Common Travel Scams and How to Avoid Them
Taxi Overcharging
One of the most common traps uncovered for travelers is taxi overcharging. In hot destinations or tourist cities, many taxi coop drivers develop ways to make more money from you: they would go via long stretches, do not turn on the meter, and would charge more money. At times, they might insist on a "fixed price" which turns out to be closely an arm and a leg more compared to what's real. Especially in those places where they eye a tourist greatly unlikely to have a clue about the normal boundaries or fares!
In such a condition, using an app like Uber or LYFT with fixed upfront pricing is wise. If you choose to use a taxi, it helps to settle the price and usage of the meter with the driver beforehand. Get some idea as to what your fare would typically cost before negotiating. So, do ask the locals or go online for information on the average fare. Should your driver refuse? Get another taxi without feeling any guilt if they refuse to use the meter or name a ridiculous price.
Fake police officers
Tricksters posing fake cop in certain travel destinations in an effort to rip off tourists. They would come to the tourists on streets, show them a fake uniform or badge (most often bought from the people who want to oppose such crimes) and would ask to check their passport or their wallet. Sometimes they could say that their foreign money is counterfeit, and at other times, they would request to search through your possessions. As soon as the tricksters whisk away with your things, your valuables disappear from your hand, too.
To prevent oneself from becoming a victim, one must always be careful if approached by an individual claiming to be a cop. Genuine law enforcement officers are generally open to communication but rarely insist on seeing a person’s passport or wallet unless you are under suspicion of doing something. When in doubt, ask to be taken to the nearest police station. Real police would not hurt them and they would help them with the situation. Wear local police department uniforms; it can be useful at times when one can identify a fake cop with considerable ease.
The "Friendship Bracelet" Scam
The "Friendship Bracelet" Trick is a scam widely used by the street vendors to entrap tourists into a money trap. When the fraudster tries to deceive you into accepting what they claim is a friendship gift, like a bracelet or flower, they will first hover around you. The giving of "gifts" should be done for free, but the moment they tie the string around your wrist or hand you the flower, they shall demand money immediately for the "purchase." The importance of not releasing money can sometimes work if anything goes wrong soon on delivery, and those deceitful vendors tend to start grimacing and saying things that were definitely aggressive.
To avoid falling for this scam, always refuse all unsolicited gifts from strangers particularly those given on the streets. Whatever the circumstances, the point is straightforward: Be polite but out rightly decline and move away from them. If one persists in giving you a "gift," then it is highly commendable to be rude and go on with your journey. The best way to go about such cases is to out rightly turn them down and continue walking.
Be Wary of Currency Exchange Scams
Foreign tourists are targeted frequently by some sleight-of-hand merchants who find themselves in exchange kiosks. Sometimes a poor exchange rate is offered, where the exchange is done quickly while you are diverted. In some cases, however, an attractive exchange rate may be offered, only for the amount you get to be diminished later upon adding hidden fees.
Try to exchange your money through an ATM or a bank to avoid being cheated. ATMs often charge exchange rates and fees lower than those found in street exchanges. To be certain about this, if you feel like you must do so, check online from the comfort of your home or hotel, just before taking off, to familiarize yourself with the rates being used in the market. Moreover, it is good practice to check your money carefully to verify that you have not received less in the exchange than you should have.
Fake Tour Guides
Tour guides are a surefire way to make your excursion or holiday really unforgettable, but most tourist-targeted destinations are overflowing with their fake versions. Even so-called guides carried away by New Yorkers working for some big travel companies offer services which seriously address the needs of each tourist.
These are your regular bunch of impostors who will approach you offering the tour guide in places where the most well-known landmarks are situated, which attract travelling enthusiasts. They might demand money upfront, and if you do pay, the service is either substandard or plain nonexistent. Sometimes he might take you to the well-overpriced places for his monetary kickback.
The only way to avoid being taken in by some fake tour guides is to always rely on the help of reputable agencies or famous websites in order to book tours. Check the guides' reviews and prove their credentials. Do not accept any plans that are offered in the streets as they are likely to be government-unregistered, and they never serve tourists professionally. If you wish to hire someone on your own accord, always ask for identification and professional accreditation.
ATM Skimming
ATM skimming is a significant breach of privacy that leads to a multitude of criminals installing device ' additives ' on ATM terminals to decrypt bank-card information from its magnetic stripe. The most significant give-off secures data and personal identification numbers. An ATM winner may initiate withdrawals, sometimes, much later. Such a mean robbery happens thus late and usually in locales such as racetracks.
Advice includes using ATMs within banks or in public places that are fully bright. Look out for any signs of tampering on the ATM, such as loose or unusual readers or keypads. Be cautious about using ATMs in bad locations. This is especially important if it is at night; and, in fact, if possible, cover your hand while entering your password so that if someone happens to be looking over your shoulder, he or she will find it hard to figure out your password.
Pickpocketing
Being pickpocketed remains an old but one of the widespread scams tourists should guard against in crowded places that could include street markets, on public transportation, or at any tourist attraction. It's not uncommon for several pick pocketers to act together, with one of them creating some kind of deception to distract or draw your focus away from something while another swipes an object from you. In other cases, sleight-of-hand theft has been performed where a pickpocket instantly relieves you of your wallet, phone, or the like.
To avoid becoming a victim of pickpocketing, keep your valuables out of easily pilferable rear pockets and maintain security through placement in front-and-center pockets or, better still, a money belt. Likewise; never ever leave your wallet and mobile phone in an easily-targetable clutch or back pocket. Stay on the alert when you have your belongings exposed in public areas! If aggravated by over-persistent encroachments of space, move quickly away from such encroachers.
Fake Charity Collectors
On your travels, you are likely to encounter individuals or groups purporting to be collecting donations for charitable causes. These fundraising activities may feature intense, emotional presentations and personal stories behind some cause. However, most of these are scams-a cover-up for collecting money with very little to no chance of it reaching the real destinations of help that are being claimed.
In order to stay safe from these frauds, advice would be not to donate any money to street fundraisers or to people whom you have never known to. Instead, always donate to a known and vetted cause and its sites via proper channels like their real website or office. Exceed caution to the fundraisers who prompt/tell you to donate or those who are skeptic about showing evidence of their legitimacy.
Fake Hotel Calls
A cruel scam on the uprise is when these scammers call your hotel room while you're relaxing in your bed, pretending to be the front desk to fraudulently get credit card details from you. Sometimes they affirm they need the number to process a payment or reservation, although in actuality, they're trying to phish your credit card data.
To avoid falling victim to such scams, never provide your credit card details over the phone, especially if you didn't set the conversation rolling in the first place. You should hang up immediately upon receiving a suspicious call and then proceed to contact the hotel front desk using the number that appears in your room or on your booking confirmation. No hotel staff would ever request your credit card information over the phone.
Conclusion
Though scams related to travel are very widely, they need not mark the end of your trip. With constant vigilance and some amount of knowledge, you minimize the risks of encountering such things and enjoy your travel free from these pains. The history of scams in the area you are visiting hints at preventive measures when seeking solutions. Trust your instinct at all times, keep your valuables locked away, avoid disclosing personal information to strangers, and take time to evaluate options before any acceptance. With the right planning and readiness, you will travel tensely haunted by the beauties of travel and safe from all these scams.
Comments
Post a Comment