Due to the tricks of intruders, thousands of tourists are annually left without money and documents during their holidays.
There are 4 main types of deception of gullible travelers and tell you how to avoid them.
Fake Taxi
Experienced scammers do not use popular aggregator apps but usually work on the street, waiting for unsuspecting tourists in line from cars. Scammers posing as taxi drivers can take you to your destination, but they will charge you 4 times the amount agreed in advance.
“If you feel comfortable enough, ask the driver to show you an ID card and a transportation license. Many of them display them on the dashboard. You can only get into a taxi if their credentials are displayed,” the speaker of the resource suggests.
Fake police
Fraudsters can pretend not only to tbe axi drivers but also policemen. The scammers change into special uniforms and approach the visitors, they not only insistently ask to show documents, but also to hand over money or valuables. Often, frightened tourists hand over their passports and cash themselves, without the use of violence.
Expert advice: insist that the police show the documents and take the traveler to the nearest station. Real police officers should be happy to do this, while such insistent requests from a detainee can shock and scare off fraudsters.
“Accidentally” messed up
Two malefactors usually participate in the scheme: one “accidentally” soils the tourist, for example, with ice cream or a drink, and the other immediately nobly offers help and cleans the victim’s pockets.
In order not to be deceived in this way, the expert advises you to tidy up, avoid any physical contact with strangers and not accept offers of help from the first comers.
Camera or camera theft
Very often, when visiting famous sights, tourists pass their phones and professional cameras into the wrong hands so that an outsider, seemingly the same tourist, photographs them. Scammers are on duty at popular photographing spots, ready to help carefree travelers at any time.
Always remember this and do not give your things to a stranger, especially an expensive smartphone or camera. Plus, the deceivers also run fast. The expert advises you to think ahead about how you will be photographed and to get a selfie stick so that you can take pictures with family or friends and not worry about someone stealing the camera.