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Featured Scams
- Bangkok Gem Scam Rubies and Sapphires too Good to be True
- Chinese Tea Scam No Tea Should Cost this Much
Scamming Companies
- SNP Jewelry Bangkok, Thailand
- Anlogine Consulting Shanghai Mall Teashop
Categories of Scams
Read about these broad categories to help protect yourself from these tourist scams.
PICKPOCKET
This one is simple and yet there are so many variations. In one variation, the thieves cut the victim's purse strap on a busy street. In another instance, they might knock you over with a motorcycle and take your wallet. One of the more interesting ones is the accidental spilling of ketchup on your shirt and taking of your belongings. Most successful pickpockets work in teams and use either distractions or crowds to get at your purse or wallet. *When in a crowded or heavily touristed area, always make sure your wallet or purse is secured to you and be mindful of your surroundings.
GOOD SAMARITAN
Someone hurts you without you knowing it and then comes to help you. Ex) A local pops your rental car tire with a nail, drives behind you to tell you have a flat and then robs you. *Avoid overly friendly locals at tourist sites. *Beware of friendly westerners posing as tourists. *Don’t be quick to accept help from strangers, better to be over cautious, than get scammed. *Never go to a restaurant or a bar without seeing a menu with written prices. *Never look lost or out of place even when you are.
CREDIT CARD SCAM
There are many cases where scammers make fraudulent charges on your card. There are even cases in which a legitimate vendor sells your credit card number to another scammer. *If you purchase items on your credit card make sure it is in your sight at all times. *Don’t let a vendor make an etching of your card or look at your 3 digit number on the back. *Check your credit card statement often and make sure you actually made all of those purchases.
ATM SCAMS
These ATM scams are becoming more technologically advanced. It is not as simple as someone watching you type in your pin anymore. These scams can involve complicated gadgets that don’t let you into the ATM booth unless you type in your pin. These gadgets record your pin and have nothing to do with the ATM machine. A simple rule is to only type your pin in the ATM machine. *Be careful of your environment and onlookers while at an ATM machine. *If you go to a foreign ATM machine and the machine eats your credit card, call and report it as stolen. Thieves commonly jam these machines to retrieve your card later.
TAXI/CAR SERVICE
Taxi and Car Service people know that you are a tourist and not familiar with the area and will take advantage of you. Sometimes they will overcharge, misdirect, or make unwanted side trips. If a driver offers you a ride that is ridiculously cheap, then he or she is probably trying to earn a commission from a store or hotel, so beware of unexpected stops. *Be polite and firm with your destination and set the price before you enter. *If the cab ride is free or cheap, then this should be a red flag. *Always go with a licensed cab and do not take a ride with anyone who approaches you or seems overly aggressive. *If you take a cab, make sure the driver turns on the meter, otherwise look into buses and other forms of mass transit.
FAKE PRODUCTS (Fake or Low Quality Gems/Gold/Artifacts/Art)
This is probably one of the most popular scams. It comes in many forms, the Bangkok gem scam, the India carpet scam, or fake Indian or indigenous artifacts scam. There is even a scam where you see and purchase the real product. Then they pack and give you an inferior one, or they claimed to have mailed your order and you never receive it. *Always research any purchase of goods on the internet, ask other experts, and do due diligence. Never be pressured into buying anything. *If an offer is too good to be true, then it is probably a scam, if a sob story is amazing it is probably made up.
POLICE IMPOSTORS
It is hard to question the authorities. Everywhere you go you should listen to police and respect the law, but police impostors are common in foreign countries. Sometimes the police are real and they are a part of the scam. *If you are stopped by the police, and they want to search or fine you, give them only a copy of your passport. *Carry the number of your embassy, the local police, or ask to go to the police station. Never give them your wallet or your passport as you may not be able to tell if their credentials are real.
MONEY CHANGING (transferring, change, and counterfeit)
Though you may not know what the correct exchange rate is, the locals do. Try to check a bank, the internet or government source for the official exchange rate. Often times you get the best exchange rate from an ATM withdrawl and you don’t have to deal with human error. Another parallel scam, is when you pay for something or ask for change, and you get counterfeit bills back. *Always count your money in front of the exchange window and get a receipt. *If you don’t know the value of coins or bills, ask and ask again *Go to a reputable exchange place or bank *Be weary of anyone who approaches you to exchange money. *When you purchase any product or service always count your change. * Beware of counterfeit money by familiarizing yourself with the local bills and coins.
TICKET (invalid entrance tickets)
A ticket scalper is a scalper in any country.
TOUR/ACCOMODATIONS (Buying tours or services you don’t receive.)
This is as simple as broken promises on accommodations or the purchase of tour services you don’t receive.
PICKPOCKET
This one is simple and yet there are so many variations. In one variation, the thieves cut the victim's purse strap on a busy street. In another instance, they might knock you over with a motorcycle and take your wallet. One of the more interesting ones is the accidental spilling of ketchup on your shirt and taking of your belongings. Most successful pickpockets work in teams and use either distractions or crowds to get at your purse or wallet. *When in a crowded or heavily touristed area, always make sure your wallet or purse is secured to you and be mindful of your surroundings.
GOOD SAMARITAN
Someone hurts you without you knowing it and then comes to help you. Ex) A local pops your rental car tire with a nail, drives behind you to tell you have a flat and then robs you. *Avoid overly friendly locals at tourist sites. *Beware of friendly westerners posing as tourists. *Don’t be quick to accept help from strangers, better to be over cautious, than get scammed. *Never go to a restaurant or a bar without seeing a menu with written prices. *Never look lost or out of place even when you are.
CREDIT CARD SCAM
There are many cases where scammers make fraudulent charges on your card. There are even cases in which a legitimate vendor sells your credit card number to another scammer. *If you purchase items on your credit card make sure it is in your sight at all times. *Don’t let a vendor make an etching of your card or look at your 3 digit number on the back. *Check your credit card statement often and make sure you actually made all of those purchases.
ATM SCAMS
These ATM scams are becoming more technologically advanced. It is not as simple as someone watching you type in your pin anymore. These scams can involve complicated gadgets that don’t let you into the ATM booth unless you type in your pin. These gadgets record your pin and have nothing to do with the ATM machine. A simple rule is to only type your pin in the ATM machine. *Be careful of your environment and onlookers while at an ATM machine. *If you go to a foreign ATM machine and the machine eats your credit card, call and report it as stolen. Thieves commonly jam these machines to retrieve your card later.
TAXI/CAR SERVICE
Taxi and Car Service people know that you are a tourist and not familiar with the area and will take advantage of you. Sometimes they will overcharge, misdirect, or make unwanted side trips. If a driver offers you a ride that is ridiculously cheap, then he or she is probably trying to earn a commission from a store or hotel, so beware of unexpected stops. *Be polite and firm with your destination and set the price before you enter. *If the cab ride is free or cheap, then this should be a red flag. *Always go with a licensed cab and do not take a ride with anyone who approaches you or seems overly aggressive. *If you take a cab, make sure the driver turns on the meter, otherwise look into buses and other forms of mass transit.
FAKE PRODUCTS (Fake or Low Quality Gems/Gold/Artifacts/Art)
This is probably one of the most popular scams. It comes in many forms, the Bangkok gem scam, the India carpet scam, or fake Indian or indigenous artifacts scam. There is even a scam where you see and purchase the real product. Then they pack and give you an inferior one, or they claimed to have mailed your order and you never receive it. *Always research any purchase of goods on the internet, ask other experts, and do due diligence. Never be pressured into buying anything. *If an offer is too good to be true, then it is probably a scam, if a sob story is amazing it is probably made up.
POLICE IMPOSTORS
It is hard to question the authorities. Everywhere you go you should listen to police and respect the law, but police impostors are common in foreign countries. Sometimes the police are real and they are a part of the scam. *If you are stopped by the police, and they want to search or fine you, give them only a copy of your passport. *Carry the number of your embassy, the local police, or ask to go to the police station. Never give them your wallet or your passport as you may not be able to tell if their credentials are real.
MONEY CHANGING (transferring, change, and counterfeit)
Though you may not know what the correct exchange rate is, the locals do. Try to check a bank, the internet or government source for the official exchange rate. Often times you get the best exchange rate from an ATM withdrawl and you don’t have to deal with human error. Another parallel scam, is when you pay for something or ask for change, and you get counterfeit bills back. *Always count your money in front of the exchange window and get a receipt. *If you don’t know the value of coins or bills, ask and ask again *Go to a reputable exchange place or bank *Be weary of anyone who approaches you to exchange money. *When you purchase any product or service always count your change. * Beware of counterfeit money by familiarizing yourself with the local bills and coins.
TICKET (invalid entrance tickets)
A ticket scalper is a scalper in any country.
- Always buy tickets from a ticket office.
- Check for student or senior discounts.
- Make sure you know all the ticket options.
TOUR/ACCOMODATIONS (Buying tours or services you don’t receive.)
This is as simple as broken promises on accommodations or the purchase of tour services you don’t receive.
- Research the tour and tour company before you take one.
- Make the company put everything in writing and check for a satisfaction guarantee policy.