Traveling abroad can be a really fun, exciting, and an overwhelming experience. However, if you are a first-time traveler, you need to be aware of the fact that there are always shady people out there looking to take advantage of tourists. If you do not exercise a little bit of caution and common sense, you can easily get taken advantage of. With that being said, some thieves have come up with some of the most elaborate and complex cons that would even trick the most experienced traveler. Below, you will learn about some of the most common scams and how you can go about avoiding them.
Buying Tickets From Third Parties
There is nothing about traveling abroad that is cheap. Some people have to scrounge, save, and seek discounts for years before they can even afford a trip like this. In fact, a lot of people will turn to third-party sites like Craigslist in order to purchase cheaper or discounted tickets. However, any time you are shopping on Craigslist San Jose Costa Rica, you will be ensured of a fair and honest deal. Whether you are looking to buy discounted plane tickets from someone, or vouchers for a hotel room, you should need pay for anything in advance. Either set up a “cash on delivery” deal or meet the buyer in person and exchange that way.
Also, when meeting people in person, you want to bring someone along with you, in the event that you are walking into some kind of trap.
Avoid Broken Taxi Meters
This scam can happen just about anywhere in the world and it is something that travelers need to be aware of. A lot of cab drivers near airports, train stations, and bus depots will pretend that their meter is broken. When you finally arrive at your destination, the driver will try to charge you a ridiculous amount of money. The best way to avoid this type of scam is to ensure that the meter is working before you even step in the cab. You can also negotiate the price of the trip beforehand.
Avoid Local Offering Photos
If you are taking your dream vacation, it is likely that you will want to document it in every way possible. This might mean snapping lots of photos with your smartphone or brand new camera. Of course, it can be hard to shots of the whole family without someone to take the shots. It is likely that when you are at popular tourist destinations or landmarks, locals might approach and ask if they can take your picture. Of course, their main objective is to run off with your smartphone or a new camera.
The best way to avoid this situation is to never hand any of your personal belongings over to locals. This doesn’t mean that they aren’t all trustworthy, but it is best not to put yourself in a situation like this.
Try To Avoid Fake Wi-Fi Hubs
Wi-Fi is without a doubt a useful tool to take advantage of when traveling. You can check out tourist’s spots, your banking information, and even book outings. However, you need to be very careful when taking advantage of Wi-Fi hotspots while on vacation. Hackers are often times known to setup unsecured connection in public locations, which will give them access to all your information. The best way to avoid this is to only use the Wi-Fi available at the hotel.
