Tourists are often targeted by pickpockets and fraudsters. Especially first-time travelers are often on the hook. However, even the most experienced travelers can fall victim to fraudsters' insidious schemes. Here are the most popular fraud schemes abroad

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During travels, a tourist can become a victim of fraudsters, because travelers are less focused and it can be difficult for them to find their way in a foreign country. Fraudsters are also becoming more inventive and their scams more cunning.

However, if you know what to expect from fraudsters, it is much more difficult to become their victim. Read on for the most common fraud schemes and what tourists should pay attention to.

The most common travel scams and how to avoid them

Hit and go. One of the most common ways to steal valuables from a tourist is when one thief accidentally bumps into a tourist, while another tries to quickly get your valuables.

You can become a victim of this scheme in crowded places: near the main attractions, at the train station or in transport.

Scams from taxi drivers. Unfortunately, quite often tourists become victims of not very honest taxi drivers. If the taxi driver says that his meter is broken, then it is better not to go with him on the trip, because you can get a very high price. Also, during the trip, keep an eye on the meter, if you think that the amount there is increasing too quickly, then it is better to end the trip and get out of the car.

In order not to become a victim of such scams, after arriving in the country, find out the average cost of taxi trips at the hotel. The hotel staff can recommend a trusted taxi company or the tourist is better off using a ride-hailing app like Uber or Bolt. Public transport can also be a quick and easy way to get around.

There are cases when drivers choose a confusing route during a trip to increase the cost of the trip. Use Google Maps or City Mapper to make sure the driver is following the route.

Some taxi drivers may also take tourists to a shop owned by a friend and try to force them to buy overpriced goods or services.

Fraud when withdrawing cash from an ATM. An attacker uses credit card skimming to obtain payment card information. The scammer pretends to be trying to help the tourist withdraw money in order to avoid the commission from the local bank. In fact, it tries to discreetly read your card data. Quite often, there is an accomplice in line, who pushes you to do what the first scammer asks. We advise you to pay by card more often, because it is safer and will avoid additional fees when exchanging currencies.

Fraud with the national currency. Sometimes sellers try to cheat buyers by returning a smaller balance. Before each purchase, be sure to calculate the remaining amount and find time to transfer the received money.

Fake money is another way of deceiving tourists, which is most often found in restaurants and in taxis. When you pay the bill, the employee of the restaurant or taxi may start claiming that this bill is fake and ask for another one. In fact, you gave a real bill, and when you turned away, it was replaced with a fake one. Therefore, it is better to exchange money in banks or in official exchange offices to be sure that you do not have fake currency and to be careful when calculating.

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How not to become a victim of fraudsters abroad?

Experts recommend keeping money and valuables in a small bag close to your body or in a secret pocket. Try not to carry all your valuables with you, make sure you have copies of important travel documents and choose a discreet money belt.

Also, be careful of overly polite locals who try their best to win your trust.

If the situation or the interlocutor seems suspicious to you, it is better to trust your intuition.

We will remind you that earlier we already told in which countries pickpockets are most often found.

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Find out which countries are the most dangerous in Europe here.