Don’t Fall for These Journey Scams on Your Subsequent Journey
Although the way in which we plan journey, the way in which we find out about locations, and even the way in which we share and speak about our journeys after we come residence has modified through the years, one factor about journey has remained fixed: there’s at all times been somebody on the market attempting to rip-off us.
Sure, the journey rip-off has been round so long as tourism has. And although the forms of scams have advanced, the essential premise has by no means modified; there’ll at all times be somebody attempting to take your cash.
It is an unlucky actuality of journey (and life, truthfully). However the excellent news is that we now have straightforward methods to speak now, and we are able to warn each other about what sort of scams to look out for!
In 2026, listed here are the most important journey scams you may wish to hold an eye fixed out for, from lodge reserving scams to taxi scams and every thing in between. (I am additionally together with some widespread methods pickpockets attempt to goal vacationers, as these are sometimes within the type of scammy habits, too!)
10 largest journey scams that you must learn about
These scams cowl each pre-trip scams and scams to look out for when you’re in your journey. Chances are you’ll encounter a number of of those, or none in any respect! However even for those who’re by no means focused by a scammer, it is nonetheless greatest to know what to look out for.
1. Condominium catfishing
A standard pre-trip rip-off lately is “catfishing” folks about lodging, and particularly trip leases. These scams are taking place essentially the most usually on websites like Airbnb or Vrbo, the place the condominium proprietor uploads very nice images into a list for a spot which may not even exist.
For those who’re fortunate, you may simply get catfished by outdated or closely edited images of the proper condominium that made it look loads nicer than it truly is. However this rip-off usually goes loads additional.
Within the final rental catfish rip-off, you may often get a message a day or two earlier than your keep (or perhaps even on the day you are speculated to test in) about there being a difficulty with the condominium or home (suppose: a plumbing leak, an influence concern, some type of emergency upkeep, and so forth.). The proprietor or supervisor will likely be very apologetic, however will fortunately have one other condominium free that you would be able to keep at as a substitute. This one will likely be outdated, soiled, and nothing in any respect just like the one you booked — however for those who do not wish to settle for it, then it’s going to be on you to cope with Airbnb and discover elsewhere to remain last-minute.
Find out how to keep away from it: It’s important to do a little bit of your individual analysis and belief your intestine if you are going to guide residences via websites like Airbnb. You wish to search for residences with opinions from actual folks (the extra the higher), hosts with expertise (with actual images and data about them; I attempt to solely use Superhosts), and loads of itemizing images that do not seem like AI. And if something in any respect shady occurs through the reserving course of (together with the host asking you to make a cost off-platform, which is a large purple flag), that you must discover one thing else!
This will completely occur on different reserving platforms, too, however is much less more likely to occur with established inns or properties with a number of opinions.
2. Reserving textual content cost rip-off
This subsequent pre-trip rip-off is a really particular one, however I’ve had it tried on me, so I wish to embrace it! This can be a newer one which to this point I’ve solely heard taking place via Reserving.com, nevertheless it may technically occur relating to any reserving you may make.
I guide lots of my inns via Reserving.com (I get a loyalty low cost, and discover their opinions useful), and have by no means had any points. However then final yr I booked a vacation condominium in Como, Italy, months upfront for a visit to the Italian Grand Prix F1 race — and received scam-targeted over it!
A number of weeks after I booked, I received some messages *through WhatsApp* from somebody claiming to be the proprietor of the rental firm I would booked with. The message talked about a difficulty with my cost card, and supplied me with a hyperlink to re-enter my bank card data together with a risk that if I did not re-enter all this data instantly, they have been going to cancel my reserving.
There have been purple flags about this message straight away, together with some poor English, the truth that they’d reached out through WhatsApp as a substitute of via Reserving.com, and — largely damning — the truth that their displayed cellphone quantity was from India. I instantly clocked it as a rip-off and reached out to the precise proprietor to allow them to know that they could have been hacked, and to make sure that my reserving was certainly nonetheless on the books (it was).
I later discovered that it is a entire factor now, and apparently Reserving.com hasn’t finished a lot about it.
Find out how to keep away from it: Clearly by no means present bank card data via a WhatsApp message; I truly will not even click on hyperlinks in WhatsApp and even an e mail until I do know for certain who despatched it to me. With regards to Reserving.com, I do not do any speaking in any respect exterior of the positioning/app and its official messaging characteristic (until I’ve already checked in, or have given a lodge worker the okay to textual content me elsewhere).
3. Visa service scams
This one undoubtedly isn’t new, nevertheless it actually is less complicated than ever to fall for a visa rip-off because of horrible search outcomes, undisclosed adverts, and AI slop all around the web.
Getting folks to pay just a little additional to make use of a visa “service” to acquire journey visas has been round for a very long time; and in some circumstances it may nonetheless be helpful for tough or time-intensive visas. However the days of needing to mail your passport away with tons of paperwork for fundamental journey visas is usually over; lately, you are able to do the overwhelming majority of this your self on-line for those who’re from the US, Canada, UK, or Australia (which most of my viewers is).
The latest instance I can share of that is the brand new ETA (Digital Journey Authorization) that the majority vacationers have to enter the UK as of 2025. This ETA is a fast on-line kind that you must fill out a pair days earlier than a UK journey, and solely prices £16 and is nice for two years. However for those who do a Google seek for “UK ETA,” the primary couple search outcomes will take you to web sites which can be going to cost you a charge to make use of their visa “service” on high of what the ETA truly prices.
For the essential ETA that most individuals want, there’s completely zero cause you would wish extra “professional” assist.
Find out how to keep away from it: Whenever you’re on the lookout for journey visa data, you wish to search for the official authorities web site, at all times. And be very cautious, as a result of generally search outcomes might be deceptive upon first look! (For the UK ETA, the positioning you need is https://www.gov.uk/eta/apply, by the way in which!)
4. Taxi scams
I feel taxi scams have been round about so long as the idea of taxis, so it is at all times a good suggestion to search for the most typical taxi scams within the vacation spot you are headed to.
Typically talking, the most typical scams revolve round overcharging vacationers, whether or not it is quoting incorrect costs, “forgetting” to show the meter on (insist on this if you get in!), or claiming to not take bank card funds even when they’re legally required to.
Today it is also actually necessary to ONLY get into official taxis. All these guys hanging out contained in the airport arrivals corridor asking for those who want a taxi? Yeah, ignore these guys and discover the official taxi stand as a substitute, or use an app to name a automobile.
Find out how to keep away from it: For those who plan to make use of an airport taxi (the most definitely spot to get scammed), be sure you do a fast seek for typical taxi costs so you already know what you need to be paying — in some circumstances, airport taxi charges are literally a set, flat quantity! Or, pre-book an airport pickup utilizing an organization like Welcome Pickups.
5. The bracelet rip-off
That is one I actually, actually hate as it may be actually aggressive generally. This “rip-off” might be discovered throughout massive cities in western Europe, particularly in Italy and France (I’ve personally seen it in Paris, Milan, and Florence).
The rip-off is often perpetrated by two or extra males armed with handfuls of woven bracelets (suppose: old style friendship bracelets) in very busy/crowded vacationer areas. A person will strategy you and both give you a bracelet, or generally simply seize your arm and tie one round your wrist for those who’re not paying consideration. They will be very nice till you attempt to stroll away — at which level they are going to demand you pay them for the bracelet.
Generally this rip-off is completed with totally different gadgets (like roses, particularly in Italy), however the bracelets are actually widespread. Additionally, they’re going to goal each men and women!
A few years in the past I had one in all these males seize at me in entrance of Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre in Paris, and I feel I stunned him by telling him to “get your fucking fingers off me.”
Comparable scams occur in different nations, too. In Morocco, for instance, you need to be careful for all kinds of scams in Jemaa el-Fnaa in Marrakech, together with the “Henna Women” who will seize your hand and simply begin drawing (dangerous) henna on it earlier than demanding cost; and the boys strolling round with issues like monkeys who will stroll as much as you and put the animal in your shoulder after which demand cash so that you can take a photograph.
Find out how to keep away from it: Simply keep conscious in crowded vacationer spots in main cities (which you need to be doing anyway!), and by no means take ANYthing somebody tries at hand you; it is by no means going to be free. You’ll be able to often spot these kinds of individuals in crowds since they’re usually carrying tons of bracelets or roses or, you already know, monkeys, so simply steer clear for those who see them.
6. Petition scams
One other one to look out for particularly in massive European cities like Paris is the petition rip-off. Teams of younger folks — usually younger ladies, generally teenagers — will fan out in entrance of fashionable vacationer points of interest (the Eiffel Tower and Louvre are fashionable spots for them in Paris) armed with clipboards. They are going to strategy you, ask for those who communicate English, after which level to no matter is on their clipboard; it is often a bit of paper saying they’re gathering donations for a charity, and so they may declare they’re deaf or do not communicate English (although the paper they present you is in English).
These persons are NOT working for any type of charity. They will attempt to get you to signal your identify after which give them a money “donation.” However be very cautious, as a result of I’ve additionally witnessed them pickpocket folks after they’re distracted and signing the “petition.”
Find out how to keep away from it: Simply keep away from the clipboard folks altogether. In the event that they strategy you, be very agency in saying no (I like to inform them I do know what they’re as much as), and hold a detailed maintain in your valuables like your cellphone and pockets. Do not assume that one “no” will likely be sufficient, although, as they’re going to usually circle again later for those who’re nonetheless in the identical spot.
RELATED: Find out how to Preserve Your Cash and Valuables Protected Whereas Touring
7. “It is closed right this moment” rip-off
This rip-off was actually fashionable in Southeast Asia once I went backpacking there — and it is nonetheless going robust! The way in which it really works is that you will arrive someplace like a royal palace or well-known temple, and there will likely be somebody sitting close to the doorway who will inform you the place is “closed.” After which they are going to conveniently provide to take you sightseeing elsewhere.
These scams aren’t fully horrible, as usually they will truly take you sightseeing for those who agree — however after all they’re going to anticipate cost (and should overcharge you), and so they may also cease and attempt to make you store someplace owned by a pal or member of the family. Plus, the place you needed to go to could be very seemingly not closed in any respect, and you should have missed out on visiting it.
Find out how to keep away from it: Do a fast test on-line earlier than you set out for the day to verify the palace or temple or museum you wish to go to is certainly open. And if somebody is claiming one thing is closed when it ought to be open, you may completely go and test the precise entrance your self.
8. The “useful native”
Much like the merchandise above, chances are you’ll run into “useful” locals in your travels. Locals who may provide that will help you navigate via the medina in Marrakech, or get you an excellent charge on a ship tour in Bangkok, or take you to a retailer with “higher” costs than the one you initially needed to go to.
These persons are in all probability simply attempting to get cash out of you, whether or not by simply asking for it, by overcharging you, by getting a kickback from wherever they take you, or by doing a bait and change. In some circumstances, it won’t be the worst factor — like, for those who’re actually misplaced in a medina in Morocco, you may fortunately pay somebody that will help you discover your approach out! — however more often than not you may in all probability depart feeling such as you have been taken benefit of.
Find out how to keep away from it: I do not need you to fully keep away from all interplay with strangers, as a result of strangers might be the good folks to fulfill if you journey! And never eachone is attempting to tear you off. Simply remember the fact that if somebody is providing to take you someplace or promote you one thing for a “nice deal,” it could be a rip-off, or no less than a approach for them to ask you for cash.
On the finish of the day, although, for those who fall for a rip-off and are solely scammed out of the equal of some {dollars}, do not sweat it an excessive amount of and attempt to let it go. They would not be such widespread scams if folks by no means fell for them.
9. Having one thing spilled on you
My dad was truly focused with this one in Quito, Ecuador! It often occurs in crowded areas the place vacationers are, and I’ve heard about it most in South America.
The scammers often work in groups or small teams; one particular person will stumble upon you and “spill” one thing on you. After which one other particular person will come up and faux that will help you clear up — however they’re going to truly be attempting to pickpocket you. In my dad’s case, we did not even see the one that put some type of liquid on the again of his jacket, however he had no less than two totally different males level it out and provide to go together with him to the restroom to “assist” him clear it off. Fortunately, my dad would not belief anybody and did not fall for it.
Find out how to keep away from it: Once more, simply be tremendous conscious of your environment and haven’t got something helpful in a pocket or bag that’s simply accessible. And clearly by no means agree to depart your group or go someplace like a restroom with a stranger!
Bonus: Forex conversion rip-offs
This one is not essentially a rip-off perpetrated by particular person folks, nevertheless it undoubtedly does goal vacationers and their cash. And it is all of the ways in which totally different establishments and companies will attempt to rip you off with regards to changing cash.
There are set charges with regards to forex conversion, however each firm providing cash altering companies will cost a charge on high of the flat trade charge — and a few are extra aggressive with their charges than others.
Find out how to keep away from it: Three issues to keep away from with regards to altering and spending cash overseas:
- Keep away from the forex trade counters inside airports. They notoriously provide the bottom charge and cost the very best charges. Solely use them as a final resort!
- Except you might be ordering forex out of your financial institution earlier than a visit, get cash from an ATM when you may — and use an ATM hooked up to an area financial institution and never a type of “Euronet” ATMs. Financial institution ATMs will provide essentially the most favorable trade charges. (For those who want to trade money, native banks are additionally the perfect spot to seek out favorable charges.)
- Don’t let the ATM or a bank card machine cost you in USD (or no matter your house forex is). For those who get the pop-up display screen asking if you would like to be charged in your forex or the native forex, at all times select the native forex! You will get the perfect charges this fashion.
I do not want any of those scams upon you, however for those who’ve learn this far, no less than you are conscious of all of them now! And generally simply understanding what to be careful for could make all of the distinction with regards to avoiding falling sufferer to a journey rip-off.
Have you ever ever been scammed whereas touring?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 nations on 6 continents from her residence base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey via the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares ideas based mostly on her private experiences and locations she’s truly traveled!