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Loading ...HOLIDAY SCAMS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
Most of us recognise a scam on the Internet. We are prepared for them and generally avoid them. Emails saying we have won a holiday or a vast amount of money when we know for a fact we haven’t entered a competition or the email telling you how to earn an extra couple of thousand a month for next to no work.
But in real life it can be more difficult and unexpected. Here are some of the scams currently occurring around the world:
1. A telephone call informs you that you have won a cheap trip to Florida or the Bahamas. For say $500 you get a $2000 holiday. Just give us your card details and we will arrange the rest.
Of course do not give them your card details. They will take the full value of the holiday without your consent and you will almost never get them to give the money back. Your card company won’t help you because you gave your card details to someone you didn’t know and couldn’t see.
2. Bogus travel companies. If you are offered extremely cheap holidays beware. Some companies are set up, sell loads of holidays then close down, pocketing the money.
Book your holiday with a reputable travel agent, hotel or airline. Make sure they are registered and also make sure your insurance covers you if any part of your holiday does fail to be delivered.
3. The next scam took place in Shanghai. At two in the morning the phone rings in your hotel room. Reception are trying to process your credit card but are having problems so could you please bring it down to the desk. You say it is two in the morning, they say okay just give us the details over the phone.
Again don’t give your details to someone you don’t know and can’t see. Hang up and ring reception to check it out. If there is a genuine problem tell them you will deal with it in person in the morning. At least then if there is a problem you can point out the culprit to the local police. Also check your credit card statement carefully after foreign holidays.
4. Exchanging money. You need cash and the banks are closed so you look for a currency exchange booth. You find a sidewalk booth and change your money. There is a disturbance and you do not carefully check the money you have received or open the envelope it is in.
Never change money at anything other than a fixed booth. This means a permanent structure not a bamboo hut, market stall or a man with a suitcase full of cash. Go in pairs to change money so one can count while the other deals with distractions. If money is already in envelopes, open them and check thoroughly. Some have been found to contain cut up paper.
5. Being drugged. Your new found friends drug your drink and make off with all you possess. This is quite old hat. The new scam is to put burundanga (similar to Rohypnol) on pamphlets then hand them out to foreign tourists.You take the drug in through your skin. This has been happening in Venezuela.
It is better to go clubbing in groups or pairs of people that you know. If you are being bought a drink chose a bottled drink and watch it being served. Have the cap removed in front of you. Keep your eye on your drink. With regard to pamphlets, simply don’t take them from strangers.
6. Unlicensed taxis. You arrive tired at your destination and there is a long queue so you go for the guy with an unlicensed cab. The least of your worries in this situation is that you will be overcharged.
Never get in unlicensed taxis.
7. At the Airport Conveyor Belt. You put your things on the conveyor belt. The guy behind is in a big hurry and pushes past you but then he gets held up at the metal detector with change and numerous keys. You wait patiently. But, the guy in a hurry has an accomplice who makes off with your stuff from the conveyor belt.
This unfortunately does happen frequently. So watch your stuff, don’t let people barge in front of you and follow the advice in a previous article, buy cheap and cheerful luggage. The more expensive and tasteful your luggage the more likely it is to be targeted.
8. Scams in general. Anyone offering to make you big money while on holiday whether for carrying a package or pretending to be injured to claim the insurance should ring some alarm bells with you.
Steer clear of them and their scams, especially any that require you to part with any money.
Probably 95% of people have a trouble free holiday. We want you to be in that percentage. We want you to have a great holiday and to relax and enjoy yourself but that doesn’t mean relaxing so much that your guard is completely down. So read the article and be prepared and informed so you can have a great, trouble free vacation.
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