Common Travel Scams Around the World and How to Avoid Them

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Last reviewed: November 2026.

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Most travel scams are old tricks in new places. They work because you’re tired, you don’t know the local prices, and you don’t want to seem rude. Once you recognize the opening move, they’re easy to walk away from, and most of them stop working the moment you say a firm “no thanks.”

These are the scams that turn up in almost every popular destination, with the warning signs and what to do instead.

The taxi with a “broken” meter

The driver says the meter isn’t working and offers a flat price, which turns out to be several times the normal fare. A variation uses the meter but takes the long way round.

Use official taxi ranks or a rideshare app such as Uber, Grab or Bolt, where the price or route is shown up front.
If a driver won’t use the meter, get out before you set off and take the next car.
Follow the route on your own phone’s map.
Find out the usual airport fare before you land. Many airports publish it.

The “free” bracelet, rose or sprig of rosemary

Someone smiles, grabs your wrist and ties on a string bracelet, or presses a flower into your hand, then demands money, often loudly. It’s common around big landmarks in Paris, Rome and other European cities.

Keep your hands in your pockets, don’t stop walking, and say no clearly. If something is put on you anyway, you can give it back and leave. You didn’t agree to buy anything.

“That attraction is closed today”

A friendly person near a famous sight tells you it’s closed for a ceremony or lunch, then suggests a tuk-tuk to another temple, which ends at a gem or tailor shop that pays them commission. This is well known around the Grand Palace in Bangkok, but versions exist everywhere.

Walk to the entrance and check for yourself. Official closures are posted at the gate and on the attraction’s own website. My guide to avoiding scams at major attractions covers this one and the fake ticket sellers that often work the same queues.

Travelers with backpacks walking through busy streets in Rabat — Photo: Abderrahmane Habibi / Pexels

The tea house or bar bill

Friendly “students” or new acquaintances invite you for tea, a drink or a karaoke session, and you’re handed a huge bill at the end, sometimes with large men by the door. It’s a documented scam in tourist areas of Shanghai and Beijing, and the bar version shows up in nightlife districts in many cities.

Choose the venue yourself, check the menu prices before you order, and be wary when a stranger in a tourist zone suggests a specific place. If you’re pressured to pay, call the police or ask to settle the bill at a police station.

Fake police

A man in plain clothes shows a badge and asks to check your wallet for counterfeit money or your passport for “drugs.” While you’re showing him, cash disappears or an accomplice moves in.

Real police rarely ask to inspect your wallet on the street. Don’t hand it over. Ask to see identification, offer to go to the nearest police station, or call the local emergency number to check. Scammers usually leave quickly.

The spill, the petition and the fake fight

Someone “accidentally” spills something on your clothes and starts wiping it off, a group asks you to sign a petition, or a scuffle breaks out next to you. All of these are distractions while someone else goes through your bag or pockets.

Any sudden commotion is your cue to put a hand on your bag and move away. Don’t let strangers touch you or your clothes. Clean up later, somewhere private. Crowded transport is where this happens most; my guide to New York subway safety has habits that work on any metro.

ATM “helpers” and card skimmers

A stranger offers to help you use an ATM, or a skimming device on the card slot copies your details. Use ATMs inside banks or shopping centers, cover the keypad, and decline help from anyone nearby. If the machine keeps your card, call your bank from your phone straight away, at the machine.

When a card terminal asks whether to charge you in your home currency or the local one, pick the local currency. The home-currency option, known as dynamic currency conversion, usually comes with a worse rate.

Shoppers at colorful stalls in a busy city street market — Photo: Deybson Mallony / Pexels

Fake QR codes

As more parking meters and restaurants use QR codes for payment, scammers stick their own codes over the real ones. The code opens a convincing payment page that captures your card details. The US Federal Trade Commission has warned about this trick.

Look for a sticker on top of the original code, check the web address before you enter anything, and use the official parking or restaurant app if there is one. If in doubt, pay by card at the counter.

Online scams before you leave

Fake booking sites and listings. Book through the hotel’s own site or a well-known platform, and never pay a host by bank transfer outside the platform.
Visa and travel authorization lookalikes. Apply only through the official government site.
“Your booking has a problem” messages. Don’t click the link. Log in to the booking site or app directly to check.

If you do get scammed

Stay calm and get somewhere safe. Cancel any cards involved, report it to the local police (you’ll usually need a report for insurance), and tell your accommodation, which may know of others hit the same way. My travel emergency guide lists the steps if your passport or phone is gone too. For scams that are specific to where you’re going, see my tourist scams by region.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the most common travel scam?

Overpriced taxis are probably the most widespread, along with pickpocketing distractions in crowded places. Both are easy to avoid with an app-based ride and a zipped bag worn in front.

Should I give money to make someone go away?

No. Paying teaches the scammer that the trick works, and it often leads to demands for more. Walk away toward people or a shop.

Are scams dangerous?

Most are about money, not violence. Never resist if someone threatens you; hand over the decoy cash and leave. Belongings can be replaced.

How do I know the local prices?

Check typical taxi fares, entry prices and meal costs on official tourism sites before you go, and ask your hotel what a fair price is for anything you plan to buy.