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No matter how smart you are, you can easily become a target of scammers when you are traveling. The most important thing is to be alert at all times. Some of the most common ways that people trick tourists are given here. Being aware of these tricks will keep you out of trouble in a majority of cases.Shopping scams: If you are buying a local specialty item, conduct a thorough research. Find out from the locals where the best place to buy the particular product is. Many a time, tourists purchase fake antiques and gemstones, paying exorbitant sums of money for them.
- Sacred scams: In many religious places, you may be approached by sadhus, or religious men. These men tell you that they will perform some sacred rituals for you, which will bring you luck. These scams are particularly common in some religious towns of India.
- Fake cops: You might be approached by people posing as cops. They will try to harass you and ask you for your identification. If you refuse, they will ask to check your wallets. In the process, you might end up getting robbed. If you are ever approached by any such person, tell them to take you to the police station. The scam artist will bolt off at the next opportunity.
- Taxi drivers tend to fleece unsuspecting tourists a lot. When you get in a cab, ensure that the meter is set to zero. If the driver refuses to turn the meter on, look for another cab. The best option is to look for licensed cabs.
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