Travel scam warning: 14 classic scams travellers fall for

The scenic route

One of the classic taxi-driver scams. The meter is running and the cab is cruising. You don't know this city, you don't know the fastest way to get where you're going, so the driver takes you all over the place, does a full circuit of town, a grand tour of money-making victory, and earns a packet. Fortunately, this is easily dealt with these days. Just ensure you plot your journey on Google Maps before leaving your accommodation, and then tell the driver if he's going the wrong way.

The short change

All currency looks the same when you're in a new country, particularly if the bills are all a similar colour, or they have a lot of zeroes on them. That makes it easy for cab drivers and shop assistants to hand you a stack of change which you will only discover much later is a fraction of what you should have received.

The meter trick

Another cab-driver classic. The meter doesn't work, they'll claim. You should just negotiate a price before you start driving. It will actually be cheaper for you, the driver says. Which, of course, it won't be. The other trick, which happens in Mumbai, where the taxi meters are ancient and a conversion needs to be done using a chart to find the right amount payable, is to miscalculate that amount, giving you an astronomical fare. I was once done by that one.

"That hotel is full"

Not to sound like I'm picking on cab drivers, but many of the standard scams travellers are likely to encounter do originate with them. This is another you'll hear, most probably in Asia. You throw your backpack in a cab or a tuk-tuk, let the driver know which hotel or hostel you're going to, and he turns to you with a concerned look: "I'm sorry, that hotel is closed." Or it's full. Or it burned down. Or it got hit by a comet. The idea being that they'll take you to a new hotel and take a cut from the payment. In this situation, just be firm.

The quick switch

You make a purchase in some far-flung location. It's something fairly pricey – designer clothes, or some electronic equipment. You pay the bill, grab your bag, and out you walk. It's only some time later that you check through the bag and find that what you purchased isn't, in fact, what you purchased. It's been switched out for something far cheaper or less impressive.

"It's free – for you"

Don't let anyone give you something for free. It might be a friendship bracelet that they're trying to tie onto your wrist, or a sprig of rosemary they're trying to lodge in your pocket, or any number of little trinkets that are a "gift for you". As the saying goes, there's no such thing as a free lunch, and as soon as you accept anything "free", you'll be hounded to hand over some cash.

The fake police

This seems to be a classic in Central America, where travellers are wary of doing the wrong thing, not wanting to end up anywhere near a local jail. Policemen will pull you aside and ask for your passport. They'll hassle you, accuse you of having drugs, or drinking illegally on the street, and then demand an on-the-spot fine to help you avoid going to Central American prison. Always ask for credentials – there's a good chance these guys are fake.

Jewellery deals

I came very close to falling for this one in India. A group of people will befriend you and spend time with you in their home city, showing you the sights, treating you to a meal or two. Then, finally, they'll mention that their cousin/uncle/friend has a jewellery store and could sell you a few pieces super-cheap that you can then resell back home and make a huge profit. Obviously, that's not a thing that's going to happen.

The currency trick

This one, unfortunately, did get me. I was on the Trans-Mongolian train, crossing the border from Russia into Mongolia, and some guy jumped on board and offered to exchange Russian roubles for Mongolian tugrik. He was giving a good rate too, something like four tugrik to the rouble. So I went for it. Of course, that isn't a good rate. That's 10 times less than the official exchange rate. I hadn't done any research, and I paid the price.

Hire cars and scooters

Be careful with your hire car if you're not renting from a large, well-known company. Be especially careful with scooter and motorbike rentals. The standard scam here is to wait until you've returned the vehicle, and then claim you've damaged it – look at that scratch there – and charge you a huge amount for the repairs. The solution is to take photos before you leave the shop.

The clothing spill

This is another classic in Europe, particularly in touristy cities like Rome. A stranger on the street accidentally spills something on you – an ice-cream, a drink – and they're hugely apologetic, offering to clean up the mess, wiping it off. While they're doing that, and you're distracted, someone else is picking your pockets.

The flirty woman

Men are idiots, unfortunately. They'll believe that an impossibly attractive local woman would want to chat them up at a bar, and join them for a drink. And of course she'd want to move on to another bar, one she has chosen. And of course she would find you hilarious and charming. And of course she would then disappear, leaving you with an astronomical bar bill and a couple of burly blokes pretty keen to ensure you pay it.

Have you been scammed while travelling? What happened? Did it cost you a lot of money? What are the classic scams you've seen?

Email: b.groundwater@fairfaxmedia.com.au

Instagram: Instagram.com/bengroundwater

See also: Six ways taxi drivers scam new visitors to cities

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