The summer months are when many people travel. Scammers know this, which is why you need to know how to avoid travel scams.
Whether you’re going to a foreign country or simply visiting a different state in the United States, it can be easy to become the victim of scammers. These people know that travelers will often show trust and accept that some things are unique to that area, which makes it easy for them to create travel scams and take advantage of you in nefarious ways.
QR Code Scam
More payment sites than ever before post QR codes to make it easy for you to pay for goods and services. Despite this convenience, they aren’t always safe to use and can direct you to phishing sites which are designed to capture important payment information from your device.
The best way to avoid becoming the victim of this scam is to verify the QR code with the company. If they aren’t aware of the posted item, you should not scan the code and should find a way to pay the company directly for the goods and services.
Fake Distress Call
One of the most common travel scams is a fake distress call that’s supposed to come from a loved one back home. Scammers can use technology to make these calls or contact you where you are, especially if you share your travel itinerary online, where it can easily be accessed.
If you want to prevent this problem, you should share less real-time information about your trips. There’s nothing wrong with posting pictures and information once you’ve left the area, but not while still traveling. This puts you ahead of the scammers.
Rip-Off Tourist Traps
When you’re in a new location, especially a country that you’ve never visited before, you’ll likely stand out in a crowd. This makes you an easy target for scammers, who will instantly know you’re not from the area. You could be the victim of scammers posing as tour guides who will take you to a secluded spot and rip you off.
Avoid this issue by verifying information with only accredited tour guides. Don’t allow strangers to approach you with offers to take you on a tour of the area.
Fake Exclusive Shopping Deals
Online offers are becoming some of the most common travel scams around. Scammers will offer online deals on items that will remind you of your time in a foreign country. The items will be shipped to your home, which means you don’t have to fit them into your luggage, but that can be a serious problem. They scammers will take your money and won’t send you the items requested.
When shopping online, trust your gut and check for credible store offers. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Ride-Hailing Scam
Scammers take advantage of travelers all the time by posing as the ride that you ordered through your app. Many travelers are in a hurry to get to their next destination or are busy on the phone talking about their experiences and forget to verify the information on the ride-sharing app, which can be problematic.
Always verify the information on the app with the driver before getting into a vehicle. If the information doesn’t match, start making a loud scene and bring attention to the driver who will likely drive off, but could be stopped by local authorities.
Ticket Booking Scam
Another of the common travel scams you could encounter is an offer to rebook your hotel or flights for much less than you originally paid. While this sounds great, it often leaves you stranded in a foreign country with scammers who now have your information and your money.
If you’re unsure of the source of such offers, ignore them. Before booking or changing anything, verify the company and validity of the information before giving out any of your own information. Once a scammer sees that you’re actually doing research on them, they will back off.
Money Scams
Whenever you take money out at an ATM, it’s best to make sure people aren’t looking over your shoulder or lurking around. Most people are polite enough to give you space when using an ATM, but if someone is standing close or appears to be watching you, make a scene and don’t use the ATM.
Another aspect of this scam is fake exchange rates in some countries. If you need to exchange money for local currency, go to a bank or a verified exchange office. Don’t fall for rip-offs and fake currency exchange.
Not every trip involves travel scams, but knowing how to avoid some of the most common scams can help you have a much more enjoyable vacation.
