If you travel, they will scam. It’s unavoidable. Wherever you go, you will encounter people doing their best to separate you from your money. And if you stay on the tourist loops, especially in countries like Thailand or India, you will be hard pressed to have an encounter with a local who doesn’t have an ulterior motive, a motive we English speakers call “your wallet.”
If you think this outfit promises bargain prices, you might soon be a scam victim (Marrakech, Morocco)
So what can we do? Well, if we recognize the scams for what they are, we can simply walk away. For those who have been traveling for a while, this is easily accomplished; but for those new to traveling, spotting a scam can sometimes be a little tricky. Obviously—that’s why they work. So I’ve decided to make a short list of some of the more common ways to tell when someone is being less than honest.
1. People are being friendly
I know this sounds cynical and I know that many places exist (most rural areas in fact) where people will be friendly out of curiosity or good nature, but if you find yourself in a touristy area and people are being overly friendly, you are about to be separated from some money. Now obviously this is only true for some of you.
Most of you have suddenly, overnight, developed an irresistible charm and charisma, the kind of personality that makes everyone in the street stop and flash a huge smile in your direction, greet you with a big wave and call you their friend, which naturally entitles you to heretofore unheard of discounts on all their products, but especially this completely useless, unidentifiable, made-in-China knickknack.
That’s most of you. Â But just stop and consider for a moment that you might be one of the very few who hasn’t suddenly morphed into Brad Bitt or Angelina Jolie and keep your guard up accordingly.
My new best friend…yet somehow we lost touch…….2 minutes after this picture was taken (Marrakech, Morocco)
2. A Relative for All Needs
We’ve all had this happen; your newly developed charm has led you into a ‘friendly’ conversation with a ‘friendly’ local. At some point, the course of the conversation magically shifts to your plans for the immediate future and, in an unbelievable stroke of good fortune, your new ‘friend’ just happens to have eight different relatives, all of whom operate a business and each of those eight businesses provides one of the eight products or services in which you’ve just expressed an interest.
Your ‘friend’ is not your friend and none of those business owners are relatives; they do, however, pay your ‘friend’ a commission for bringing you in. You can still go along, just know what you’re getting into (I’ll go over why I think it’s better to not go along at the end of this post).
3. English
When you’ve suddenly ‘made new friends’ like the one in the example above, take note of their English; often it’s very good, but even if it isn’t (and many times it’s downright horrible) they will use it very confidently. That is a big red flag.
This one may be clever, but if you think English signs (or menus) indicate good service, you might soon be a scam victim (Jaisalmer, India)
The average person in most foreign countries does not speak perfect English and is somewhat shy and reluctant to use it, no matter their language skills. So if someone approaches you speaking very confidently and in a way that suggests they’ve had this same conversation a thousand times before, you might want to find a new conversation partner.
There are basically two possible reasons for this person’s interest in you: either they want your money or your English. The first is self-explanatory, the second is actually the worse of the two possibilities.
Everyone who’s traveled for a while has met the “English chaser;” these are the people who seemingly spend all of their free time looking for opportunities to practice their English on native speakers, despite many of their victims being anything but, often only speaking a few words of English themselves—but a white face is a white face.
This might sound like a good way to get to know some locals and learn a bit about their culture and you might even enjoy this exchange the first few times, but after having the exact same conversation for the 124th time, you really begin to wish you were being scammed instead. So basically, if anyone comes up to you and starts a conversation sounding like they’ve done this quite a few times already, act like you’ve never heard a word of English before in your life.
If you think overpaying for flowers, being moved 20 meters away, then donating the same flowers back to the people who sold them to you guarantees peace on earth, you might soon be a scam victim (Chiang Mai, Thailand)
4. Act Now or Forever Regret It
You’ve just arrived at the bus station after waking up at 5am and dealing with an annoying taxi driver to get there. The day has barely begun and you’re already exhausted. All you want to do is get tickets on the next bus, fall asleep in your seat and wake up at your destination.
But suddenly you’re swarmed by 20 screaming locals, all pulling and tugging you toward a waiting bus while frantically gesticulating and hopping around like mad. From their wildly shouted snippets of broken English you piece together that this bus will leave in exactly 2 minutes, the next one won’t leave for three weeks, a typhoon is fast approaching, the nearby volcano is about to erupt and local scientists have done what no one else has been able to pull off and predicted a large earthquake for later that afternoon, so you really should GET ON THIS BUS RIGHT THIS MINUTE OR DIE!
Or you could just wait for the next one ten minutes later—your choice. Whenever people start getting frantic while talking to you, they are artificially ratcheting up the pressure and when they are giving you a ‘LIMITED TIME ONLY!’ to act, they are lying. Just leave.
If you think these garishly decorated monstrosities are a good form of transport, you might soon be a scam victim (Melaka, Malaysia)
5. Stay Home
I wasn’t sure if I should include this, but let’s face it; this is the advice given and taken by the majority of people. And never going anywhere happens to be the only surefire way to avoid being scammed overseas. But is it worth it? Most people seem to think it is. Obviously I disagree and I’m guessing if you’re reading this, you would disagree as well.
By all means, watch the street performers and sidewalk games of chance—just don’t participate and know the pickpockets are watching too (Barcelona, Spain)
One argument I often hear is that you shouldn’t worry about getting scammed out of a bit of money—it’s usually not an overly large amount to us, but it can do quite a bit for a local. That’s true, but the person scamming you is not your average local. The scammers are actually quite well off, relatively speaking.
And when you give in and reward their dishonesty, that kid standing nearby notices. He sees the honest people around him sleeping on a filthy street at night and he sees the dishonest ones sleeping on a slightly nicer street; he puts two and two together and realizes, as so many others have, that crime pays.
That’s the reason—you’re the reason—why certain areas of certain countries, like Thailand or India, give you the impression that absolutely everyone is out to separate you from your money, by any means necessary.
So the next time a bunch of vendors are pushing their products in your face and gushing over the high quality workmanship of the humongous Chinese sweatshop local artisan, take a look around and find the old woman sitting quietly on the curb in front of her shop and buy something from her instead.
And when 15 tuk-tuk (auto rickshaw) drivers swarm you, offering the absolute finest in 45-year-old-motorbike-with-a-poorly-welded-on-rickety-metal-attachment local transportation experiences, look across the street and find the old guy sitting quietly in his tuk-tuk, waiting for miniscule local fares instead of going after the lucrative scam-a-tourist fares and get a ride with him. And tip him.
Excellent post and an even more excellent ending, which I fully agree with. In touristy areas where there are lots of salesmen, I don’t even open my mouth anymore, I don’t even talk but just keep walking. Finally if I spot a vendor (normally a restaurant in my case) with someone that’s not advertising themselves, that’s the place to choose.
Mark Wiens recently contributed to world literature by posting..The Circle of Life (On My Plate) – Eating Chicken the Fresh Way in China
Thank you. And that makes perfect sense for you, given your blog; but it’s almost always a restaurant in my case, too. I suppose that’s why I read your blog.
Daniel recently contributed to world literature by posting..Erawan Waterfall: Swimming With Flesh-Eating Monsters
Interesting observations. I especially like the tips on people who speak English with confidence. …but I am really hoping the magic viagra bedsheets are real.
Please tell me they are real!
northierthanthou recently contributed to world literature by posting..No Horses Were Harmed in the Making of this Post!
The country does have a billion people…
Daniel recently contributed to world literature by posting..What a Crappy Children’s Book!
Most countries will have sort of scam be it India or any other nation in the world. Its not just the traveller who can get scammed but also locals. They too are subject to scam specially if they happen to travel away from their native place.
Shalu Sharma recently contributed to world literature by posting..Top chicken dishes of India
You’re right; in fact, I think the locals are often more susceptible, because a lot of them have not had much traveling experience and are perhaps too trusting.
Daniel recently contributed to world literature by posting..I Hate When My Lunch Is Cooler Than Me
Great post, and definitely true! In fact, while in Guilin, Tony & I encountered a local who in addition to being friendly, spoke very good English and pretty much had suggestions for any need we might have. For instance, when we mentioned we were looking for a place to get a drink, all of a sudden he had a cousin with a shop nearby who had studied for 4 years to become a tea master! How fortunate! Of course, he had told us that his brother also happened to be a tea master the night before in another part of town, so I definitely knew a scam was afoot, but it was just funny because as he said these things, I had your post running through your head.
Of course, I am doing my best not to be too cynical… although some people certainly have tried to scam us here in China, we have also encountered several genuinely nice people who have gone out of their way to help us with nothing in it for themselves except human kindness. I think it’s important to be aware of common scams and not be naive, but I’d hate to walk around mistrusting every person who ever makes a kind gesture towards me.
Steph (@ 20 Years Hence) recently contributed to world literature by posting..Melting Down in Matsumoto
In China I felt you don’t generally have to worry about scams as much as in some other countries. Most people you meet are genuinely interested in foreigners, as evidenced by the just under 20,000 memory cards that now hold images of me and you and every other foreigner to spend some time in the country.
Of course there are exceptions and the Guilin/Yangshuo area is perhaps the biggest–but basically anywhere that attracts large numbers of tourists, but even then, in China most of the scams are aimed at the Chinese.
Daniel recently contributed to world literature by posting..Keeping Up With the Changs at Jiuzhaigou
Great tips Daniel. I will follow your advice next time. There are so many scams around us when being on the road :-(. I watched Discovery programme the other day about how tourists get scammed and it’s pretty common nowadays. Thanks for sharing!
Agness (@Agnesstramp) recently contributed to world literature by posting..Thailand: The Land of Smiles
Thanks. You’re right, the scams are pretty much everywhere; but luckily, once you’ve been traveling for a while as you have, you learn to recognize most of them.
Daniel recently contributed to world literature by posting..Third-World Haircut
Another fabulous post Daniel. Some great tips and I think I’ve seen them all attempted. I’ve lost count of the number of “friends” I’ve made on my travels. I hate the pulling of arms when shopping in Shanghai, the offers of free tours in India and the hassle of kids in Egypt who keep shouting “Where you from?”
The Guy recently contributed to world literature by posting..The Magic Of Melbourne – Getting Around On The Cheap
I’ve never been to Egypt, but I’ve heard plenty of “Where are you from?”s. I love when they mix up the order and you get something like “Ohh, nice country. Where are you from?” I sometimes get the feeling their heart’s just not in it….
Daniel McBane recently contributed to world literature by posting..How to Waste a Good Typhoon
The order in Indonesia was, “Taxi?!” “Where you from?” “Where you go?”
Confidence through the roof! 😛
Natalia | Always Trekking recently contributed to world literature by posting..Icy Weekend Skiing in Jay Peak – Vermont, US
I guess we should be happy they’re still asking…I’m afraid of the day they just start grabbing us, seating us in their taxis and driving to some location, perfectly confident they know exactly where we want to go without even having to talk to us. Of course they’ll also be perfectly confident they know exactly the incredibly high price we’d like to pay for this service.
Daniel McBane recently contributed to world literature by posting..6 Steps to Becoming a True Backpacker
It’s so mean to act like you don’t speak English. I just tell people to get lost. Haha! It is harder when they are acting so nicely.
I do agree about supporting the scamonomy. I always go to the vendor that annoys me the least. I’ve also not taken taxis and walked an extra km or two because I was just too angry at being hounded by “TAXI?! taxi? Taxi! Trrrransporrt?!”
Natalia | Always Trekking recently contributed to world literature by posting..Icy Weekend Skiing in Jay Peak – Vermont, US
Really? Here I though I was being nice by pretending not to speak English. I would love to explain to them that I’ve worked as an English teacher–meaning I get paid to help people with their English–and that I’m currently on vacation and would prefer to not continue to do my job for free during that vacation, but their English skills are never good enough to understand that. So I suddenly become Russian…
Daniel McBane recently contributed to world literature by posting..Don’t Eat Cow Pies Despite the Name
I am loving reading through your blog Daniel. Love your sense of humor and excellent writing skills!
Years ago I was royally ticked with the tuk tuk drivers in Thailand. I’d had it with not being able to leave the hotel without constant “where you going?” So I decided to go on the offensive with the pushy scammy locals. When it happened I pretended to know them and would say things like “Hey Bob, how are you?” “How’s your wife and kids?” “What’s new?” Baffled, I would get things back like “you want seafood?” Then I’d cut the conversation off saying I had to run, leaving them bewildered, wondering what just happened.
The more tourists the more scams. Love your reasoning why we shouldn’t be ok parting with a few extra dollars for scam artists. Currency exchange scams are getting bigger, from seemingly legitimate looking businesses (hell even duty free does it with offering to pay in your own currency). I recently wrote a post about scams in Krakow http://wanderlustmarriage.com/common-scams-in-krakow-and-eastern-europe/
Thank you so much. Your offensive against the local scammers sounds like it might make for some good hidden camera footage. You may have just stumbled on a great idea for a series of Youtube videos.
Some of the touts in India and Nepal were actually using a similar tactic when I was there. They’d come up and say something like, “Hi Joe, how was the your visit to that temple you were telling me about the other day.” It was always Joe, too. I guess they figured that name would give them the highest chance of occasionally being right.
Daniel McBane recently contributed to world literature by posting..Karakul Lake in Xinjiang Province: Escaping China’s Tourist Hordes
Fabulous post Daniel! I like how the somewhat “tongue in cheek” character and how it’s (almost) impossible to read through the article without a single nod since things may sound just pretty familiar… 🙂
I quite like the ending as well! Great reminder that the most decent option doesn’t find you, but that you need to keep your eyes peeled for it…
I mean traveling in corners of the world where your appearance really stands out, one may turn into a “walking advertising pillar covered with dollar notes” in the eyes of some locals. Considering the fact that most of them probably cannot afford a ticket to the next bigger city while you circumnavigated half the globe and may spend a few weeks or months travelling, covering an area they most likely won’t see in their entire life…
We tend to travel with “false identity” as well while travelling, pretending to be from Iceland, a country few people may have heard of or know something about, not to mention fragments of vocabulary. The “surprise effect” works quite well, until you come across the odd fisherman who knows more about “your” country than you do. So it’s probably worth doing your homework and actually know the basic stuff about “home”.. 🙂
Thanks again for a fab read Daniel and happy, scam-free travels! 😉
Oliver recently contributed to world literature by posting..Unconditional
Thank you!
In some countries, like India, Thailand and Nepal, it sometimes seems like every guy who came up to me had an uncle, cousin, brother, etc. from my country. And I got the feeling he that would have been the case, no matter what country I told him I came from. It could have been pretty funny, with both of us pretending to know about Iceland, or whatever country, but neither of us having a clue.
Daniel McBane recently contributed to world literature by posting..Trekking On Our Day Off From Trekking in Manang
Yes good post.
Reminds me of the time we got on the Bucharest – Budapest train and were accosted by a smiling man with some kind of ID cards asking for donations for sick children.
Smiling man in Romania? You know something is up. Especially at 5:30 in the morning…
Frank (bbqboy)
Frank recently contributed to world literature by posting..Impressions of Guadalajara, Mexico
Yeah, if the scam artists ever learn not to smile so damn much, we’re all screwed!
Yeah, that something to look for… thanks for sharing… <3
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