A classic – common in most large and mega cities around the world. Most taxis operate through a variable meter that goes up over the duration of your trip. Some areas are notorious for cab scams, and it’s especially easy to take advantage of a tourist that doesn’t know the area.

Be wary of busy business people and cashiers. A talkative cashier may actually be using a phone to take pictures of your personal information or credit card. Pay close attention to detail, especially in unfamiliar establishments.

Always question completely free services no matter where you are. Although free WiFi’s common in airports and profitable establishments, it’s much harder to come by in certain areas. Some scammers have even set up “free WiFi” kiosks with unsecured connections as a means of stealing personal and financial information.

Watch out for fake police. If for whatever reason you’re asked to hand over precious documents, think twice. Be sure to ask the “officer” for verification and employer contact information.

Off-duty “doctors” have been known to sell fake drugs. Others distribute “discounted” insurance documentation, promising huge savings. Of course the documentation doesn’t work. Be wary of scams even from supposed professionals.

Bracelets are commonly given to tourists throughout the world as a means of pressuring them into payments. They’re even used as distractions for partner pickpockets. Make sure all of your belongings are in order and firmly reject the offer.

Flowers can make the perfect guilt gift. Couples may be approached to purchase flowers. The vendor may pressure either member of the group to get something nice for the other. Unless they’re very fairly priced, don’t fall for it.

When receiving change, some swindlers will count slowly and undervalue your return. Some tourists don’t have the patience for it or won’t read the small details. Make sure to count your change and keep your eyes peeled at certain locations.

Never accept offers for help completing an ATM action. If there’s a problem, seek support from the correct individuals. Don’t give someone easy access to your finances. Make sure to cover the keypad and obscure direct sight of your PIN.

The group photo scam can take everyone by surprise. Whether with a partner or alone, scammers can take advantage of group photo circumstances. Tourists have lost cameras to sneaky swindlers that slink away in thick crowds.

Renting anything, especially vehicles, comes with risk in certain areas. Suspiciously damaged or stolen vehicles may be at the hands of the rental company. Store owners will then leverage the circumstances into additional fees.

Some strangers may ask for favors, even generously giving a gift. One common example involves inviting an unsuspecting tourist into a shop or home to help write and deliver a postcard to the host’s relative that conveniently lives near the tourist. A ridiculous, but common trap.

Shady shoe shiners can charge ridiculous prices for poor quality. Other times, a shoe shining can act as the backdrop for a pickpocket. Make sure to secure your belongs, especially in a dense area.

Border shenanigans can leave unsuspecting tourists baffled. Border “assistants” can make off with wallets and passports if given the opportunity. Snuff out any non-official that seeks your personal information.

Make sure to do a background check on the organizations you interface with abroad. This is especially true for transportation and touring services. A shady tour can leave you stranded or charge outrageous prices. Stick to the secure stuff.

Rented vehicles are easy to spot. Luxury vehicles are even easier. If returning to a flat tire, keep your guard up. “Friendly” locals may offer to help, free of charge. This opens an opportunity to make off with some of your car valuables.

Maps can make great distractions, featuring large surface areas and detailed images. An overly pushy map salesman may distract you from a pickpocket. Stay alert on crowded streets.

Offers for instant tickets or the ability to skip a long line may result in a counterfeit. Make sure you’re interacting with an official before making any decisions requiring sensitive information and important decisions. Some shortcuts can result in headaches.

Street gambling can leave tourists empty-pocketed. Other street game shenanigans serve as the perfect pickpocket setup. Stay engaged and aware to avoid being taken advantage of.

Depending on the setup, some taxi drivers or companies will charge absurd prices to foreigners from specific nations. Understand the local economy. Knowing the true estimated price of your drive can be used as powerful bargaining knowledge.

Fake wake up calls or information requests can occur while staying abroad. Never give out your credit card details on the phone. If someone calls asking for personal or financial information, get them to verify their identity or simply contact the front desk yourself.

Don’t be a fool for the flirt. Handsy tricksters make a living tricking tourists. It’s probably not love at first sight.

Some vendors bend the truth. Others charge exorbitant prices. Make sure to get a good bang for your buck, especially in areas where bargaining is the norm. That gold figurine may not be gold.

Some tourists have reported being approached by past servers or workers. They’ll offer to help or send you invitations to local hotspots and events. Make sure the events and prices are legitimate before making a big decision based on the recommendations of a stranger.

Handmade goods are often used to pressure tourists into unnecessary purchases. Firmly reject everything you don’t want. A common trick involves lending out mixtapes and CDs before pressuring tourists into dropping wads of cash.

Some taxis outside airlines or hotels may charge staggering prices for services. Expensive tourist destinations can be riddled with price gouging. Make sure your bargaining skills are up to snuff.

One of the most common tourist scams involves spilling food, drink, or sauce on clothing. A “friendly” local will offer to help or milk their distraction while a pickpocket gets to work. Reject help and clean up elsewhere.

Some scheming taxi drivers will take a tourist to a hotel before claiming that it’s closed or overbooked. The alternative requires driving a far distance to another location. Other drivers get revenue for funneling tourists to specific locations. Make sure to call your hotel in advance.

Watch out for scams when exchanging money. Make sure the institution is legitimate. If receiving change or converting currency with a local, make sure to count everything and get what you’re owed.

There are some genuinely compassionate and friendly people in the world. Others put up a façade, making it easier to take advantage of tourists. A disengaging smile or jovial demeanor may mask another motive.

“Helping” a scheming, scamming stranger can lead to problems. Don’t get too distracted or a quick-handed pickpocket may strike. Keep your eyes peeled and be extremely picky as to who gets the honor of your assistance.

The ring trick is common. Someone claims to find a ring nearby, eventually offering it to you at a good price. The scammer will speak towards its authenticity and quality. Don’t waste money on what could be counterfeit anyway.

Be wary of overnight transportation services. They’re not all created equally. Some tourists have reported losing valuables while sleeping aboard certain buses.

Real and fake babies are used as props to guilt tourists into giving. Sometimes, the locals involved are truly in dire straits and need help. Other times, scammers will use lifeless props to entice tourists into doling out some cash.

Individuals may approach you on your next trip abroad, form in hand. There’s no reason you need to fill out anything unless speaking with an official or government employee. Firmly reject such an offer. It’s perfect distraction fodder for a pickpocket.

Don’t buy drugs. Especially don’t buy them from strangers in foreign countries. Common scam tactics involve selling locals out to police. Other will involve “fake” police to hustle the unsuspecting.

A vendor may drop your change. The process usually starts by counting your return. The money slips out of the vendor’s hands before picking it back up, quickly replacing quality currency with smaller amounts. Keep your eyes peeled.

Scams often wait beyond the guise of support. Someone may offer to help move your luggage on a long bus trip. Or even to care for it and watch over it. Simply reject these offers and keep a watchful eye. Keep your valuables close at all times.

Never accept services before knowing their prices. Even “free” services come with a catch. A vendor may offer their services free initially, but accepting an offer will likely lead to a persistent attempt at payment.

This scam’s particularly prevalent at popular tourist destinations. A stranger will ask you to take a picture. But the device won’t work. Upon handing it back to the owner, the stranger flubs the exchange resulting in a broken camera. The stranger demands compensation for an already broken device.

Vendor’s have all sorts of little tricks of the trade. Dishonest and scamming salesmen can perform the ole switcheroo on unsuspecting customers. A luxurious rug can be swapped with a knockoff in the blink of an eye.

Certain trains can be packed to the brim – perfect conditions for a pickpocket. Additionally, certain services are prone to price gouge unsuspecting customers. Be extra careful when taking public transportation or long rides.

Counterfeit currency’s a common scam. Make sure the bills you get back look genuine. Most counterfeit’s easy to spot.

“Broken” meters may lead to excessive costs. If something seems out of whack, it probably is. Contact a nearby official to verify the payment before paying more than you should.

Struggling “English students” commonly approach western travelers. They’ll attempt to earn sympathy points with a somber story of hardship told in broken English. Sometimes the scam’s obvious, but more skilled scammers aren’t as easy to see through.

Oftentimes, free gifts and services are used as ploys for further payment. Most of the time, it’s wise to reject even free gifts because they likely come with strings attached. Don’t get stuck with a frustrated stranger pushing you into a purchase.

Did that offer sound too good to be true? It probably is. A special coincidence like a favorite band in town is incredibly uncommon. Firmly and politely reject any offer you don’t need before verifying the truth.

That free food probably isn’t actually free. Or at least, if you accepted, you’ll probably be pressured or forced into a payment. Don’t accept something you’re not willing to pay for. Otherwise, there might be a scene.

Swarming children have been known to make effective scammers. Their perceived innocence definitely lowers people’s guards. Oftentimes, they’ll group to scam or even pickpocket in certain locales.

ATM scams are common around the world. Jerry-rigged machines can steal valuable card information. Other machines will simply swallow your cards.

“Mandatory” inspections can catch an unsuspecting tourist off guard. Sometimes, inspectors will knock on your door in tandem. This is especially prevalent in shadier hotels, whereby strangers will pose as employees ready to inspect your room and valuables. Simply ask to talk to the manager for verification.

That new delivery menu may not be legitimate. Some scammers slide menus under hotel doors as a means of stealing credit card information on the phone. Never give out card information to strangers.

A stranger may approach you regarding dropped valuables, such as a wallet. Assuming it’s not yours, you may be asked to help return it or even purchase some of its contents. The wallet’s likely being used as a prop in a scam or pickpocket attempt. Simply reject such offers and walk away.

Don’t bank on a promise. There might be a hidden motive behind a vendor’s frugal promise so don’t pay anything upfront unless you’re absolutely sure you’ll soon receive the product or service. Broken promises can break hearts.

Trains are perfect thieving environments. They’re tight, constrained areas with a lot of valuable baggage. Additionally, a lot of people like to sleep on long trips. Always keep track of your luggage, wallet, and phone.

Taxis are especially notorious for scamming across the world. Watch out for overly eager drivers. Make sure all of your luggage exits the vehicle. Some taxi scammers have been known to ride off with luggage after drop offs.

Rosary beads are commonly given to tourists in an attempt to profit. Even if you like the beads, they’re likely not worth much. Simply reject anything that’s being forced unto you.

Some businesses and individuals charge in specific currencies depending on the tourist. This is especially true in nations with struggling economies or weak currencies. The Euro and dollar are especially valued, generally resulting in certain tourists paying more for cheap goods and services.

Many causes are worth the trouble. Conversely, empathetic people can be targeted through charitable petitions. This scam generally involves a disadvantaged child presenting a petition and thereafter demanding a charitable “donation.”

That new friend group might have ulterior motives. It’s quite possible that they want the benefit of an added wallet while on the town. Other locals have friends that own businesses, eager to take your money. Some tourists have found themselves paying absurd bills at local, recommended “hotspots.”

Slick thieves often have a way with words. Pickpockets can lull listeners into a false sense of security before striking. Many thieves work together to con. One may tell an engrossing story while the other removes money from your back pocket.

Phones are high atop the list of commonly stolen devices while traveling. A common tactic involves pressuring unsuspecting victims to look up simple information online with a smart phone. Thieves will then wait for the perfect opportunity to grab the phone and disappear into the crowd.

Foreign streets can be packed. Some are significantly denser than practically any city in the United States. Many scammers work together, forming large swarming groups. The swindlers will proceed to bump and bounce among tourists, fishing for loose wallets and phones.

Shiny jewels can act as a scam prop. “Discounted” gems are said to be more valuable back home. Vendors will pressure tourists into purchasing fake metals and gems for ridiculous prices.

A common scam starts with a gift. Some scammers may offer tea in exchange for payment or services. Others may simply use it as a distraction or way to guilt a tourist into doing something.

Some businesses will try to swindle unsuspecting tourists with inappropriately large bills. Certain spots even charge different nationalities with different currencies without being properly adjusted. Be sure to bargain if you have to.

Some locations will claim to be overbooked or offer ridiculous prices for staying in the “last available” suite or room. Don’t waste time at these businesses. Find an appropriately priced venue to avoid potential headaches and price gouging attempts.

Try to avoid people in a tizzy. Scamming salesmen have been known to express frustration and bewilderment towards unsuspecting tourists as a means of pressuring them into pricey purchases. Simply walk away from problematic personalities.

Feel free to engage in long conversations, but keep your guard up. Some pickpockets work in tandem. One will charm the victim while the other waits for an opportunity to make off with pocketed possessions.

Make sure to rent from the right spots. Shady rental services are notorious in some areas. Bike services are especially easy to manipulate. Tourists have reported false accusations and high prices depending on the vendor.

This scam is incredibly widespread and takes a trained economic eye to spot. Even the relatively tame streets of Norway has been accused of price gouging tours. A rather popular tourist package of local transportation has been known to charge ridiculous prices to ignorant foreigners.

Perhaps one of the simplest pickpocket techniques involves brushing against an unsuspecting tourist in a dense crowd. Before the victim even realizes it, the thief has walked out of sight with a handful of valuables. Make sure to secure all your goods while sightseeing.

Distractions form the basis of tandem pickpockets. One member will distract the victim with conversation or a skill. The other will bide time, striking at an opportune moment. If not careful, the tourist will leave the scene without a wallet.

Sometimes scammers get elaborate. Causing a scene or making a spectacle is a great way to lower a person’s guard or distract them. Pickpockets can then feed off the collective confusion, one by one.

A new local friend may pressure you into a night on the town. A simple drink and dash could leave you with a staggering bill if not careful. Make sure your friends really are your friends.