Abroad tourists often behave relaxed and trusting, and therefore often become easy prey for scammers. Methods of deception are constantly being improved, but they all work on similar principles. This article will introduce you to six unusual but common scams. We really hope that reading this material will help you protect your wallet.
1. “Let’s check your bills”
Geography of deception: EU countries
On the street you may be approached by people in uniforms that look very similar to police uniforms. They will tell you that there is an operation in the city to search for counterfeiters, and will ask you to present all your cash for verification. After the “check,” suspicious banknotes may be “confiscated” from you, or they may be quietly replaced with counterfeit ones.
When going on a trip, it is useful to find out what the insignia of police officers looks like in the countries where you are traveling. At such a meeting, you can copy down the details of police identification cards or badges and demand that you be taken to the police station and provided with legal assistance guaranteed by the law of the country. Such requirements will certainly scare away petty scammers.
2. “Waiting for change”
Geography of deception: countries of Asia and the East
Imagine the situation: you are buying souvenirs, but the seller does not have change. No need to worry, the shop owner tells you and sends his “assistant” for change.
Time passes, but the “assistant” turns out to be an accomplice and is in no hurry to return with your money. Patience runs out, you leave, and the scammers remain the winner. The best counteraction to this scam is small cash prepared in advance for change.
3. “The Cunning Shoeshine Man”
Geography of deception: Istanbul and other eastern cities
Shoe shiners work in the crowded squares of Istanbul. You can meet such a character on the way to the Galata Bridge, he will have a characteristic set: a wooden box, shoe polish and a brush that will hang on a loop on the side of this box. While passing by, the scammer will drop the brush, hoping that the gullible tourist will pick it up. The brush is returned to the owner, he is happy and offers to immediately thank you by cleaning your shoes for free.
If you agree, the swindler will immediately begin to demand payment for his work, usually about 50 lire. Always refuse intrusive services in the form of thanks, they probably want to scam you.
4. “Do you want me to take a picture of you?”
Geography of deception: Paris, Rome, popular tourist cities
The simplest scam that works flawlessly in all tourist places on the planet. You are asked to take photos of a couple or a family with your own camera, and then the photographer disappears into the endless crowd with your camera.
If you try to catch up with him, then remember: firstly, he knows the city like the back of his hand, and secondly, be prepared to meet his friends and accomplices.
If you really want to take a photo together, choose a “photographer” yourself. Candidates from among non-suspicious tourists are best suited. Do not accept help from intrusive and enterprising strangers.
5. “Coin Cheating”
Geography of deception: Italy, Turkey
Coin fraud is common in many countries. In Italy, you may be given change in lira. Outwardly, they resemble a 2 euro coin. In Turkey, coins of different denominations, in principle, look very similar, and sellers take advantage of this – they give change several times less.
When a fraud is discovered, the swindlers refer to their carelessness, but for some reason tourists always have to pay for their carelessness.
How to resist this deception? It is best to look on the Internet in advance to see what the local currency looks like. And try to carefully check your change when making purchases.
6. “The Waiter Who Isn’t There”
Geography of deception: Asia
You are hungry and go to have lunch at a local restaurant with colorful cuisine. A polite waiter brings a menu with quite reasonable prices for the most popular national dishes. The order is made. The waiter leaves. And disappears from your life forever. Because a completely different person brings you the bill. The amount in the check is much more than what you expected.
You start to get nervous and ask for a menu. The restaurant administration fulfills your request. To your complete surprise, you see that the menu shows completely different prices. You demand to call that very first waiter. Describe his signs. But no one saw him. The restaurant employees say that such a person does not work for them. You’re caught. And they are forced to pay.
It is difficult to find a way out of such a situation. It is necessary to test establishments and mark for yourself those places that you trust.
If you still fall for the trick of scammers and you were robbed in a foreign country, try to find the Russian consulate. It’s not a fact that employees will necessarily help solve your problems, but you can always call your relatives from the consulate and ask them for help. Take care of yourself and your wallet!
Author of the article: Mikhail Roskin
