Traveling Scams

We’ve gotten scammed (kinda, sorta) so you don’t have to!

So as sad and annoying as it is, there are a lot of people out there trying to take advantage of you while you are traveling. We wish we would have had a list of things to watch out for so we thought of a list of some scams that we have encountered while traveling. Just as a side note: we are very aware of our surroundings but we do like to see the good in people and thus, have gotten scammed. Since being put in these situations, we have been less susceptible to being scammed.

• Scam: This scam we were introduced to while in Paris. Someone will come up to you while you are standing there, either taking pictures or just enjoying the scenery and wrap a string around your finger. They will say it is free and start making a bracelet. When they are done, they will take it off your finger and tie it on your wrist so tight that you cannot take it off. This will all happen in a matter of seconds. Then they will start demanding money from you to pay for the bracelet. If you refuse to pay, they will threaten to report you for stealing.
• Solution: You should be very aware of your surroundings and watch for these people especially around the main monuments.

• Scam: This scam we encountered while we were in Italy taking a train. We were waiting for our train to come in and when it did we proceeded to the train platform. All of the sudden several people started running past us and waited right by the train doors. Now normally there are train assistants that will help you figure out which car you are in so we just assumed they were those people but thought it was a little strange they were not in uniform. Before we knew it, they had grabbed our bags and loaded them onto the train car. We were sitting in first class so we thought well maybe they have bag attendants that load your bags for you. After sitting down in our seats and getting comfortable, one of the men came up to us and started asking for a tip for the bags. Thankfully we did not have very many euros on us so he only got some change.

• Solution: Beware of people not in uniform at the train stations trying to help you out in any way.

• Scam: This scam is pretty easy to fall into and not something that you are really expecting. This happens in Rome but mostly at the Trevi Fountain. A man carrying a professional grade camera will offer to take your picture with his camera but will also offer to take a picture with your phone/camera as well. He will then demand money before giving your device back to you. Luckily, we did not fall for this one, but did witness it happening to multiple people as we were sitting there.
• Solution: Watch for these men and do not accept their offer to take your picture, no matter how persistent there are-and believe me, they are. There are several of them that lurk around the fountain and although there is most definitely a police presence around the fountain, they do not care about these people and will not help you.       

• Scam: Another potentially easy scam to fall into (especially if you have a little compassion for needy people) is where a few ladies will come up to you with a clipboard, asking for your signature to get support for orphaned or starving children. You think well it is harmless and start signing away, then all of the sudden they are demanding you give them money “for the children”. These are unofficial people taking advantage of an opportunity to gain money and it most definitely does not go where they say it does. There is no organization to the form what-so-ever and they ask for your address and  phone number along with your signature. You have no idea what they are doing with that information. We encountered this in Paris, by the Eiffel Tower.
• Solution: If people come up to you with clipboards and ask for a signature tell them no, you are in a hurry. They will be persistent, demanding just a few moments of your time.

• Scam: This we saw a lot in Athens, Greece. Someone will come up to you with blankets, trying to get you to buy one. If you even look at them, they will insist you feel the blanket and will end up putting it in your hands. Once that happens, they will refuse to take the blanket back and demand you pay them for it.
• Solution: Do not even make eye contact with these people and if they do come up to you, just keep firmly telling them no.

Have you encountered any scams while traveling? Let us know in the comments below.