Traveling the world should be our chance to enjoy everything that’s waiting to be explored. Sadly, some people are only out to make some money. It’s best to avoid these common travel scams while you’re abroad if you want to stay safe throughout your trip.
Staking the joint
It turns out that some hotels are staked by pickpockets that wait in common areas before getting their hands on your things. Thankfully, many people always have eyes on the crowd in these areas. Just be sure never to leave your bag out of sight and be sure to hold onto your purse or valuable items.
Fake pizzas
Have you ever had a flyer for a pizza place slid under your hotel door? This is an easy way for thieves to get your credit card number without having to try. All they need is for someone to call up and place an order. It’s not until the pizza doesn’t arrive that many people realize it is a scam.
The wrong change
We’re often pretty used to seeing money in our home country. However, we might not notice that someone has given us too little change when we’re on vacation until we count it later on. Some places even count out money slowly in the hopes that people get bored and assume it’s correct before leaving.
Vacation on your card
Believe it or not, but some people wait to watch as people exit their rooms only to rush in and grab the room before the door shuts. Then, they call the reception desk to extend their vacation for a few days and order room service – all charged to the credit card they left. Be sure to check your bank account when you return home to make sure there are no unexpected charges.
Room inspectors
It can seem obvious, but many people fall for strangers posing as room inspectors. These are usually two people that knock on the door and claim they need to inspect the room. One keeps people talking at the door while the other goes in to steal valuable items. You might not realize your things are gone until it’s too late. If you’re worried about the people at your hotel door, then refuse to let them in and call reception to make sure you aren’t being scammed.
Calls from reception
Many people think that it’s common for reception desks to call and check credit card information or report a bug on the system. All they need is for the person in the room to confirm the payment information, and that’s it. The reality? It could be someone calling from anywhere else in the country. It’s best to go to reception yourself to resolve any payment issues.
While going on vacation can be a perfect time to relax and unwind, it’s important to remember that you need to keep yourself and your things safe. Learning how to avoid these common travel scams while you’re abroad can help to make sure you’re as safe as can be.
