Despite the fact that 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 dwelling has modified over time, one factor about journey has remained fixed: there’s all the time 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 all the time be somebody attempting to take your cash.
It is an unlucky actuality of journey (and life, truthfully). However the excellent news is that we’ve got simple methods to speak now, and we are able to warn each other about what sort of scams to look out for!
In 2026, listed below are the most important journey scams you may need to maintain an eye fixed out for, from resort reserving scams to taxi scams and all the things 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 greatest journey scams it is advisable learn about
These scams cowl each pre-trip scams and scams to look out for when you’re in your journey. You could 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 finest to know what to look out for.
1. Condominium catfishing
A typical pre-trip rip-off nowadays is “catfishing” folks about lodging, and particularly trip leases. These scams are taking place essentially the most typically on websites like Airbnb or Vrbo, the place the condo proprietor uploads very nice pictures into an inventory for a spot which may not even exist.
In the event you’re fortunate, you would possibly simply get catfished by outdated or closely edited pictures of the right condo that made it look loads nicer than it truly is. However this rip-off typically 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 condo or home (suppose: a plumbing leak, an influence subject, some kind of emergency upkeep, and many others.). The proprietor or supervisor can be very apologetic, however will fortunately have one other condo free that you may keep at as an alternative. This one can be previous, soiled, and nothing in any respect just like the one you booked — however for those who do not need to settle for it, then it’s going to be on you to cope with Airbnb and discover elsewhere to remain last-minute.
Methods to keep away from it: You need to do a little bit of your personal analysis and belief your intestine if you are going to ebook flats by way of websites like Airbnb. You need to search for flats with critiques from actual folks (the extra the higher), hosts with expertise (with actual pictures and information about them; I attempt to solely use Superhosts), and loads of itemizing pictures 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 fee off-platform, which is a big pink flag), it is advisable discover one thing else!
This may completely occur on different reserving platforms, too, however is much less more likely to occur with established lodges or properties with a number of critiques.
2. Reserving textual content fee rip-off
This subsequent pre-trip rip-off is a really particular one, however I’ve had it tried on me, so I need to embrace it! This can be a newer one which to this point I’ve solely heard taking place by way of Reserving.com, nevertheless it might technically occur relating to any reserving you would possibly make.
I ebook lots of my lodges by way of Reserving.com (I get a loyalty low cost, and discover their critiques useful), and have by no means had any points. However then final yr I booked a vacation condo in Como, Italy, months prematurely for a visit to the Italian Grand Prix F1 race — and bought scam-targeted over it!
A number of weeks after I booked, I bought some messages *by way of WhatsApp* from somebody claiming to be the proprietor of the rental firm I would booked with. The message talked about a difficulty with my fee card, and offered me with a hyperlink to re-enter my bank card information together with a risk that if I did not re-enter all this information instantly, they have been going to cancel my reserving.
There have been pink flags about this message straight away, together with some poor English, the truth that they’d reached out by way of WhatsApp as an alternative of by way of 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 might have been hacked, and to make sure that my reserving was certainly nonetheless on the books (it was).
I later discovered that this can be a entire factor now, and apparently Reserving.com hasn’t accomplished a lot about it.
Methods to keep away from it: Clearly by no means present bank card information by way of 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 outdoors of the location/app and its official messaging characteristic (until I’ve already checked in, or have given a resort worker the okay to textual content me elsewhere).
3. Visa service scams
This one positively shouldn’t be new, nevertheless it definitely is simpler than ever to fall for a visa rip-off due to horrible search outcomes, undisclosed advertisements, and AI slop all around the web.
Getting folks to pay a bit further to make use of a visa “service” to acquire journey visas has been round for a very long time; and in some circumstances it would possibly nonetheless be helpful for difficult or time-intensive visas. However the days of needing to mail your passport away with tons of paperwork for fundamental journey visas is generally over; nowadays, 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 almost all vacationers must enter the UK as of 2025. This ETA is a fast on-line type it is advisable fill out a pair days earlier than a UK journey, and solely prices £16 and is sweet 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 prime of what the ETA truly prices.
For the essential ETA that most individuals want, there’s completely zero purpose you would wish extra “skilled” assist.
Methods to keep away from it: If you’re on the lookout for journey visa information, you need to search for the official authorities website, all the time. And be very cautious, as a result of typically search outcomes may be deceptive upon first look! (For the UK ETA, the location 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 all the time a good suggestion to lookup 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 whenever you get in!), or claiming to not take bank card funds even when they’re legally required to.
As of late it is also actually vital 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 an alternative, or use an app to name a automobile.
Methods to keep away from it: In the event you plan to make use of an airport taxi (the most probably spot to get scammed), you’ll want to do a fast seek for typical taxi costs so you understand what you have 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 typically. This “rip-off” may 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 typically simply seize your arm and tie one round your wrist for those who’re not paying consideration. They’re going to be very nice till you attempt to stroll away — at which level they may demand you pay them for the bracelet.
Typically 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 shocked him by telling him to “get your fucking fingers off me.”
Related scams occur in different international locations, too. In Morocco, for instance, it’s a must to be careful for all kinds of scams in Jemaa el-Fnaa in Marrakech, together with the “Henna Girls” who will seize your hand and simply begin drawing (unhealthy) henna on it earlier than demanding fee; 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.
Methods to keep away from it: Simply keep conscious in crowded vacationer spots in main cities (which you have 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 may often spot these kinds of individuals in crowds since they’re typically carrying tons of bracelets or roses or, you understand, 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 — typically younger girls, typically teenagers — will fan out in entrance of well-liked vacationer points of interest (the Eiffel Tower and Louvre are well-liked spots for them in Paris) armed with clipboards. They may strategy you, ask for those who converse 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 would possibly declare they’re deaf or do not converse English (although the paper they present you is in English).
These individuals are NOT working for any kind of charity. They’re going to 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.”
Methods 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 maintain an in depth maintain in your valuables like your cellphone and pockets. Do not assume that one “no” can be sufficient, although, as they’re going to typically circle again later for those who’re nonetheless in the identical spot.
RELATED: Methods to Hold Your Cash and Valuables Protected Whereas Touring
7. “It is closed right now” rip-off
This rip-off was actually well-liked in Southeast Asia once I went backpacking there — and it is nonetheless going sturdy! The way in which it really works is that you will arrive someplace like a royal palace or well-known temple, and there can be somebody sitting close to the doorway who will let you know the place is “closed.” After which they may conveniently provide to take you sightseeing elsewhere.
These scams aren’t fully horrible, as typically they will truly take you sightseeing for those who agree — however after all they’re going to anticipate fee (and should overcharge you), and so they may also cease and attempt to make you store someplace owned by a buddy or member of the family. Plus, the place you wished to go to may be very probably not closed in any respect, and you should have missed out on visiting it.
Methods 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 need 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”
Just like the merchandise above, you could run into “useful” locals in your travels. Locals who would possibly provide that will help you navigate by way of the medina in Marrakech, or get you a superb charge on a ship tour in Bangkok, or take you to a retailer with “higher” costs than the one you initially wished to go to.
These individuals 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 swap. In some circumstances, it may not be the worst factor — like, for those who’re actually misplaced in a medina in Morocco, you would possibly fortunately pay somebody that will help you discover your manner out! — however more often than not you may in all probability go away feeling such as you have been taken benefit of.
Methods to keep away from it: I do not need you to fully keep away from all interplay with strangers, as a result of strangers may be the best folks to satisfy whenever 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 is perhaps a rip-off, or no less than a manner 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 individual will stumble upon you and “spill” one thing on you. After which one other individual 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 who put some kind 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 does not belief anybody and did not fall for it.
Methods to keep away from it: Once more, simply be tremendous conscious of your environment and do not have something beneficial in a pocket or bag that’s simply accessible. And clearly by no means agree to go away your group or go someplace like a restroom with a stranger!
Bonus: Foreign money conversion rip-offs
This one is not essentially a rip-off perpetrated by particular person folks, nevertheless it positively 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 in the case of changing cash.
There are set charges in the case of forex conversion, however each firm providing cash altering providers will cost a charge on prime of the flat alternate charge — and a few are extra aggressive with their charges than others.
Methods to keep away from it: Three issues to keep away from in the case of altering and spending cash overseas:
- Keep away from the forex alternate counters inside airports. They notoriously provide the bottom charge and cost the very best charges. Solely use them as a final resort!
- Except you’re ordering forex out of your financial institution earlier than a visit, get cash from an ATM when you may — and use an ATM connected to an area financial institution and never a type of “Euronet” ATMs. Financial institution ATMs will provide essentially the most favorable alternate charges. (In the event you want to alternate 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). In the event you get the pop-up display screen asking if you would like to be charged in your forex or the native forex, all the time select the native forex! You may get the perfect charges this manner.
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 typically simply understanding what to be careful for could make all of the distinction in the case of 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 international locations on 6 continents from her dwelling base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey by way of the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares ideas based mostly on her private experiences and locations she’s truly traveled!