Tourist Scams by Locals and "Helpers"
One of the biggest pitfalls in these scams is the natural desire to be polite to people who treat you with kindness and friendliness – something scammers expertly exploit. You don't need to become unpleasant or rude, but maintain a healthy skepticism toward any unsolicited offers of help. If you suspect you're being scammed, it's time to stop being polite and walk away from potential scammers. Speak firmly and clearly, and don't let yourself be taken advantage of! You might feel the need to call for help, but this often attracts unwanted attention. Instead, pretend the scammers don't exist: don't make eye contact, don't quicken your pace, don't say "hello" or "no" – any response will only anger them and potentially escalate the situation. Don't respond even if they try to provoke you by using insults or calling you racist.
Another common mistake is saying "no, thank you" – this response often leads to more aggressive and persistent tactics, as scammers interpret it as an opening for further conversation.
Another trap to watch for is the "too good to be true" offers – because they almost always are exactly that.
The "Attraction is Closed" Scam
You might arrive at a popular tourist destination only to find signs explaining that it's closed due to a holiday/renovation/strike... and you were so looking forward to visiting! Sometimes, taxi drivers collaborate with local "helpers" and deliberately stop near these signs, which are often fake. A local will then appear and suggest a less popular but supposedly more wonderful place or an "amazing" shop!
In most cases, the attraction is actually open – simply decline their offer and verify for yourself. Even if entry truly isn't possible for legitimate reasons, locals may not be as helpful and kind as they appear. Always have your own backup plan. Simply walk away from them and head toward the main entrance – they should leave you alone.
The opposite situation might occur in some countries if you arrive in your own vehicle. Several local troublemakers might approach car owners and demand a small "security fee" for your car/bike. While attractions can sometimes be genuinely closed (for maintenance or repairs), scammers will insist everything's open and demand payment upfront. Needless to say, refusing might result in slashed tires or broken windows.
And finally – taxi drivers! They might take you on a long route, "forgetting" the destination is closed, then recommend visiting a similar place conveniently located across town or far away.
The golden rule for avoiding this scam – verify everything personally and don't rely on advice from kind strangers.
Spontaneous Shoe or Clothing Cleaning
A shoe cleaner notices your shoes need cleaning and points out some dirt. When you look down, there will indeed be dirt on your shoes (often an unusually large amount). They'll offer to clean them for a very low price, which mysteriously multiplies by the end of the service. Rest assured, the dirt didn't appear by accident – it was planted by the cleaner's accomplice.
Another variation plays on your conscience. You see a cleaner drop their brush and, not noticing it, continue walking. Being a decent person, you alert them to the dropped brush, and in response, they theatrically praise you, call you their friend, and offer to clean your shoes completely free as thanks. But once your shoes are cleaned, they'll demand a significant sum and forget all about friendship. The brush drop is carefully rehearsed and never accidental. The author of these lines encountered this scam even on a completely deserted street in Turkey – the solution is to not react at all, regardless of how well-rehearsed the performance is.
This scam is often combined with pickpocketing. And it's not always just about shoes. The same can happen when someone tells you about something dirty on the back of your pants or in another hard-to-reach place that requires you to twist awkwardly to check. There might actually be something dirty there, or there might not be. While you're turning around trying to inspect your clothes, the scammer's accomplice will pick your pocket.
"Take My Souvenir! It's a Gift!"
A common street scammer stops you and gives you a "gift" – perhaps tying a friendship bracelet around your wrist for good luck. Or they might "find" something on the street and give it to you. You exchange a few words, after which they start demanding money and won't leave until you "contribute."
It's easy to avoid becoming a victim of such pressure – just remember what adults taught you as a child: don't accept gifts from strangers. This type of scam is prevalent worldwide.
A similar scam involves overly pushy people pretending to collect money for charity. These types typically operate in developed countries. An elderly person might give you a flower and wait for you to place your "donation" in a designated box. They never specify exactly what you're "donating" to – they just say it's for children. If you try to learn more details, it will scare them off. They typically don't wear name badges and work for unnamed "charitable organizations."
Don't let strangers, even sweet and smiling ones, give you any free "gifts." Demands (yes, demands) for compensation will inevitably follow! If someone manages to give you a gift and demands money, firmly say you're from "cold Russia," your pet bear is waiting at home, return the item, and walk away without looking back. They're unlikely to pursue you – confidence is key here.
If the scam catches you on a deserted street or in a dark place, it might be better to pay a small amount, as the scammer might have strong (or armed!) accomplices nearby.
"Let Me Be Your Guide!"
In many tourist locations, people near the entrance will offer to be your guide for a small fee. Although most such offers are pure scams, sometimes you might encounter genuinely knowledgeable and honest people. The choice is yours – perhaps it's worth asking a few questions about the attraction, and if you like the answers, why not?
Unfortunately, such cases are rare, and often you'll pay money only to hear basic facts from Wikipedia or free brochures that aren't worth any payment. Also, be careful with people who aren't attraction employees but give you advice about photo spots or must-see locations. The advice might be genuinely free and honest, or it might turn into persistent requests for payment for such "valuable" knowledge.
Beggars
In many countries, beggars are harmless despite their potentially criminal or dangerous appearance. We strongly recommend ignoring them – it's often a successful business with "owners" and protectors who take all the income from people who are either genuinely struggling or just pretending to be in need.
A particularly successful scheme is "I don't want money, just buy something from the store," common in less wealthy countries. This is a collaborative scam, and the "purchased products" are returned to the store immediately after the satisfied tourists leave.
The scheme becomes almost irresistible when children are involved, such as in Cambodia. When a dirty child asks not for money but for food from a nearby store, it's very hard to resist, but no – in almost 100% of cases, it's a scam involving parents and the store.
Homeless People
We advise against engaging with homeless people – while they're often as harmless as beggars, someone with nothing to lose might be capable of causing harm.
Rallies and Protests
In some countries, you might encounter various rallies, demonstrations, or protests on the street. As interesting as it might be, try to stay away from such events, as a rally might be anti-government and could potentially spiral out of control with unpredictable consequences for you. Also, beware of unpredictable crowd effects.
Commission Scams from Shops, Restaurants, and Hotels
Your driver or travel companion kindly informs you that your intended destination is currently closed / expensive / infested with dinosaur-sized rats, etc., but they just happen to know a much better and more respectable place. How lucky you are to have met this person! While this information might occasionally be true, more often the "better and more respectable" place simply pays commissions for each guest brought in, and the driver's/guide's payment will come from your pocket through inflated prices.
You should insist on going to your planned destination and verifying everything yourself. In some cases, the driver might refuse to take you to your hotel even if you insist. Some taxi drivers might take you to the wrong hotel and insist it's exactly the one you named! Write down the exact name (and if possible, address), as there might be several hotels with very similar names.
Remember (especially in Asia and India) that many places pay guides or taxi drivers for bringing tourists. Often, such shops sell poor-quality products (or food) at astronomical prices, and the owners/sellers carefully inform tourists that this shop is their family business, and their handicrafts are made without child labor. They try to diminish the quality of, or openly criticize, quality products made in factories. All to make tourists buy more goods in this particular shop rather than looking for similar items elsewhere.
It's strongly recommended not to buy anything like this and avoid such advice if there's even the slightest chance of distrusting the taxi driver or guide. If you genuinely like something – tell the seller you'll think about it. Wait until the driver or guide leaves, then return to the shop and bargain: reduce the price by at least 30% (on average, this is the amount that goes to the driver).
How to recognize the scam – drivers will be very talkative from the start and happy to help you selflessly (of course, from the purest intentions, ha-ha). Once they've brought you to a hotel or restaurant and received their fare, they should leave. If the driver constantly stays near you, tries to enter with you, or even tries to enter the building before you – it's a sure guarantee they're in cahoots with the establishment owners and will get their "share" of your purchases or payment for lodging, breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Official and "Baksheesh"
After an official employee (or someone dressed as one) helps you at the airport or train station, they might ask for a small amount in your native currency as a souvenir. If you give too small a denomination, they'll become excessively pushy and demand more; they especially love banknotes. In some countries, giving money to an official might be interpreted as a bribe, which could pull you into a deep abyss of new and interesting adventures. It's best to limit conversations when possible, and when asked about money – pretend you don't understand or have no money at all.
Group Photo
This scam occurs in crowded places. If you're traveling with a large group, at top attractions, a "passing by" friendly stranger might offer to take a group photo of your company.
While you're posing, the person with your camera might simply disappear. Never give your phone or camera to those who show initiative first. If you really need a group photo, ask other tourists (preferably adults), who are typically easy to distinguish by their appearance and enthusiasm.
Border Crossing
When crossing land borders, you might frequently encounter "well-wishers." They'll offer you a paid and useless service (like filling out a form or other unnecessary paperwork); "friendly officials" will charge you double for a visa (though you can get it yourself); they'll offer to exchange money at their robbery-level rates (claiming there's not a single ATM in the whole country), and taxi drivers will think you're an idiot and fleece you for a 100-meter ride. There's only one remedy: study the procedure in advance or read all the information on information boards or signs on-site; don't trust or pay anyone not in uniform. Even if someone in uniform approaches you, try to get a second official involved. See if they say the same thing.
These are the main types, with many variations depending on the country. The solution is quite simple – be careful who you interact with, especially in cases where you didn't even notice how the conversation started. And if someone offers you something, suggest an alternative and watch their reaction. If someone is persistently offering something – be attentive and trust your instincts.
Stay safe, stay aware, and enjoy your travels!
