Scams to be aware of when you're out and about!
Wearables Scams
This covers pretty much anything they can put on you!
Including bit not limited to:
- Bracelets
- Rings
- Bindis
- Henna
- Animals
In central touristy areas, if someone approaches me when I am alone, I am usually quite happy to have a chat, if somewhat cynical (Meeting people, especially locals is part of the fun of travelling). Its usually always the super touristy spots where street vendors are a plenty, pushing various toys, souvenirs, local trinkets and the like. As a rule - Don’t allow anyone to put anything on your body, and be extremely wary of accepting anything for free! If they put something on you, just take it off and give it back to them. Be firm about it.
Then walk away. They won’t chase/follow you.
The Bracelet / Ring Scam
This one seems to be pretty universal, having encountered it in Europe, Asia, South America and the Indian sub-continent and Africa.
The scam goes: A random person walks up to you (If you are male, it will usually be a Woman / If your female, it will usually be a Man) and start a general conversation “Hello, here are you from? Are you enjoying [Insert Town/City Here]” As you engaged in conversation, they gently take your hand and slide a bracelet onto your wrist with a surprisingly tight knot (Or in some cases solder these on if it is a metal bracelet) or slide a ring that is clearly too small onto your finger. They then ask you for (or in some cases DEMAND) money for it... and are prone to making a scene when you don't cough up.
Remain Calm. Remain Civil. Stand your ground! Simply tell them you don't want and didn't ask for the bracelet, and that you are not willing to/have no intention of paying for it. Three outcomes are probably here.
- You get a free bracelet
- They remove the bracelet, and you both go about your business
- They continue their insistence that you pay... Then comes the ballistic options:
- Offer to walk with them to the nearest Police officer to resolve the situation (They really don't like this, and outcome 1 or 2 will happen).
- If you feel in unsafe or in danger, do not hesitate to shout/call out for the police! (They REALLY don't like this and will usually run off leaving you alone.) If this does happen, either wait for, or find a local Police officer, tell them what happened, and give them a description of the person.
The Henna Scam
This one is particularly prevalent in North Africa (Morocco - especially Marrakech / Algeria / Tunisia), and the Indian sub-continent.
The “Henna Scam” tends to be concentrated around busy market places and Medina's and is generally perpetrated by women. "The Henna ladies". While they usually target women, men are not immune to this either.
A female friend I was travelling with had her wrist grabbed tightly by a large woman with her henna pen in hand. Instead of trying to negotiate or lure her over to her (decidedly unsafe looking) chair, she struggled to ink her hand before she (my friend) could shake loose (Quite the effort in its own right).
My friend is a tall but slight, strong, independent, no-nonsense, type... Calls a spade a spade, and as required, "A F**king Shovel!" - If she wanted henna, it would be on her own terms, and in a henna café — never via being grabbed by some random on the street. Say NO and Stop Loudly and repeatedly. The fact that you are trying to wrestle your arm free, coupled with the verbal instructions of NO and Stop make it clear to anyone around (including any local police) that this is happening against your will.
The scam completes when these ladies start to paint and call for the police to claim you are a thief if you don't pay for their work and try to walk away, North Africa have special tourist police officers looking out for the safety of foreigners (Morocco & Algeria take the safety of foreigners VERY seriously). If the henna women don't calm down and let you leave, call out for for them. The Henna ladies soon pipe down and walk away - as you can technically have them done for assault.
The Bindi Scam
This one is more prevalent on the Indian sub-continent, predominantly in Hindu cultures. Lost of people practice this scam - from enterprising young girls around yoga retreats to Hindu & Hari Krishna monks. Monks were by far the largest proportion I encountered in India.
They generally approach you in the street, often appearing out of doorways where you didn't see them, and before you know it, you have a Bindi (Red powdered dot) on your forehead. This is usually accompanied by a handshake, at which point a red woollen bracelet is tied around your wrist.
This is one of the less nefarious scams, and they are usually painfully polite. They will generally ask you for a donation of between 50 - 500 rupees (£0.50-£5), although some cheeky buggers try to hit you up for 1000R (£10).
100R, 200R & 500R notes are fairly common, so its not a value you are going to have to go looking for.
On the plus side, once you have a bindi, you are safe from being targeted for the rest of the day.
Animals
Another common one the world over. Be it snake charmers, monkey handlers, snakes or parrots, you can encounter these guys in almost every major city, again usually in tourist hotspots. Wile usually they are very friendly, once the animal is on you, they will expect some form of payment, more so if they take your picture, or you ask for a picture with it.
The best approach approach for dealing with these guys is to avoid them and a Firm NO as they start to approach. In my case, being deathly afraid of snakes, I usually notice snake charmers and people wielding snakes a mile away and will run a mile if they get too close!
This short video shows how it works, and why you will lose.
Street Games - Just Don't!
Three Card Monte
One of the oldest and most blatant scams. You will see this one almost everywhere, including here in the UK.
You see people playing a card game/hiding a ball in a cup/Hiding a pea under three shells on the street and someone guessing where it is (and allegedly winning money). It is also known as Three Card Shuffle or follow the lady. Then you decide to play... DONT.
Not playing is the only way to win. The Odds are NEVER in your favour. Its all slight of hand...also why its done as a magic trick!
The Powder / Mustard / Dirt on bags/clothing Pickpocket Scam
This one seems to be fairly universal and follows a standard theme - There is something on you (Powder / dirt / a foul smelling substance), and someone offers you assistance to clean it off.
The Scam:
Someone throws a powder or foul smelling substance on you (Talcum / Mustard powder / a foul smelling substance (Including mustard)) onto your jacket, bag, trouser leg or shoes without you noticing.
Someone then calls to you, or taps your arm/shoulder to inform you of the presence of the stain/substance and offers to help you clean it off, or offers you a tissue to do it yourself.
While you are distracted/flustered trying to clean the powder/substance off your belongings, they pick your pockets. In some instances they will ask you to take off your bag/backpack so that they can help you clean it.
What to do:
- Try to appear unconcerned / unbothered.
- Never accept assistance from a stranger to help you clean up.
- Never even accept the tissue the offer you.
- Listen to what they are asking you to do (Eg: Take off your bag so I can help you clean it) -it gives you clues as to what they are after. Backpackers often carry valuables and electronics in rucksacks and backpacks. Never comply with the request.
- Head to the nearest Mall / Coffee Shop / McDonalds or Subway/Metro station - Somewhere patrolled by security - before getting cleaned up.
Children & Injured Beggers
This scam can be found pretty much everywhere, but particularly in developing countries and countries that have had a Civil War (Even decades after the fact).
The Scam:
An injured person or young child (sometimes with their mother) will approach you and ask for money. This is a tricky one, because you’ll generally feel compelled to help, (especially in countries with a more substantial level of poverty than your own).
A lot of children have, unfortunately, been roped into gangs to collect money on their behalf.
Sometimes, an accomplice is waiting nearby to see where you keep your wallet so they can pickpocket you later - so keep your wits about you!
Since it’s impossible to know who is legit and who is faking it, I generally never give money to injured beggars or children other than small value coins.
If you do feel like you want to help, make a donation to a local charity or offer them food.
The Lost Items Scam
This is one of the most common and universal scams, is for strangers to approach foreigners and ask if they have dropped something.
An innocent looking stranger will find a ring, piece of jewellery or wallet “on the ground” and ask if it is yours.
When you decline/say its not yours, they will insist and finally offer you the item because it will make a nice gift or because it will look good on you.
Do not accept the item or anything else you are offered. If you accept it, the scammers will likely beg you for money. Additionally, they may have an accomplice steal your wallet while you’re distracted by the person who approached you.
This is very common in Europe, particularly Paris, Rome & Prague.
Your Attraction is "Closed for Lunch"
This one happens the world over.
A friendly local comes up to you and informs you that the attraction/site you want to visit is closed for any number of reasons (Eg: Religious Ceremony, Lunch, Holiday, etc.).
They will then guide you to a different attraction or shop, where you’re pressured in to purchasing something or end up paying an overpriced entry fee.
To avoid this:
- Check the attractions website or google maps for Opening times and the days it may be closed (They are almost ALWAYS available online
- Before you head to the attraction, look up the location of the main entrance or ticket counter and go and have a look for yourself
- You should also remember that most attractions don’t close for lunch — they close for the day!
- Look up the entry price for nearby attractions online in advance, especially if you planned to visit them later!
Invited for Tea / Chai
Common in North Africa, Turkey, Arabia & the Indian sub-continent & countries that pride themselves on their hospitality.
This scam has many formats, but all involve accompanying them to their nearby shop/place of business.
A friendly (sometimes excessively so) local approaches you and invites you to visit their store for Tea.
Or a friendly local hears you talking and strikes up a conversation. They ask you where you are from, and as luck would have it, they know someone there and would like your help writing them a letter or a postcard, and invite you back to their shop for tea,
The Scam:
Once in their shop, they provide you with free tea / local sweets / fresh food. Once you have finished your tea, they start with the high pressure sales tactics - as as after all, they have shown you hospitality!
These stores are usually for relatively high value items (Rugs, Marble, Local Art), where the lowest prices item converts to the equivalent of £100's if not £1000's of pounds.
What to do if you find yourself in this situation:
- Politely, but FIRMLY decline their offers - even to browse
- Make your way towards the exit as quickly as possible and leave (Don't stop to browse other stores nearby!)
- If they comment on you having accepted their hospitality - offer them a cursory fee for the tea & snacks (No more than the local equivalent of £5! - Unless you got carried away and had a 3 course meal, in which case offer a max of £20!) - Just leave it on a counter and leave
- If you ever feel unsafe, either approach a local Police officer for assistance, or jump in a taxi to make your escape
How to Avoid:
- Politely but FIRMLY decline their offer. Never hurts to thank them for the offer though - It costs nothing to be polite
- If they are persistent - Again FIRMLY Decline. You can tell them you are late to meet your friends, or you have tickets booked for a local attraction and walk away (Especially if travelling Solo).
- Put some distance between you and them - Even if it involves walking back into an attraction you have already visited - they wont follow you in (as these places always have security or Police officers nearby)
- If you ever feel unsafe, either approach a local Police officer for assistance, or jump in a taxi to make your escape
The Fake Petition
This is one we have encountered all over the world, both in Europe & further afield.
You’re at a popular tourist location and a woman or kid (often pretending to be deaf or a student), armed with a clipboard will try to get you to sign a petition.
You don’t know what they are saying, and to end the awkwardness, you sign the petition, hoping they will go away - BUT the petitioner then demands a cash donation.
At best, anyone who falls for this scam is out some money; at worst, you're pickpocketed while fighting with the petitioner.
To avoid this scam, just ignore people coming up to you asking you to sign a petition, especially when they are in groups and try to surround you. Keep Walking!
