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5 common tourist scams in 2024

Posted on by darion

Holiday booking scams are common these days, but remember not to let your guard down when you arrive in a foreign country.

We asked travelers to share their experiences to help you stay alert to the latest tricks. Unscrupulous taxi drivers have long overcharged unsuspecting tourists, but did you know that even booking through an app can put you in danger?

And pickpockets are constantly coming up with new tactics to distract you from your belongings. Forewarned is forearmed, so read on to avoid becoming a victim and out of pocket on your next escape.

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1. Abroad taxi scams and apps

Dishonest taxi drivers scamming tourists by taking unnecessarily long routes or claiming the meter is faulty in order to charge inflated prices is an ongoing problem in some locations, and a good way to avoid this is to book in advance via the app. However, this is not foolproof.

Which? member Corinne used the app to book a taxi in Italy. Both tours were canceled via email with the promise that the deposit (half the ticket price) would be refunded within nine days. This was not the case and the company ignored all of her attempts to contact her. Eventually, when she returned home, Corinne received a refund from her credit card company.

Ride-hailing apps like Uber or Lyft will be safer than using a local app you may not be familiar with, and they’ll also offer transparent pricing. In some cities, airport taxi companies are regulated, but if you are unsure, do not use an airport taxi, especially away from official stands. If you have no other option, use a navigation app to check distances and look for an approximate fare, then agree on a price in advance.

See Article 75 of the Consumer Credit Act if you paid for a service that you did not receive by credit card. If you have lost more than £100 you may be able to get your money back like Corrine above.

2. Fake currency exchange

Our travel editor Rory Boland almost fell for the Warsaw airport scam, which is now increasingly difficult to detect and many of us rarely use cash these days.

While waiting to check in for a flight to London, he was approached by a man who wanted to exchange 20 £1 coins for a £20 note. The local stranger spoke perfect English and told a credible story about how he had recently returned from the UK and was unable to exchange coins at a currency exchange office in Poland; it wasn’t until Rory picked up the coins and felt their weight that he realized they were fake. It would be easy to miss it.

Never exchange money outside official banks or currency exchange offices – stop to count how much you have received to avoid shortfalls.

3. Scam in a closed hotel

Which? Travel writer Jo Rhodes was understandably skeptical when a taxi driver in Marrakech found the hotel she had booked was closed. Travelers may also be informed that their chosen hotel is overcrowded, dirty or in an unsafe area, and a “helpful” driver offers them an alternative. There, the driver will receive a commission from the hotel manager for running the new business.

Ignore the high pressure tactics and call the hotel directly to confirm your reservation. Be firm and do not change your plans unless you check the situation yourself. If necessary and safe, get out of your car and find an alternative way to get to your accommodation.

4. Menu and your mobile phone

Theft is another common danger when traveling, and perpetrators are constantly coming up with new ways to distract you from your belongings. Margaret was almost caught at a café in Madrid when a young girl placed a menu from another restaurant on her table. Margaret told us: “When we said we weren’t interested, she took the menu and my phone! I wasn’t actually robbed, but I would have been if my husband hadn’t seen what was happening. Lesson learned.

Remember to keep valuables out of sight and avoid wearing expensive watches and jewelry. Always be wary of strangers who try to distract you from your belongings or away from public places. Avoid carrying too much cash when purchasing a Prepaid or no-fee debit card for use abroad. You should also never carry more currency than is covered by your travel insurance policy.

See best travel insurance companies and policies recommended by our experts

5. Before you go: apply for a follower visa

We have informed several times about fraudsters who targeted people applying for exemption from ESTA visas to the USA and visas to other countries. These can be outright scams where you pay for a service through a website but never receive your ESTA, or websites that “help” you get a visa but at a greatly inflated price.

Which? member Kate revealed how her elderly parents were bitten when she applied for a tourist visa to Canada. She explained: “They clicked on the top link on Google which looked like a government link and cost £70 each.” In fact, issuing an eTA (electronic travel authorization) through official channels costs less than £4. Kate’s parents quickly realized their mistake and canceled the credit card so as not to fall victim to another scam.

There is likely to be an increase in the number of websites targeting UK residents who: must apply for an ETIAS visa exemption to be able to visit the EU from next year.

Please check the URL carefully to make sure you are using the official website – most can be accessed via gov.uk. This also helps with Google processing fees so you never overpay. See our advice on how to spot a copycat website and what to do if you get caught.