There's nothing more unpleasant than falling victim to a scam when on vacation. Travel scams are a typical occurrence in most tourist destinations, particularly large cities. These scam artists and robbers lurk around unsuspecting tourists as they go about their day, hoping to rob them of their possessions.

It is sometimes difficult to spot or identify these criminals who attempt to exploit tourists because they often try to blend with the crowd.

To help you from falling for these travel scams, here are 12 common travel scams you should be aware of and how to avoid them:

1. FREE BRACELET SCAM

This scam is common in Paris and Rome where a woman walks up to you with a free bracelet and puts it on your wrist, neck or even your bag despite your objection or refusal, after which they demand for a sum. If you don’t pay, they’ll embarrass you and cause a scene.

How to avoid it

•If you see anyone approaching you with a bracelet or amulet, keep a straight face, firmly decline and keep walking. Don’t give anyone the opportunity to put a bracelet on you or your bag.

2. PHOTO SCAM

As a tourist you may need help taking a full portrait of yourself, and a scam artist posing to be a passerby could notice this and offer to help you take a picture. They run off with your phone or camera, when you hand it to them for a picture.

There’s another format to this scam, where the reverse is the case. They pose as a tourist and ask for you to help take a picture of them. After you’ve taken the pictures, they show dissatisfaction at the pictures you took of them. They, however, proceed to ask you to take more pictures so you won’t be suspicious and may lower your guard. They eventually get satisfied and engage you in a friendly conversation just to distract you. Then an accomplice unexpectedly appears perhaps by bumping into you or grabbing you, and in that commotion, your jewellery or purse gets stolen.

How to avoid it

•If you must take a full portrait, ensure you only give your phone or camera to someone you can outrun like an elderly person, in case you have to run after the thief to retrieve your stolen item.

•Securely store your belongings; you could keep your credit cards, IDs, or cash in different pockets or compartments in your bag. Stay vigilant if you have your bag or purse with you or are wearing jewellery.

3. BUS SCAM

You get on a bus and a seemingly helpful passenger offers to assist you place your bags above your seat. There are three different ways this could go:

i) You run the risk of being pickpocketed in the process of handing them your bag.

ii) Your bag could get ripped with a blade or knife and valuable items stolen.

iii) They could run off with your bag in the guise of placing it above your seat.

How to avoid it

•Refuse to accept any assistance that requires you to turn over your bags.

•Be watchful and be cautious around strangers you meet on the bus.

•Keep your bags close to you and have your eyes on your bags all the time.

4. BABY SCAM

This is a travel scam popular in Cambodia and India where young women approach unsuspecting tourists by pretending to be nursing mothers with a baby. For the most part, they only beg for milk for their baby instead of cash. If you are willing to help them, they will show you a store where you can buy milk, and once you make the purchase, they will return the milk to the store in exchange for money. They have an arrangement with the store owners and these store owners are usually complicit. It would seem to innocent tourists like you that you've simply helped a baby in need, not realizing you’ve been scammed the entire time.

In Rome, especially in the tourist areas like the Coliseum, baby scams are also common. Gypsies come to ask for money for baby food, and while you're looking for some cash to give them, they either pickpocket you or snatch your purse.

How to avoid it

•It is difficult to tell a genuine beggar from a dubious one and so, avoid giving money to beggars. If you must give, ensure you make donations to honest charities instead.

5. “SIGN THE PETITION” SCAM

Usually common in Europe, a young man or woman who pretends to be passionate about a cause, approaches you with a paper and pen asking you to drop your signature on a petition and if you refuse, they follow you around until you give in. They seize the chance to pickpocket you while you're preoccupied with signing the fake petition.

How to avoid it

•Never sign any petition. Ignore and keep it moving if you get approached.

6. TAXI SCAM

In most tourist destinations, particularly Egypt and India, the taxi scam is quite popular. A taxi driver seeks you out and offers to take you to your destination, and when you get inside the taxi without any suspicion, you discover the metre is broken. When you point this out to the driver, he promptly apologizes and swears that the metre just got broken that day. At the end of your trip, you are billed an outrageous amount.

Another taxi scam is where you pay the taxi driver in cash and he tells you your money is short. For example, your ride costs $50 and you give the taxi driver a $50 bill. However, because you were a little distracted and didn't pay close attention to him, he instantly swaps the $50 for a $20 bill which is a lower denomination and hands you the $20 bill saying that was what you gave him and your money is short.

How to avoid it

•Ensure you use only reputable taxi companies or popular ride hailing services with functional metres.

•Remain alert and vigilant throughout your ride, keeping your eyes on your money, so you don’t give the taxi driver any opportunity to pull a fast one on you by swapping your bills.

7. FAKE POLICE OFFICER SCAM

No one expects to get scammed by a law enforcement official and that is why this is one scam most tourists fall victim to. This is a scam where a fake police officer stops you and demands to see your papers; to get your papers back from them, you’re asked for a bribe. Alternatively, they may act like you lack a document and then begin to interrogate you in an attempt to make you feel terrified and defenceless so that you will feel compelled to give them a bribe just to get away from that situation. Once they collect the bribe, they hand over your documents and flee.

How to avoid it

•Get familiar with the badge and uniform of legitimate police officers in that destination; by doing so, you will be able to spot fake police officers.

•If you’re stopped by a police officer, demand to see a badge or insist on showing them the documents at a police station. A real police officer will welcome the idea but a fake one will hesitate or show reluctance and if they sense your unwavering confidence, they’ll leave you alone.

8. ATM SCAM

In Argentina, fake bills get dispensed from atms. So imagine making cash withdrawals from the ATM only to get fake bills.

Another scam is using an ATM that has a skimmer already attached to it by scammers, so that when you insert your card, it saves your card information.

Another way that the ATM scam could manifest involves con artists loitering around and calling out to you before you reach the ATM to tell you the machine is broken or out of cash. They advise you to accompany them to someplace else where you can make your transaction. Either your card information is stored by the skimmer, or you are robbed.

How to avoid it

•Only make cash withdrawals in ATMs that are located inside the bank premises. In the event that the ATM swallows your card, you can simply retrieve it from the bank by presenting your passport. In cases where you’re unable to, quickly notify your bank and to have your card blocked.

•If anyone approaches you about a broken atm or one that’s out of cash, ignore them.

9. THE FRIENDLY/CHATTY LOCAL

It’s easy to be a victim of this scam because no one really suspects a friendly local. You could be going about your business doing tourist things and then get approached by a local who’s quite jovial or flirty. They could come in the guise of trying to have you test your language skills on them or try to engage you in a friendly conversation about your experience visiting their country. You’re likely to oblige them because who doesn’t love a friendly local? After you've gotten comfortable and realized they don’t pose a threat, they'll invite you to their store and pressurize you into buying some goods from them.

How to avoid it

•It’s okay to have interactions with locals but be vigilant and guarded. If they suggest you follow them to a shop or anywhere, say a firm no with a straight face and walk away immediately.

10. “DIRT/STAIN-ON-YOU” SCAM

You could be walking in a touristy area and unaware of your surroundings only to have something thrown at you from behind or someone quietly smearing your back with bird poop or ketchup. Then out of nowhere, a friendly bystander approaches you to inform you about the stain. Probably offers you a tissue or asks to help you wipe off the stain. Then, just as you're taking off your bag, backpack or camera to clean off the stain properly, they grab it and run.

How to avoid it

•If someone approaches you about a stain, ignore them and keep walking. Only takeoff your bags to wipe off the stain when you’re in a safe environment.

11. CLOSED TOURIST ATTRACTION SCAM

You could be visiting a tourist attraction and a seemingly innocent bystander, usually a local, walks up to you to tell you that it is closed for the day but they offer to show you another tourist location that is nearby and open. If you take them on that offer, they will divert you from the tourist attraction you had planned to visit initially in order to make a profit off of you at a less exciting and less popular location where they receive commissions for anyone they bring.

How to avoid it

•Don't believe anyone who tells you the tourist attraction you want to see is closed for the day. Make sure you verify this on your own. Don't let their insistence on following you around as you try to verify for yourself change your mind.

•Be alert and keep your bag close to you.

12. FAKE BILLS SCAM

This scam is common in small local shops, restaurants and taxis. It usually happens after you’ve paid with cash for a product or It typically occurs after you make a cash payment for a good or service. The attendant or cashier you gave your cash to will claim you gave them a fake bill and return the bill to you while requesting for another form of payment. Meanwhile, they switched up your real bill for a counterfeit one, leaving you with a worthless counterfeit bill and a financial loss, should you try to make payment again.

Another scam is when you make payment and you’re given some change in return. Your change could be mixed with both original and fake bills.

How to avoid it

•To avoid this scam, get familiar with the country’s currency, so you can know when you’ve come in contact with a fake bill.

•You’re at a far lower risk of getting counterfeit bills if you make cash withdrawals only from ATMs located in a bank. Also, it is advisable to change money into smaller bills only at the bank.

•Be vigilant when making payments and never take your eyes off your cash.

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