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I’m giving a talk this week to a group about travel safety and in my research, I came across this fascinating video. It’s an investigative report done by ABC News with actual footage of tourists being pickpocketed or scammed – pretty disturbing. There’s an interview with a man named Bob Arno whose live show about pickpocketing I saw several times on board while I was working on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean one summer. If you ever get a chance to see his show, do go!!
Around the world, unfortunately, there are a wide variety of scams targeted at tourists. Equipping yourself with knowledge about the three common scams listed below will help reduce the chances of you and your wallet running into unpleasant circumstances.
What It Is: Picture This: You’re fast asleep in your hotel room and suddenly woken up by the phone. It’s the front desk clerk. They profusely apologize for the inconvenient time of the call and explain that they’re having difficulties 
with the credit card on your account and could you provide the card number again. Half-asleep, you tell them the information. Soon after that, your credit card company tells you that your card has been maxed out. That call in the middle of the night? It wasn’t from a hotel employee…
Details: This scam is growing in popularity because the crooks intentionally call when you’re likely asleep and your common sense won’t likely kick into gear. They call hotels, request random rooms and have professional phone manners.
What to Do: If you receive a call like this, tell them that you’ll need to find the card and will call them back shortly. Hang up, call the front desk immediately and tell them what happened so that, hopefully, they can trace the calls and stop other travellers from being victims of this scam. Before your trip, call your credit card companies (I recommend travelling with two credit cards in case you run into trouble with one of them). Alert the companies when and where you’ll be so that they can place a note on your file and track any suspicious spending behaviour.
2) Incorrect Change Scam
What It Is: This is where cashiers take advantage of tourists unfamiliar with the local currency and hand travellers less change than is due. One of the families I lived with abroad advised me to count my change carefully at the grocery store I frequented because it was known to rip off travellers. And when I was in a market in another country, a 
foreigner I was shopping with realized too late that he’d been shortchanged by a vendor by about $40. I’ve heard of some currency exchange desk staff who count the bills back to you so quickly that they’re able to deceive you by secretly holding back money that should be yours.
Details: Getting shortchanged can happen in your own backyard but be particularly careful when you’re abroad. Cashiers seeking to take advantage of you may rush through the transactions and then try to hurry you along.
What to Do: Take your time and don’t leave the cashier until you’ve checked how much change has been given to you. Carry small bills so that there’s less room for error when you get change back. Also, before your trip, familiarize yourself with the currency of the place(s) you’ll be visiting.
3) Roaming Money Exchanger Scam
What It Is: In some parts of the world, you’ll be approached by people offering to give you sweet deals to exchange your money. As they punch the numbers into their calculators showing you how much you’ll save compared to if you go to a currency exchange counter, you think this just might be a good idea. A globetrotter friend of mine mentioned 
that in a large South American city he was in (I believe it was Buenos Aires), money exchangers wearing vests and government-issued ID who roam the streets are legitimate. Aside from there, I’d be leery about using roaming money exchangers.
Details: People who have used these exchangers have received money that is counterfeit, no longer accepted or even from another country. And those calculators? There’s a chance they’ve been rigged to make it look like you’re getting a better deal than you really are.
What to Do: Avoid roaming currency exchangers and instead, get cash from an ATM. Make sure the ATM is connected to a bank that is open so that if the machine is out of bills, you can approach a bank teller regarding the matter. Before your trip, check with your bank that your ATM card will work in the machines abroad and pick up at least three days of foreign cash (preferably in small bills).
Stay safe and alert but do enjoy your trip too!
Save yourself time, money and hassles by finding out some of the most common mistakes travellers make.
1) Not Taking a Carry-On
Taking a carry-on bag onboard a flight has saved the day on multiple trips I’ve taken. One time, my checked luggage missed the flight home and my bag wasn’t going to be delivered until late the following day. But, because I had my essentials in the carry-on, it wasn’t a problem. If you’re cruising, it’s not uncommon for your bags to be delivered to your cabin several hours after you’ve boarded. So if you’re sailing somewhere tropical, pop your bathing suit into your carry-on so you can cool off after boarding. And it’s really handy having these items within easy access en route:
2) Not Trying to Blend in with the Locals
If you want to reduce your chances of being a target of theft on the road, focus on keeping a low profile. While it can be challenging to blend in when you’re blonde or tall and travelling in Asia, you can still leave the impression that you live there. Find out what people in the places you’ll be visiting typically wear by flipping through the major newspapers of your destination (either on-line or possibly at the library), reading guidebooks or visiting a forum such as the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree. Some globetrotters make it a habit of visiting a market soon after their arrival and buying local clothes. Here are some more tips:
3) Wearing a Fanny Pack
This is a surefire way to stand out. Young groups of children (particularly common in parts of Europe) forced to pickpocket are trained to distract travellers wearing fanny packs while one of the kids steals the contents. Invest in a waist money belt (not the neck money belt whose straps are easily visible and therefore tip off thieves). Wear clothes with lots of (preferably deep or hidden) pockets that have button or Velcro closures. Women: Buy a no-frills purse whose strap crosses your chest and drapes near your hip. Because this type of purse has a front flap with clasp and zippers, it’s not easy to access the inside. Men: Keep your wallet in your front pocket. If you prefer to wear a knapsack, wear it across your chest while going through crowded areas such as markets or train stations where pickpockets often lurk.
4) Travelling During Peak Season
If you can, don’t travel during peak season – especially mid June to early September when families, teachers and university students are on vacation. Not only are prices usually sky-high, but accommodation can be hard to come by, crowds and heat can be unbearable (depending on where you visit), and line-ups for tourist attractions (especially in Europe) and restaurants mean a lot of wasted vacation time.
5) Travelling Without Food or Water
Not only will you save money by toting along some healthy snacks such as granola bars and dried fruit, but going hungry or thirsty on the road can result in low energy, irritability and other nasties. It’s especially important that you stay hydrated as this helps to fortify your immune system. And drinking plenty of water makes you feel so much better! Depending on where you visit, you may need to be extra careful that you drink only bottled water (not even ice) with lids that have unbroken seals.
6) Spending Too Much Money
Invest some time to learn how to save money on airfare, accommodation, car rentals, tourist attractions, dining, cruising, etc. and you will keep hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in your wallet. Go on-line, read blogs, travel magazines, books or take a class.
7) Not Doing Enough Research
Take every opportunity you can to learn about where you’re visiting so that you can fully enjoy and better understand it. Study the language and maps. Watch DVDs, read books and blogs, and talk with people who have been to your destination. Find out about the history, food, customs, religion, arts and architecture. And thoroughly research your accommodation so that you don’t wind up in a dive. If you’ll be cruising on a mega ship, getting to know the layout of the behemoth beforehand will save you mega time and frustration on board.
8) Packing Too Much Stuff
I’ve never heard anyone lament after a trip that they wished they’d packed more. Take the “lug” out of “luggage” by challenging yourself to take the smallest bag you can and see how little you actually need. The excellent on-line resource, onebag.com is a good place to start for tips and inspiration. Pick up a few compression bags to help maximize space. Do laundry on the road, keep a tight reign on how many pairs of shoes you take, take multi-purpose items such as bandanas, and expect to buy toiletries and other essentials on the road.
