Beware of these scams when you travel

The spring-summer travel season is now in full swing in the northern hemisphere. Travelling is exciting and the experience is rewarding. However, now more than ever, scammers and thieves are everywhere.

When packing, you must be careful and mindful of where you place your valuables and electronics. Always make a digital copy of your passport and other important ID documents. If possible, also make a photocopy of your passport and documents.

At your destination and when transiting through every airport, beware of scammers and pickpockets targeting mostly tourists who are distracted enjoying the surroundings and attractions.

And remember, not all airport or airline employees are willing to help you. Some might even scam you. Really. Keep on reading.

Barcelona

Whenever I have to travel to Barcelona I get anxious. I am particularly stressed in Barcelona’s public transport but also in the streets, and I don’t even go out at night.

Barcelona is a city which always makes me nervous, anxious, I can never relax. As soon as whatever I am doing there is done, I’m out of the city.

I have never gone to Barcelona for pleasure. I would never choose Barcelona for a holiday. I usually go there for conferences, or tech events. That’s because I don’t feel safe there.

Once, a few years ago, I had an incident at about 7pm when walking from the metro to my Airbnb.

I noticed a man was following me, waiting at the next corner every time I stopped. I saw him watching me. I didn’t want to turn to the left to my AirBnb’s address; that meant less people and no restaurants to hide.

That meant he would know the house I was going to enter. That’s never a good idea. They can wait for you any other time and surprise you when you are not alert. It was clear his intentions were to rob me, at the very least.

I stood by a restaurant and called my Airbnb host. I was one and a half block away from the house in a very quiet neighbourhood. He told me to wait there and stay on the phone. He was coming to pick me up.

I was coming back from the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Fira Barcelona.

Pickpockets are on high alert at the time of the Congress, more than usual, preying on victims.

After a couple of minutes, I saw Alex, my host. What a relief! I started walking towards him. He opened his arms and I hugged him, so the man could see us. I could still see the man across the street, around the corner, waiting.

We started walking to the house, and Alex told me that, indeed, he saw the suspicious man and it was obvious he was following me.

He said that perhaps he saw me in the metro or coming out from the metro, or even followed me from the area near the Congress.

Alex said it was a good idea that I stopped and called him.

He also recommended that if this happened again, to go to a restaurant or shop, go inside, and tell someone in there I am being followed and to call the police.

I was lucky Alex was in the house and could help me.

Because I was alert and vigilant, I could notice someone was acting suspicious, following me.

I am always extremely anxious in Barcelona, especially during MWC and other big events.

Earlier on that same week, I saw a pickpocket leaving the metro followed by a person from Samsung Electronics who was running after the pickpocket shouting “thief, thief!” I was in the metro, standing not far from where the Samsung people were standing.

The Samsung guy was part of a group. They were chatting in the metro, standing close to the door, unaware of the pickpocket watching them.

They were standing close to me. I was hugging my backpack in front of my body and my back glued to the wall in a corner. I was on high alert.

The Samsung guy was still wearing his conference badge. That’s why I know he was from Samsung.

At the congress, the organisers advised us we should take our badge off, as to not advertise we were MWC attendees, since that alone made us a target for the professional thieves.

Rome

Rome is a lovely city. Great food, delicious gelato, good coffee, magnificent historical architecture such as the Colosseum … and then you have the scammers, pickpockets, and tourists traps.

If you are staying in central or residential areas you will be safe, just always use common sense. The Termini Station, however, is one you should avoid, especially at night.

Consider the safety of your purse, bag, or backpack. Wear a crossbody bag and walk by the wall if possible, not by the street where someone on a motorcycle can snatch your bag, potentially dragging you.

When in Rome, beware of the fake petitions for whatever. They are scams and only want to steal your money.

If you are an ATM user, try to use only the ATMs attached to a bank or inside a bank.

There is very little use of cash in Italy and Europe in general. Your cards and electronic payments should be enough.

Also, for the Americans, the card machine is brought to your table, you don’t have to give your card to the waiter under any circumstance, unless you want your card details to be stolen and used without your consent.

Beware of pickpockets in public transport, especially in tourist routes on buses and trains.

If you need help to buy a ticket from a ticket machine, ask a member of staff, never ask a random passerby, and much less accept unsolicited “help” from a stranger who was there watching you for a while.

Women pickpockets and scammers are as dangerous as men.

Some of the most typical scams are variations of restaurant tourist traps. Most of these traps are close to the tourist attractions, obviously.

Avoid any restaurant that advertises over 50 dishes with pictures outside the restaurant and menu in English outside. You will pay a little fortune for not real Italian food.

Instead, get a bit far from where all tourists are, explore the areas around where locals live and go to the restaurants where locals go. You will be safer and experience the real Italy.

There, you will find less dishes, but they will be prepared in a traditional home-made Italian way, the real food Italians eat, and you will pay much less for better food.

I personally look for small restaurants with just a few dishes on the menu, the ones usually ran by the owners and preferred by locals are the best.

In those small restaurants, you can experience the friendly atmosphere, with owners knowing some of their clients by name and making jokes. That’s a typical Italian restaurant and the experience is authentic and enjoyable.

Greeting your waiter with a “buongiorno” (good morning or good day) is highly recommended as well as saying “grazie” (thank you) when your meal is served.

I, naturally, escape from any restaurant that targets tourists, especially those with someone outside with a menu in hand, luring people to come inside, almost forcing you. Those are obvious tourist traps.

Vietnam

Are travelling to Vietnam? It doesn’t matter if it’s your final destination or you are at the airport for a layover.

You can’t even trust those who are working at the airport.

If they ask you for money or redirect you to (fake) websites they most likely will steal your money, with the potential consequences of you missing your flight.

Watch this short video below to be aware of thieves hired as airport employees in Vietnam who will scam you.

When you realise about the scam, you might not only get $100 robbed from you but also miss your flight thanks to the scam.

The nasty scammers will never think they have just robbed you of your last money or the sacrifices you had to make to go on that trip that meant the world to you.

Stay vigilant and protect yourself from scammers and pickpockets. They are everywhere waiting for victims.

Stay safe and enjoy your travels!