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The world has a lot to offer, but there will always be bad actors looking to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists.  Hopefully, you won’t run into any of these on your trip, but here is a short list of things I have personally witnessed throughout my travels.  After all, it’s better to be prepared and aware in case you run into something or someone that just doesn’t feel right.  Often, these scams are no different than what you would see in your home country, just with a different twist.  From lost relatives offering an inheritance, to street games, and people impersonating the homeless or charities, if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.    

1. “Free Gifts” 

This is probably the most common scam I have personally seen.  You’re walking along the street, and a vendor comes up to you offering you a gift as a souvenir.  There’s no such thing as free. Period.  Hawkers walking around Venice offering free roses for your sweetheart (I told my dad to keep walking, but he just wouldn’t listen), to free bracelets with your name on them in Mexico.  If you take the gift, congrats.  You just purchased a useless souvenir.  Best to politely wave, say no thank you, and just keep walking.           

2. Closed Attractions 

I knew this was a scam, and the person still had me doubting myself.  There’s no way that today, of all days, the largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Wat Pho, would be closed.  But that’s what we were told.  He also told me his friend could take us on their tuk-tuk to far better attractions throughout the city.  If this happens to you, there’s a good chance the driver is getting a kickback from the attraction.  If you are concerned about this happening, look up the days/hours of operation before you depart to double-check that the attraction is operating.  When confronted, stick to your destination.  Then you’ll arrive and, without doubt, realize that you dodged a scam.             

3. “My Friend’s Store”

You find yourself walking down the street and suddenly a local compliments your attire and begins to make small talk.  Conveniently, he has a friend who runs a shop around the corner.  Before you know it, you’re in a pointless souvenir shop buying knick-knacks you don’t need.  Where hasn’t this happened to me?  You’d think after this many years I’d be more cautious, but hey.  I’m a sucker for cheap gifts and I guess it’s written on my face.  

4. Bump and Grab

If you are from the United States, then there is a good chance you are not accustomed to the stealthy pickpocket.  Pickpocketing isn’t really a thing in the States, however, the practice is common in many places around the world, especially in popular cities and large crowds.  I was aware of pickpockets and put my wallet in my front pocket to help avoid an easy theft.  I explored a market in Accra, completely clueless that something might happen to me.  Yet when I found myself in a crowd walking along the street, packed in with dozens of other strangers, pure luck was the only reason I looked down and found a hand slipping into the front of my jeans pocket.  Instinctively, I slapped his hand before he was able to grab my wallet.  In a flash, he was gone.  A similar thing almost happened to my wife in Paris with her phone in her pocket. A man stood right behind her on the escalator and she didn’t like the person standing so close so she checked her pocket and his hand was in her pocket trying to steal her phone. When she called him out he said she was crazy and walked away quickly.  Be mindful of large cities and large crowds.  Pickpockets use large crowds to get close undetected and disappear in a second.         

5. Unusually Friendly Local

You will find helpful and friendly locals practically everywhere you go.  But there’s a difference between a local being nice and a local being over-the-top friendly.  If someone you just met is offering to take you around town, hold your things, or help you out a little too much, then there might be a dubious reason for it.  If you ask them for help and they go above and beyond, that’s one thing.  But if they approach you, better to be safe than sorry.  Be aware that this can take a variety of forms and can happen in any tourist area.        

6. Fake Charities and Beggars

Typically, you are going to see this one somewhere where there is a large tourist population.  I have seen it all over the world.  From Rome to Chiang Mai, and Lomé.  Beggars wandering around asking tourists for money can be a common sight.  Often these will take the form of children, pregnant women, or a blind person.  Fake charity petitions in English (So that tourists can read them) asking for funds for a school, or to help deaf people.  These can also come in the form of young children doing the grunt work.  If they pull at your heartstrings, you’ll be out a few dollars, but it’s best to stay clear.        

7. Knockoff Items

Just know, those designer-name handbags and watches are not what they appear.  Some details are easy to spot, while others look identical to the real things.  You can find hawkers selling their wares on the street from New York City to Salerno.  The funniest site I saw was in Venice.  A few guys running down a back street with dozens of fake purses dangling off their arms, and a couple of police officers following a few minutes behind.  You can get a really good deal if fake designer items are what you want.  My wife swears by her Gucci handbag.  Just be sure to haggle.  And then haggle some more.  Please don’t pay the sticker price.  

If you travel, you’ll see your fair share of scams.  And unfortunately, you may even fall for one or two.  As Oscar Wilde said, “Experience is the hardest kind of teacher. It gives you the test first and the lesson afterward.”  As someone who has avoided and fallen for a variety of scams himself, my best advice is simple.  Trust your gut.