coming and yelled at them. When they realized we knew what they were up to, they disappeared.

Electronics

However sad the story, don’t ever let anyone use your laptop. A common scam involves a young person who approaches someone using a personal laptop at a coffee shop. She tells you she’s a student and just needs to email her mom quickly to let her know she’s safe. Or he wants to insert a portable drive into your computer for just a second to download photos. This is identity theft in action. Fold up your laptop, and say you have a train to catch.

Really Dirty Tricks

A child calls your attention to the pigeon poop on your shirt, or a group of kids point out nasty stuff on your shoe. Of course, they don’t tell you they put it there. They offer to clean it, and quick as a flash, they’re all over you with towels and cloths—and sticky fingers in your pockets.

The dirtiest scam of all involves a baby. A woman approaches in tears and shoves her baby into your arms. Your natural instinct is to grab the baby. But don’t. If you’re holding the baby and not paying attention to your pocketbook, the woman’s accomplices have already stolen your bag.

So Protect Yourself

Avoiding scams mainly takes common sense and situational awareness.

The best advice I ever heard was this: No stranger will ever approach you with something you need. Whether it’s a great deal on subway tickets (Paris), spectacular pearls (Thailand), or free leather jackets (Italy), scamming is all about distraction. While you’re figuring out a response, the thieves are busy pocketing your valuables.

But don’t be so worried about getting scammed that you fail to meet people. That’s one of the great pleasures of travel.