According to the ONS, around four million ventured overseas in December 2023. Unfortunately, this also opens the door to numerous scams designed to exploit travellers.
This usually involves extorting or stealing in some way, which can be a huge risk for .
Particularly during the Christmas period when money is often tighter.
Kayla Anzalone, director of marketing for student travel company has offered her tips to help travellers recognise and avoid some of the most common scams.
One of them being fake booking websites which are often harder to spot. Others involve targeting tourists in the street on holiday, including pickpockets, free gifts and scammers posing as friendly strangers.
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Be aware of taxis overcharging (Image: Getty)
Taxi overcharging scams
Many tourists have fallen prey to taxi drivers who charge far too much money for their services. They may have a meter that goes up too quickly or attempt to negotiate a rate without one. Knowing how much your journey should cost will give you an advantage.
There is also the possibility of being tricked by an unlicensed taxi, which may look legitimate but might not have a meter or have been safety approved. They could charge you even more money for your journey or take you somewhere unintended.
Ask your hotel staff or the official tourist board to order a taxi, since they will know which companies are legitimate. Travellers should also avoid getting into any unlicensed taxis and ask to be pulled over if the charge rate seems strange. Finally, agree on a rate for the journey in advance if the price seems reasonable to avoid any large surprise bills.
Pickpocket scams
Tourists are often targeted by thieves working alone or as part of a team, especially in busy areas with a high crime rate. They assume travellers will be more vulnerable, easier to trick, and will be carrying money or expensive items directly on their person.
Distractions can involve being knocked into and given help in collecting a traveller’s items, being brought into a conversation whilst another person steals from someone, or watching a nearby attraction or show while thieves steal from onlookers.
Keep valuable items locked away in the hotel and know that thieves are most likely to target outside pockets or carried bags. Invest in equipment with anti-theft protection, such as locks and concealed compartments, and be wary of sudden physical contact.
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Make sure to check if the booking website is legitimate (Image: Getty)
Fake booking scams
When booking for an upcoming holiday, be on the lookout for a variety of online scams that may try to trick individuals. There may be fake deals for hotels, flights, and holiday packages offered over social media or directly via email that are too good to be true.
Similarly, travellers may encounter emails referring to fake cancellations or be brought onto a sophisticated clone of an intended website to input your banking details. This is designed to make you hand over unnecessary money or steal important information.
Individuals should always check the address of any website they are directed to and see whether it looks accurate, as well as avoid clicking any links. Search the hotel or airline directly to determine whether the deals are legitimate or too good to be true.
Free gift scams
This scam involves being approached by a seemingly friendly individual and either being offered or forcefully given a bracelet, a hat, or some form of ‘free gift.’ They will then request money for it and cause a scene to make you pay and avoid embarrassment.
A similar method involves having someone offer to take your photograph and then ask for payment. This is why you should be wary of anyone giving you something for free and be strong enough to walk away from a situation instead of feeling pressured to pay up.
Some deals often seem too good to be true (Image: Getty)
Wrong change scams
Make sure travellers know the local currency and take the time to count out any change, because some people may try to give you the wrong money back or even withhold the expected change completely. They hope tourists will be in a rush and not look properly.
This is common in countries with lots of similar looking notes, or places where individuals can be easily distracted during the payment process. They may even hand someone a pile of change and expect they will assume that the amount of money given back is correct.
Do not feel embarrassed about ensuring someone has the right money returned to them, even if they try to hurry individuals due to a long queue. It is also valuable to be informed on the different coins and bills beforehand so you can see if someone is being shortchanged.
Friendly stranger scams
Whilst there may be some individuals who are genuinely helpful, many scammers will try to lure them into a false sense of security. They usually approach someone on the street and attempt to lead them somewhere or ask you to help with paying for something expected.
This can take many different forms, such as an attractive individual bringing someone to a bar or restaurant with the intention of creating a massive bill and leaving them to pay, or a local person leading an individual somewhere with expensive items to pressure them into buying.
Be cautious when someone approaches and question why they would be coming to someone for help or to offer something nice unless they had an ulterior motive. Travellers should continue with their day and be firm enough to tell them no, even if they keep insisting.