Travel Scams that Even the Smartest Tourist Must Watch For

The overwhelming growth in the number of tourists around the world comes with bigger possibility of travels scams and modus operandi - from stealing your luggage and other valuables to offering you overpriced commodities and transportation fees. These scams will surely play you as a fool and thereafter ruin your whole trip which you have dreamt of for years.

Some people may say that they already known how to outsmart the scammers that they might encounter during their travel. But what if the scammers have already thought of other ways to improve their methods of tricking travellers? Here are some of the travel scams that even the smartest tourist must watch for.

Bait fares. There are travel agency websites which pay for advertisements promoting airfare sales and "cheaper" airline promos. Once you click the button and sign-up, you be asked by your bank account number right away for the immediate payment of the said fee. The site will also say that reservations are only limited and the offer only runs for a certain period of time only.

However, upon checking other websites for the airfares of the same flight you reserved for, you will be surprised to see that the standard airfare is actually lower than that of the discounted one you paid for.

Broken Taxi Meter. Often times, travellers who go on a trip outside their home country are the targets of this scam. This actually happens in airports where the only means of transportation for passengers are cabs, not unless they have rented a private car prior to their arrival at their travel destination. When you get inside the taxi, the driver will ask you to where you intend to go.

Thereafter, when you are already settled at the back seat and he is about to start driving, the taxi driver will tell you that his taxi meter is broken and will ask you to pay for a certain amount of money.

To make the trick more realistic, the taxi driver will even give a "discount". When in fact, the "discounted" rate offered to you by the cab driver is actually doubled or even tripled to the prevailing taxi rate in that country.

Fake Government Websites. Some travellers do research and advance bookings online before their scheduled trip. From airline bookings, hotels and lodges, tour guides, attraction tickets for museums and other tourist destinations, restaurants reservations, and everything that will give you a less-hassle tour. But nowadays, even government websites are also faked by scammers.

According to Independent, sites used for scam will give you access to the same legit sites but are definitely not related to the government. They will offer you hassle-free options such as online visa application with overrated fees.

Fake Wi-Fi Spots

Travellers who fly miles for their trip are always excited to share their experience to their family and friends. And nowadays, the best and easiest way to do it is through posting it to your social media account or email. That is what makes Wi-Fi spots click not just for tourists but for locals, as well.

There are places and establishments that offer free Wi-Fi connections. All you need to do is to sign-up of enter details which may be required by the administrator. They tend to collect your private information without you even noticing it. Beware! The information you are about to provide might be the scammers' way to breach all your personal accounts and worse, drain your bank accounts.

According to Expert Vagabond, it is practically impossible to determine when you will be scammed. But at the end of the day, you must be aware to what kind of scams exists so that can prepare yourself to the possibility of encountering some of these modus operandis during your dream travel.