Travel scams and how to spot them

Most travel scams are old routines with fresh paint, and they all run on the same engine: a stranger manufactures urgency, confusion or guilt, then offers to resolve it. Learn the shapes and you'll recognize them before the first sentence ends.

On arrival

• The broken meter. The taxi meter "just broke" and the price appears at the end. Agree the fare before the doors close, or use the official rank or a ride app.
• "Your hotel is closed." The driver knows a better one (that pays commission). Your hotel is fine. Call it yourself if you want to be sure.
• The helpful porter. Someone grabs your bag unasked, then charges you to give it back. Keep a hand on your things and a firm no thanks ready.

On the street

• The friendship bracelet. Once it's on your wrist, it has a price. Hands in pockets, keep walking.
• The spill. Mustard, bird mess, a stumble. The mess is the distraction; the partner has your pocket. Step back, hold your bag, clean up later.
• Fake police. They need to "check your wallet for counterfeit bills". Real police don't audit wallets. Offer to walk to the nearest station together; real officers won't mind and fake ones disappear.
• The free photo. The costumed character or the person with the falcon charges after the shutter clicks. Ask the price first or skip it.

Where you pay

• The QR sticker. A fake menu code pasted over the real one, leading to a payment page. Ask for the printed menu or type the cafe's URL yourself.
• The card swap or skim. Watch your card, and prefer tap or your phone wallet. A skimmer can't read what you never insert.
• "Pay in your home currency?" Always local currency. The convenient conversion carries the fee. More in Keep your money safe abroad.
• The new friends' bar. Charming strangers, their favourite bar, a bill with a security guard attached. You pick the venue, always.

Rentals and rooms

The "damage" on the scooter, car or apartment is often older than your booking. Two minutes of photos at pickup beats an hour of arguing at drop-off: the full routine is in Document your room before you unpack.