Extended Stay America

How To Recognize And Avoid A Tourist Scam

How To Recognize And Avoid A Tourist Scam

I have always been an advocate of befriending locals because it brings opportunities for a more meaningful experience with an unfamiliar locality and culture.

However, this attitude should be coupled with vigilance to avoid scams and swindling schemes that are usually perpetuated by con-artists hiding behind the cloak of an overly friendly and helpful local.

There is no hard and fast rule on identifying a sincere offer of help from a bogus act to pull off a scam. The best that one can do is to be familiar with the different ploys that swindlers set up to carry out a con.

Every traveler should understand that con-artists are only interested in money or valuables that they can take from unsuspecting tourists. They employ different ways to acquire their spoils but their methods can be divided into 3 categories.

First, target oblivious victims and pick their pockets. Second, target vulnerable individuals and employ force and intimidation. Third, target naïve and trusting tourists and con them into buying cheap goods for a very expensive price.

You have to understand that con-artists are experts on their chosen craft. Meaning, they are very good at what they do. So, don’t expect to catch them while they are pulling a con because the odds are against you. What you can do instead is to avoid being a victim of one: first, by not looking like one of their targeted victims and second, by not falling into their traps.

Pickpockets will need to get near you to have access to your pockets and they employ some diversion to shift your focus on something else other than your valuables.

Here are some of the diversions employed by pickpockets: they throw something on the ground in the hope that you will bend down and pick it up so that they can easily pick on your pockets; a person bumps into you, followed by a profuse apology, while his or her partner picks your wallet; and someone pretends to have found bird droppings or some form of dirt on your clothes and he or she kindly dabs it up while at the same time feeling for your wallet and effortlessly picking it up when found. To avoid pick pockets, wear a money belt.  Thieves won’t succeed if they have no wallets to pick up in the first place.

Avoid hold-ups or mugging by not placing yourself in a situation that will bring about the opportunity. Avoid dark and isolated alleys. Hang out only in public places where help is easily available and be wary of invitations to private and quiet places.

Good bargains are one of the highs of traveling. Unfortunately, crooks know this too well and capitalize on the traveler’s yearning for cheap local merchandise to score some easy cash.

The scenario involves an innocent or a professional-looking individual who approaches tourists and offers unsolicited advice that a nearby store sells coveted merchandise (usually valuable jewelries or gems) for a extremely discounted prices.

If the tourist shows interest, an offer for a free ride to the store follows and once you get there they won’t let go of you until you have purchased something at a highly inflated price.

Before you travel, arm yourself with valuable knowledge on common frauds and scams perpetrated in the areas you are visiting. You can easily identify a con if you know what signs to look for.  Be as diligent as you would at  home in protecting yourself.  Being a visitor does not give you special imunity from thieves!