Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or planning your first international adventure,
staying alert to potential scams can make the difference between a memorable trip
and a costly lesson.
While most locals are genuinely welcoming, certain destinations have become
notorious for specific schemes targeting visitors. Let’s explore some locations where
you’ll need to keep your wits about you.
The Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
Istanbul’s most famous market is a maze of beautiful artifacts and insistent sellers.
Look out for the classic ‘dropped brush’ scam, where a shoe shiner pretends to drop
their brush in the hope you’ll pick it up – before forcing you to take an unwanted and
expensive shoe shine that becomes shockingly aggressive when it’s time to pay.
Montmartre, Paris
The charming artists’ quarter harbors teams of bracelet scammers. They’ll quickly tie
a ‘friendship bracelet’ to your wrist before demanding payment while their
accomplices pickpocket you during the ensuing confusion. The area around Sacré-
Cœur is particularly notorious for this scheme.
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Khao San Road, Bangkok
The ‘tuk-tuk gem scam’ runs amok in Bangkok’s backpacker heaven. Agreeably
friendly drivers will offer impossibly cheap tours, which, of course, will inevitably
include a stop at a ‘government-sponsored’ jewelry shop where unsuspecting tourists
are subjected to high-pressure sales pitches and fake gems.
La Rambla, Barcelona
The three-card Monte scam finds a welcoming home on this bustling boulevard.
Groups of apparent strangers work in concert to try to convince you that the game is
winnable, but it’s an elaborate show-and-tell designed to relieve you of your euros.
Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro
The beach vendors here have mastered the art of the ‘inflated price’ scam. They will
serve drinks or rent chairs and then produce astronomical bills. More ominously,
phony beach vendors employ the above method as a means of detecting which
tourists have money.
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The Roman Colosseum
The area around this ancient wonder is known to be filled with ‘skip-the-line’ ticket
scams. People dressed as official guides will sell overpriced or fake tickets, claiming
that the real ticket office is closed. Remember, legitimate tickets are available only
from official points or through the Colosseum’s website.
Jemaa el-Fnaa, Marrakech
This vibrant square hosts the infamous henna scam, where artists begin drawing on
tourists without permission and then demand excessive payment. Additionally, snake
charmers might place their serpent on your shoulders for photos and then
aggressively request money.
Charles Bridge, Prague
The picturesque medieval bridge is the site of a currency exchange scam. It’s where
so-called reputable money changers offer attractive rates but, via sleight of hand,
deal you worthless expired money or send incorrect amounts.
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Venice’s St. Mark’s Square
Be aware of the ‘free gift’ scam, whereby a person offers you roses or corn to feed
pigeons, then demands money after you’ve obliged. Often, accomplices photograph
the incident and use it to encourage you to pay up.
Giza Pyramids, Egypt
A host of scammers target these ancient pyramids, including the ‘camel ride’ scam.
Handlers offer very cheap rides but then determine exorbitant fees to let you
dismount once you’re stranded far from the entrance. Always establish prices upfront
and in writing.
Times Square, New York
Street performers and costumed characters execute the ‘photo trap’ scam. They’ll
pose for pictures, then aggressively demand payment, often surrounding tourists
until they pay up. Some even follow tourists to ATMs to demand larger amounts.
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The Great Wall, China
At unrestored sections, beware of the ‘stranded tourist’ scam. Amiable locals will
offer to show you along the wall, then demand high payment once you are far from
the entrance and unclear about the way back.
Varanasi Ghats, India
The spiritual capital of India has ‘blessing scams’ happening quite regularly. Fake
holy men conduct unsolicited ceremonies or blessings and then insist on hefty
donations, with some threatening that bad luck will affect your family if you happen
not to pay.
Dubrovnik Old Town
‘Game of Thrones’ tourism has introduced Croatia’s pearl to one of the oldest tricks
in the book – the ‘fake tour guide’ scam. Unlicensed guides are taking money up-front
for tours before disappearing into the crowd or providing completely made-up
information about filming locations.
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Vietnamese Night Markets
Watch out for the ‘wrong change’ scam from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, wherein
vendors will miscount your change or swap larger bills for smaller ones while
counting, knowing that tourists are generally unfamiliar with the local currency.
Keep Your Guards Up
Remember, being aware of these scams doesn’t mean you’ll have to avoid these
magnificent destinations. They are popular for a reason.
Instead, let this knowledge embolden you to venture forth with confidence and to pay
attention to the real cultural experiences these places have to offer. Keep your guard
up, but don’t let caution steal your sense of adventure.
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- 15 Once-Popular Tourist Destinations Now Considered Too Dangerous
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