23 Travel Scams You'll Encounter in 2026 (And How to Avoid Every One)

Every tourist city has scams. They're not dangerous — they're annoying and expensive. Once you know the playbook, you'll never fall for any of them.

Here are 23 scams organized by type, with the specific cities where each is most common.

Money Scams

1. The Rigged Taxi Meter (Bangkok, Istanbul, Cairo)

The driver says the meter is "broken" and quotes a flat rate 3–5x the real fare. Or the meter runs suspiciously fast.

How to avoid: Use Bolt, Grab, or Uber. If you must use a street taxi, insist on the meter before getting in. If they refuse, walk to the next taxi.

2. The Exchange Office Trap (Prague, Budapest, Istanbul)

Exchange offices advertise "0% commission!" but use terrible exchange rates. You lose 15–30% on every transaction.

How to avoid: Never exchange money at street-level exchange offices. Use ATMs with your no-fee debit card. Wise or Charles Schwab debit cards charge no foreign transaction fees and reimburse ATM fees.

3. The Wrong Change (Worldwide)

You hand over a large bill. The vendor gives change for a smaller bill, claiming you gave them less.

How to avoid: Say the amount out loud when you hand over money. "Here's 50,000 pesos." Take a photo of large bills before paying if you're unsure about the currency.

4. The Fake Bill (Southeast Asia, Latin America)

You receive a counterfeit bill as change from a vendor or taxi driver.

How to avoid: Learn what real bills look like for your destination. Most fakes are obviously different if you've seen a real one. Refuse damaged or suspicious bills.

Distraction Scams

5. The Friendship Bracelet (Paris, Rome, Barcelona)

Someone ties a bracelet on your wrist while being aggressively friendly. Then demands $10–20 payment. If you refuse, they create a scene.

How to avoid: Keep your hands in your pockets near major landmarks. If someone approaches with a bracelet, firmly say "no" and walk away before they touch you.

6. The Bird Poop (Buenos Aires, Bogotá)

Someone "accidentally" spills something on you (or a bird "poops" on you). A helpful stranger offers to clean it — while an accomplice picks your pocket.

How to avoid: If something gets on your clothes, walk into a shop or restaurant to clean up. Don't stop on the street.

7. The Petition Scam (Paris, Rome, Madrid)

Someone asks you to sign a petition (usually "for deaf children"). While you're distracted reading and signing, a partner pickpockets you.

How to avoid: Never stop for petition-signers near tourist areas. They're never legitimate.

8. The Photo Request (Worldwide)

Someone in a costume (Mickey Mouse, gladiator, etc.) asks to take a photo with you. Then demands $10–20. If you refuse, they get aggressive.

How to avoid: If you want the photo, agree on a price before (it should be $1–2 max). Otherwise, shake your head and keep walking.

Restaurant & Bar Scams

9. The Unmarked Menu (Istanbul, Marrakech, Bangkok)

The restaurant has no prices on the menu. You order, eat, and receive a bill 5–10x what the food should cost.

How to avoid: If there are no prices, ask before ordering. If the waiter can't give you prices, leave.

10. The Bar Invitation (Istanbul, Prague, Bangkok)

An attractive person invites you to a "great bar." You go, order drinks, and get a $200–500 bill. The person and the bar are working together.

How to avoid: Never go to a bar someone approaches you about on the street.

11. The Tea Ceremony Scam (Beijing, Shanghai)

Two friendly students invite you for a "traditional tea ceremony." The bill comes: $100–300 for tea.

How to avoid: Decline invitations from strangers who approach you near tourist sites.

Transportation Scams

12. The "Closed Today" Scam (Bangkok, Delhi, Cairo)

A tuk-tuk driver or "friendly local" tells you your destination is closed today — but they know a better place. They drive you to a gem shop or tailor where they earn a commission.

How to avoid: Your destination is not closed. Verify with Google, then go directly there.

13. The Long Route (Worldwide)

Taxi drivers take unnecessarily long routes for tourists who don't know the geography.

How to avoid: Follow the route on Google Maps during the ride. If the driver deviates significantly, ask why.

14. The Unofficial Taxi (Airports worldwide)

Unlicensed drivers approach you at the arrivals exit offering "taxi?" at 2–3x the official rate.

How to avoid: Only use the official taxi rank, ride-hailing apps, or pre-booked transfers.

Shopping Scams

15. The Fake Gem (Bangkok, Jaipur, Colombo)

Someone sells you "genuine" gems at "wholesale prices" that you can resell at home for profit. The gems are worth nothing.

How to avoid: If a deal sounds too good to be true, it is. Never buy gems as an "investment" while traveling.

16. The Bait and Switch (Marrakech, Istanbul)

You negotiate a price for a carpet/leather bag. When it's packaged, a cheaper version is substituted. You don't notice until you're home.

How to avoid: Mark or photograph the item you agreed on before it's wrapped. Inspect the final package.

17. The "Student" Art Gallery (Beijing, Shanghai)

Art students invite you to see their "exhibition." The art is mass-produced and overpriced.

How to avoid: Decline politely. Legitimate art exhibitions don't recruit customers on the street.

Tech Scams

18. Fake WiFi Networks (Airports, hotels worldwide)

A WiFi network named "Free Airport WiFi" or "Hotel Guest" is actually a hacker intercepting your data.

How to avoid: Use your eSIM data instead of public WiFi. If you must use WiFi, use a VPN.

19. The SIM Card Swap (Southeast Asia)

A phone shop offers to help you install a SIM. They clone your SIM or install malware during the process.

How to avoid: Use an eSIM (installed before your trip). Never hand your phone to a stranger.

How to Be Scam-Proof

Three rules that prevent 95% of scams:

1. Don't stop for strangers near tourist areas. Legitimate people don't approach tourists on the street.
2. Use ride-hailing apps, not street taxis. Bolt, Uber, Grab, InDrive — every city has one.
3. Know the approximate price of things before you buy. 5 minutes of research prevents hours of regret.

Or the nuclear option: have a Local Friend with you. Scammers avoid targets who are with a local because the scam doesn't work when someone who speaks the language is standing next to you.

Browse Local Friends on Roavi — the best scam protection money can buy.