Travel tips: Common scams in tourist places

Unfortunately, when you are visiting the most popular places in each city you go to, there are many people out there that will try to fool you and scam you in some way.

I’m telling you this because, unfortunately, I’ve suffered this myself in some places, and what better than my own experience to advise you so it does not happen anymore.
  • The friendship bracelet/flowers scam: When you’re in a popular square or monument in each city, a stranger will approach you, gifting you a friendship bracelet. He will proceed to tie the bracelet around your arm really tight, and then proceed to ask you for money. While you try to untie the bracelet, a friend of him may also try to pickpocket you, so be really careful. 
    If you’re with your partner, he may gift you a flower as well, and then try to follow you asking for money.
  • The photo scam: In monuments specially, you may find someone dressed up as a typical costume in the country. In my case, it was a roman in Rome. He may try to give you a sword or a piece of his attire such as the shield, helmet, and then proceed to take photos with you, after asking for your mobile phone. After the photos have been taken, he will ask you for money for the photos.
  • The disabled scam: This one isn’t on tourist places only, it may happen at your city too. It involves a person simulating deafness and/or being mute, asking you to sign a paper. After this, he will try to force you to pay money to him/her indicating that what you signed forces you to pay.
My personal recommendations? Ignore all of them. They cannot force you to pay them anything if you don’t want to. So don’t be shy, and don’t let them ruin your trip!

Here’s a more detailed video that explains these scams more in detail. 

 
Until the next post, my fellow nerds!

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