Tip on Spotting Tourist SCAMS

How to Spot Tourist Scams

Member

By aew4, eHow Member

Article Rating:  (5 Ratings)

•  
•  
•  
• Add to Favorites
•  
•  

You can spot a tourist, but can you spot a scam?

In order to be a safe international traveler, you need to be able to spot common tourist scams. Tourist scams usually target unsuspecting travelers, and include muggers, pickpockets, swindlers, and other street crimes of opportunity. Living abroad, I follow these rules in order to spot scams and keep myself and my belongings safe. Don't be a gullible tourist!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• over-the-shoulder bag or backpack
• photocopy of your passport
• key phrases in the country's foreign language
• your common sense

1. Step1
   
   Tourists are easy to spot
   Blend in. When travelingas a tourist, try to attract as little attention as possible. Do not wear flashy jewelry or carry an expensive camera around your neck. The less you stand out as a tourist, the less likely you are to be targeted for a tourist scam.
2. Step2
   
   Tourists often are too trusting
   Be a tough target. So, the key to avoiding a mugging is to make yourself a difficult one. Be aware of your surroundings. Do not get distracted by the chaos around you, even if you are a tourist. Check the map ahead of time, and know where you are going. Taking out your map is not only a red flag; it is also an opportunity to scam you while you are distracted.
3. Step3
   
   Scam artists will distract you any way possible
   Protect your belongings. Tourists need to carry a lot of belongings, but be smart and carry a cross-body shoulder bag or a backpack worn in the front. A backpack in the back is hard for you to control, and easy to open without you realizing. Similarly, a purse worn over only one shoulder is easy to snatch. Your bag should be visible to you at all times, and as difficult as possible for someone else to remove from your body. In crowded areas, keep your hand over the zipper and hold on to the strap.
4. Step4
   
   Tourists can't lose what they're not carrying
   Carry only cash, not bank cards. A common street crime where I live is to take a victim to an ATM and demand that they withdraw money. If you're not carrying an ATM card, this can't happen to you. Also, don't carry around your passport. Many places will accept a photocopy of your passport in lieu of the original. Remember, scammers can't steal what you're not carrying.
5. Step5
   
   Just make sure the bills aren't fake!
   Divide your money and carry it separately. I often carry half my money in my bag, half in my front pocket, and an emergency bill in my shoe when I'm a tourist. It's unlikely for a scam artist to reach all 3 places.
6. Step6
   
   If it sounds fishy, it's probably a tourist scam
   Even if you follow these steps, you may find yourself in a scam situation. If so, keep your wits about you. A friend was recently approached by a scam artist claiming to be a plain-clothes police officer, who demanded she show her passport, enter a taxi and go to the police station with him. She hadn't done anything wrong, but wasn't sure about defying authority in a foreign country. Her response was to ask to go by foot. The "police officer" lost interest, and my friend survived the scam.
7. Step7
   
   Likewise, if something strange happens in the street, consider that it may be an attempt to distract you and run a scam. If someone drops a lot of change at your feet, spits on you, throws ketchup on your clothes, or asks your for help, you are likely being robbed. Remember, no one asks a tourist for directions!