Tourists are often unfamiliar with the place they’re visiting, its customs and local people, and need information and guidance to get around. And while most locals are willing to help them, some are interested only in taking advantage of these gullible foreigners, getting a hold of their cash and credit cards.

Most travel scams are very smart. The crooks have developed elaborate schemes on how to cheat those traveling abroad out of money and get away with it. Some of their methods are quite obvious once they have occurred, with the victim realizing they have been conned but only after it’s too late. Other tourist scams are more subtle, and the victim may never know that something went wrong. Tourist scammers also know how to take advantage of local laws and law enforcement, giving themselves an advantage against travelers and a get-out-of-jail-free card should their tricks go wrong.

To help people avoid trouble while on holiday, UK-based travel website Just The Flight created an infographic where they share some of the biggest scams and the locations they’re widespread in. Hopefully, these travel tips will help you once the pandemic is over and the borders open again.

Image credits: www.justtheflight.co.uk

“Many of the most successful gambits require a naive and trusting tourist. But don’t think it can’t happen to more sophisticated travelers, too,” American traveler Rick Steves wrote. “There are many subtle ways to be scammed — a cabbie pads your fare, a shop clerk suddenly inflates prices, a public Internet terminal records your password, or a waiter offers a special with a ‘special’ increased price. Be smart: Know what you are paying for before handing over money, and always count your change.”

If a bargain seems too good to be true, it’s too good to be true.

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