Real Travel Tips – Scams
Unfortunately if you are not from a certain area you may find yourself the target of different scams. People who look different, don’t speak the language, or have a different accent will often be considered not knowledgeable about local prices and options and more likely targets of potential scams along with getting scammed at higher prices. Most people are good people but you always want to watch out for the bad apples!
From my travels I’ve seen many scams! I’m also one of those weird guys who, even when I know I am being scammed, still like to go along with the scam to see where it goes. Still not sure why I do that… But even after seeing so many scams I still sometimes get scammed (like outside a temple in Myanmar a child that I assumed was part of the temple was handing out plastic bags to put your shoes in. He held a bag open for my shoes and right when I put my shoes in the bag I knew that I had been scammed. He asked for about 10 cents so I paid him the 10 cents. (There were free plastic bags inside the temple).
Here are some things to watch out for in your travels and some tips to be better prepared! I have included some real world examples I experienced or heard about from friends or other travelers to give some ideas as to what all is out there. Enjoy!
When You are Most Likely to Get Scammed
Arrival – Taxis
When you first arrive somewhere by plane, bus, or ferry, this is when scammers will target you in highest frequency. They suspect that you do not know what things cost in the area. Because you are part of a big group of new arrivals, they assume they can get at least one of you. A common way of getting scammed is by paying for an overpriced taxi. Make sure to check the local scams to see if anything more devious is occurring that you should watch out for.
Ride sharing apps, such as Uber, Grab, Lyft, OlaCabs, etc. give you a potentially safer option because rides can be tracked. If your location has ride sharing apps, you can compare the price of a taxi to see if you are getting a fair deal for a taxi or just use the ride sharing app. Also, don’t forget about public transportation! It is often cheaper to take the local bus or rail than to use a taxi. If you book a hotel or hostel before you arrive, they will often send directions in the confirmation email and may even include transportation options and costs.
In a lot of cases the people who will try to rip you off are right by where you arrive. Often if you walk a block or two you are back with the normal everyday people who will offer you normal prices for rides. Always make sure they have a meter that runs or you agree on a set price before you start going. If driver asks for more when you get somewhere just give them the set price and leave. Threaten to call the police if they do not agree.
Approached by Stranger
This is probably the most important way to identify potential scammers. If somebody approaches you they either are friendly, curious, or want something from you. You could assume everybody that approaches you and starts talking to you wants something from you, but, if you are too guarded you will miss out on meeting wonderful people while traveling and the beautiful experience of sharing cultures, ideas, and experiences. The key to this one is being able to judge the character of the person well enough to make a determination. If things lead to buying something, you are probably being scammed.
A good way in any situation to see if what somebody is telling you is correct is to ask people who are not involved. A lot of people who do not directly benefit from something will tell you the truth. Usually the people who have a stake in the game are the ones who are more likely to mislead you. The key to watch out here is when the person you ask is also in on the scam.
When I was on Camiguin island in the Philippines I woke up early and needed to take a jeepney (converted jeep to have 2 rows of seats along the sides in the back, sort of like a bus with fixed routes) to meet with a doctor. I went towards the main road and somebody pulled over and said that it would be 150 pesos. My doctor friend already told me it would cost 10 pesos, so I tried to barter him down. He wouldn’t budge. Another jeepney pulled up and this 2nd guy also quoted 150 pesos. The first guy says, “See, this is the price.” I kept walking towards the main street and the next guy that pulled up is an honest person and charged me the original 10 pesos. The first 2 guys were both running the scam together.
Trust the Wrong Person
This one can be the most hurtful, hardest to detect, and one with most money because usually you’ve built up some kind of personal relationship. The person then uses this personal relationship to extract money or whatever else from you. This could be to help with an emergency, they need financial help, or whatever other reason they give for you to give some money. In some cases this is actually the truth and they truly need money for some lifesaving procedure, etc. Other times it is a lie and they created this personal relationship to one day be able to get money out of you.
This one is hard because of your relationship with this person. You want to believe they are telling the truth. If there is any way to verify what they are saying then that is your best bet. Even the verification could be fabricated. At some point you have to determine how much you believe the person and weigh that against the consequences of if you don’t help them. This is very hard. Unfortunately money is often generously given by good people and undeservingly taken by bad people. You will have to make a judgment call on what you believe is right for the particular circumstances.
Not Right State of Mind
This can be when you are tired, in a hurry/sense of urgency, not paying attention, or when you are intoxicated. Because you are not in the right state of mind you may make a decision you otherwise wouldn’t make. This is when you are the most vulnerable and personally these are the times I am most likely to be scammed. Some tactics even try to induce this state of mind in you.
An example of creating a sense of urgency would be on a local bus near The Great Wall of China. Somebody comes on the bus and frantically talks in English to the only foreigners there that you have to get off the bus immediately if you are going to The Great Wall of China. You have to make a split second decision about if you will get off of the bus. We had read about this beforehand so didn’t fall for it but when you get off of the bus too early you are pressured to buy an overpriced taxi to The Great Wall. Read the full The Great Wall of China story and additional scams by clicking here!
An example of intoxication and not paying attention was a guy I met at a hostel who had a few drinks in Hanoi, Vietnam. He was walking back from getting some food and had his cell phone out to navigate when a girl on a motorbike drove by and grabbed the cell phone right out of his hand. It’s always good to be aware of your surroundings, especially after some drinks.
Touristy Areas
Unfortunately some of the most historic and beautiful places in the world also attract the type of people whose goal is to try and siphon off as much money from those who travel to see these places. The sad thing is that the more touristy a place becomes, the more people traveling there start to be seen and treated as walking piggy banks and not as fellow human beings. To be honest, this is why I do not like a lot of parts of Thailand because this has become the norm (there are still areas in Thailand where it’s less common for people to have ulterior motives, you just have to get a little off the beaten track).
Usually you can expect to pay more for things in touristy areas. If you know what the prices should be you can determine if the price is reasonable for the area. In a lot of places you may have to barter so having an idea of what something is worth can be helpful to not being overcharged absurd amounts. I guess sometimes ignorance is bliss! The problem is that each person is creating the future trend. If lots of people get ripped off, the people selling things will know they can rip people off and get more money so will keep selling at absurd prices. If they have trouble ripping people off , then they will have to sell things at what is a more reasonable price which then gets more people to buy because they are not getting ripped off. Each person is a part of the system.
One thing to keep in mind if you go on a tour in these places is that even your tour guide may not always have your best interests at heart. Often times when you go to an optional place to eat for lunch or dinner this place isn’t chosen for the quality of food, it is often chosen because the tour guide gets a rebate when they bring in a tour group. You end up eating at a place that is very overpriced (2x – 10x) where the food is often mediocre at best. This isn’t always the case but I’ve seen this happen a lot when I’ve been on tours (I don’t like tours very much unless the guide is truly an expert on what you are seeing which often tends to be more than my budget can afford… I’ve found talking to local people you sometimes get richer stories and explanations of ancient things than what you get from typical tour guides).
How to Be Aware of Local Scams
Use Wikitravel!
This is one of my favorite tools to use when I travel to a new place. I often download the wikitravel page for the country and/or city that I am traveling to and then read it while traveling to that place or when I first arrive (which is often in the morning after traveling on a bus or flight all night and not getting any sleep… those dang movies that they put on those flights!).
Wikitravel pages are written by different authors so each one has their own style but a good number list out the local scams and what to look out for. This is especially helpful when you are in a brand new place because the scams can be completely different than what you are used to!
When I was in Shanghai, China I had a scam that I read about on Wikitravel start unfolding right in front of me. I was with my Uncle James and his girlfriend at a scenic spot where you have a good view of the skyline. Lots of people go here so you have to be more conscious of pickpockets and scammers. There’s a scam I read about where a girl starts talking to you and asks you to go buy a beer or tea somewhere. She then takes you somewhere where the drinks are overpriced and she disappears so you are stuck footing the bill for 2 people. A girl came up to me and asked where I was from. I said USA and then she immediately asked to go grab a beer. I knew something was off and then she saw that I was with a local Chinese, got super nervous, and then ran away.
Knowledge is Power!
One of the best ways to beat scams is to be informed. When you are familiar with scams that happen in an area it’s much easier to see the makings of a scam when it is happening to you. Some scams are very simple and other are very intricate. It really depends on the creativeness of the actors and how many people are involved.
In Vietnam my friend showed me a video at a hospital where a group of people suddenly appear around a lady, somebody yanks off her necklace, and the necklace then gets passed onto a person holding a child. She frantically looks around for the thief but does not suspect the innocent looking man and child who are standing on the sidelines. This involved maybe up to 10 people. Crazy! And at a hospital!
Other ways to gather information (other than Wikitravel!) are to Google search, read people’s blogs who have traveled in that area, or to talk to people! Fellow travelers are a valuable source of information on the road and usually travelers pass on important information to each other or even their own experiences with scammers. Another place to get information is where you are staying. Usually hostels and hotels know what happens in the area and can warn you what to watch out for!
Trust Your Gut
If you have a bad feeling about something or someone, listen to your intuition. Your senses and brain often pick up subtle things that your conscious mind is not aware of. This will manifest as a bad feeling you have about something. Your gut is not perfect but it’s better to be safe than sorry!
I would love to hear any cool stories people have of scams they have heard about or experienced! Feel free to reach out!
Next Week: Real Travel Tips – Beggars