Scams

[Raised_By_Wolves]

Do you recognise some of these scams? Ever been a victim? What other scams we haven't heard of?

I haven't heard of some of these, such as take away menu and 'thrown baby'.

[paddox]

Iv'e had quite a few of those but not been sucked in.

The old women selling heather can be quite threatening, especially when they start muttering under their breath at you.

The list forgot women who grab your hand and do a quick henna tattoo without permission and then demand a ridiculous amount of money. Welcome to Marrakech.

[HalcyonDaze]

I'd heard of quite a few of them, but others I hadn't. (things like the broken camera one. And I offer to take people's photos all the time round the Opera House - I hate that people might think friendly, genuine offers are scams)

I've never actually come across any of them though.

[Phar Lap]

Like HD, I too have heard of quite a few of them but some I haven't.

I hadn't heard of a "Massage scam". I was at Bobby Brewer's (Sai Gon) sitting my usual spot, when a chap came in and started talking to me. His English wasn't very good, but he asked me where I was from, then where in Australia, then said something about massage as he started to massage my hand and arm. He stood up and started massaging my neck. This is weird I thought and was a bit concerned, I wondered what on earth he was doing. I caught the eye of one of the workers, gestured for her to come in (she was out the front chatting to a young fellow), she did and I asked what the man was doing and explained things. She called the man over, they spoke, and she came and said he told her he asked did I want a massage and I said yes. I told her was lying, he never asked me and if he had I'd have said no. He got angry and wanted payment. I told her tell him I wasn't paying him anything because he was a liar. He eventually left and the lass told me be careful, that sort of thing happens.

Another scam is the Tea house scam in China, aka the Shanghai Tea scam. A young couple or a couple of girls approach westerners, talk a lot of shit and get the tourist to come with them to a teahouse for a tea ceremony. The offer to help you buy tea and take part in the "tea ceremony". The tourist is later presented with the bill - an exorbitant amount (RMB 1000). If the tourist protests, they threaten to call the police and tell you you will be arrested, and your passport taken if you don't pay.

This happened to me - I became sick as a dog the day I arrived in Shanghai and spent most of my time in bed but when the fever eased, I'd go out for a short walk and/or sit on the ledge thing across the road and smoke. When I travel I wear cargoes with plenty of pockets and a loose longish top. (Many pockets for money, credit cards etc.) This day I had on a skirt (no pockets) and a top sitting having a smoke when two young people, a male and female spoke to me and started talking. They were very friendly, students, they both lived in Qingdao and had come from Qingdao to Shanghai for the day to learn about the art of tea. (Or something like that)

They talked with me for at least 15 minutes then the girl said they were going to a tea ceremony and would I like to come with them. Remember, I was in a bit of a sick fog, the penny still hadn't dropped but I had thought something was funny earlier, Qingdao's an awful long way from Shanghai, it seemed a bit far to come for a day trip. Anyway, they really would love to show me this tea thing, something started to enter the brain through the fog but then went. I told them I couldn't go dressed as I was because my skirt didn't have any pockets and I'd have to go and change into my pants. No, no, they said I looked very nice blah blah blah, but I was insistent. I didn't really want to go with them anyway.

When they saw they couldn't change my mind, the girl sort of changed, it was like she became someone else, she became brisk, rose from the seat, said something in Chinese to her companion, intimating she wanted to leave. When he stood up, he was still very nice, said he was sorry I couldn't come with them, turned and then turned back to me and said be careful in China. I asked what he meant and he replied be careful who you speak with some people might try and trick you and take your money.

I also came across the expensive taxi driver in Hanoi. I'd caught a taxi from my hotel and was a bit annoyed at the roundabout way the driver took, I was sure he did it deliberately. Getting a taxi a few hours later, the driver turned right when he should have driven straight ahead (by this time I recognised several streets) I told him off and said he had gone the wrong way, turn around. He stopped and argued, but I told him go back to the street we were in, I know the way. He did and I kept a close eye on him, telling him where to turn. That taxi fare was cheaper than the first.

[lillielangtry]

I had my phone nicked out of my pocket on a bus in Peru, and later on I found some smelly, dirty stuff on my jacket - but no one had tried to clean it off me. Perhaps they hadn't need to use it, obviously I was distracted as they managed to get the phone.

Like Halcyon, I find it such a shame that genuinely helpful people might be viewed as potential scammers. I can't count the number of times I've worked the ticket machines in Düsseldorf airport train station for people - they are so complicated.

In both Quito and Lima, I encountered foreigners going up to other foreigners and asking for help as they'd been "robbed" - in Quito, the guy asked me, then my flatmate some weeks later, and a few months after that me again. I laughed and pointed out he'd tried me before. In Lima, the guy was annoyed when I offered to go with him to report the supposed "robbery" to the police rather than just handing over cash. It's disgusting that these dicks exploit people's tendency to help each other out when on the road.

[sprite]

years ago i remember reading something about self defence, and the author claimed that most of the time, if you ask a random person to help you, you'll be safe. if you wait for someone to offer help, odds are good they're out to scam or hurt you.

i've been pickpocketed by a Roma mother and child. i was sick, but also so intent on not being racist that i didn't clock they were doing a casebook style 'distract and snitch.' they dumped the bag they stole, minus money, oranges, and lipstick, but WITH passport and house keys. however, by the time i got it back, i'd had to pay to have my locks changed.

[Raised_By_Wolves]

Unfortunately it's not so easy to recognise if one is genuine or not. They sure know how to tug at the heartstrings.

Now that Lillie mentions it I remember experiencing the fellow-foreigner-who-got-robbed/ruined scenario in Hong Kong. When I tried asking some questions he got disinterested fast and sauntered along.

Are fake-handicap frausters common somewhere? I have seen several in China. They just rise from their wheeled boards* and walk away.

Always good experiences in Germany when asking for help or being offered help. Re ticket machines at DUS, as I walk to the platform I watch people struggle with them. Every time. But there's English language option... I always print out the trip planner as well Nur auf deutsch.

(* Something like a skateboard but long enough to lie down on)

[sprite]

i've seen a lot of the fake injury people. but in colombia, we saw a lot of real ones. it was gut-wrenching.

my mom got caught by the bracelets in paris. i kicked myself when she told me, because i knew about it and just assumed they would too--they'd done a lot of research.

[weeg]

I was really hassled by a heather selling old lady in Seville many years ago.

And Himself and I got done by the shoe shine trick in Istanbul. We were walking along and the brush dropped off the shoe shine box, we did the 'nice' thing. So then it was 'free shoe shine' Then' my wife just had a baby, money for baby, not enough money etc etc.

Someone else tried in on Himself a couple of days later, but he was watching out for it. There was a wee lever on the side of the box that released the bruch and dropped it. Very clever.

[lillielangtry]

Feb 15, 2015 17:26:13 GMT -5 Raised_By_Wolves said:

Always good experiences in Germany when asking for help or being offered help. Re ticket machines at DUS, as I walk to the platform I watch people struggle with them. Every time. But there's English language option... I always print out the trip planner as well Nur auf deutsch.

Even if you manage to turn the language to English, the process is just so complicated. There are always these people desperately trying to get tickets with their train arriving and the machine is going "are you travelling with a bicycle...", "do you have a railcard..." and they are just standing there going, give me a ticket for Cologne already!

My flight gets in pretty late so the ticket desks are closed and there is no staff member to ask for help.

[sprite]

i was helped by a lovely lady in vienna when i couldn't get a ticket out of the machine.
i suspect it was less her helpful nature and more she wanted me to stop screaming curses at the machine in front of her children.

[Raised_By_Wolves]

Weeg, very clever indeed!

Lillie, I have never tried the English version. DB ticket machines in border towns are often more time wasting and frustrating... the one you use either doesn't accept cash or non German issued card! I have had good experiences with Swiss ticket machines. They take both cash and international cards. As for the DUS airport train, at least on the way to the airport I can take the one that goes directly there (without having to take the 'sky train'). Much much better. But yeah, on the way back somehow I have to wait a while every time. The connection to Hauptbahnhof is not so good.

Sprite, I would help you too, so I can get my damn ticket and not miss the damn train. See this scenario all the time.

I found the beggars with massive open wounds in China (and Canada even) quite shocking. It's not a scam but it's traumatising to see.

Tuk tuk ride to a jewelery shop in Bangkok happened to me. It was hilarious and I didn't even go inside the shop, just sat in the vehicle talking to the driver. The driver told me he had to do it to get money for petrol from the shop, but he wasn't happy about tricking people.

[elora]

In Bangkok, we got taken to a jewellery store (or was a tailor) before being taken to the temple we were heading to ... actually, we did take a peek inside but then carried on. The driver waited for us at the first temple but left us at the second one - we were gone that long and hadn't paid him. Even with the side-trip, I felt bad about that - well, sort of - he was the one that left.

I remember being in Central America and seeing a local lady slip and fall. I hesitated and felt bad when women from the near by shops rushed out to help her. It is tough to balance "street-smart" with compassion.

[sprite]

it is a tough balance.

[tucano]

In Cochin the rickshaw driver asked us to look at a couple of shops so he could get stamps towards a 5kg bag of rice. We didn't buy anything but I'm not going to begrudge someone 20 mins out of my day on the off chance it might be a scam.

[sprite]

maybe they've realised that tourists are on to the con, and are trying pity instead?

[riverhorse]

Feb 15, 2015 17:26:13 GMT -5 Raised_By_Wolves said:

They just rise from their wheeled boards* and walk away.

(* Something like a skateboard but long enough to lie down on)

Thanks RBW - I've now got that great scene from Trading Places in my head with Eddie Murphy loudly proclaiming a miracle when the cops come to stop his begging scam!!

[leela]

I managed not to fall for the scam that the guy who told me the Maglev from Shanghai airport wasn't running tried to pull off. But then fell for the 'covering up the meter' trick of the taxi driver whose car I took from the official taxi rank when I got off the train at the other end. In my defence, it was very early in the morning after a very long flight. I refused to pay the ridiculously inflated price obv. Fortunately I was so tired I didn't care how grumpily I behaved, and he looked terrified!

[Queen]

Taxis in Beijing made an artform out of it.

I mostly avoided it but did get caught twice; once I got given change that was fake notes. Which I found out when I tried to spend them in the market. The stall owner was really angry with me until I told him I'd got the notes from a taxi driver and then he was all sympathy.

The other one was a miandi driver, these were the old yellow vans that charged a fixed fee for distances under 10km, and then a high rate on the meter for distance greater than that. When I got in the driver (a woman, which was unusual) asked me if I knew the distance and I stupidly said "no", she then fumbled with the meter and magically the fee was for more than 10km. When I did the trip again later it was 9,6km.

I knew I was being stung but went with it - she did it so badly I had to laugh.

[Webs]

In Paris, near the Carousel below Sacre Coeur, one of the "bracelet" guys tried to get me but I kept saying no. When he kept insisting I turned, looked him in the eye and said "Do I look that stupid?" And continued on my way with him calling me all sorts of things in my wake.

Hey, I had an important appointment and stay around and argue. I was meeting someone for lunch. ^^^chick whose post is previous.

[tzarine]

saw the bracelet one alive & well in milan

yes, those chinese taxis are the worst
& the "my uncle's shop" drivers

[Raised_By_Wolves]

I got counterfeit notes in China (predictably in really touristy Yanshuo). That was more annoying than getting ripped off by taxi drivers. Made a big purchase at the supermarket in Yangshuo and became the check-out entertainment. Everyone gathered round to look at us the foreign tourists who paid with a counterfeit note (amongst real ones). We were gutted to be tricked but after that we had a good laugh and learnt a new lesson.

Apparently Buenos Aires is awash with counterfeit money, according to a documentary I once saw. Maybe I was lucky I didn't get any fake one.

I remember taxis in Thailand not wanting to turn on the meter half of the time. But they usually did turn it on after I asked them to.

[tzarine]

luckily we did not get any counterfeit bills in BA
but heard many horror stories

tzar once bought a mao watch in beijing, when he got home, it no longer worked.
the woman pulled a quick switch

[brodiebruce]

I wasn't watching and was sort of done by the bracelet scam (as in I ended up with a bracelet but refused to pay and made a scene). They tried it on younger brother when we were back in Rome when he came over for a holiday......he didn't quite get he was being scammed and was all offended when I told them to fuck off in no uncertain terms.

Funnily enough this was in the Age today....

www.traveller.com.au/top-ten-classic-travel-scams-1m6grj

[libbyh]

We had the ring trick tried on us in Paris. Walking along by the Seine, a young Polish fellow picks up a ring just in front of us and since it 'doesn't fit him', tries to get my husband to take it. We knew we were being scammed, so I stood right back and kept an eye out around us while my husband chatted with the fellow. He wanted lots of money for it but in the end we gave him a couple of euros and took the ring.

[tzarine]

the bracelet scam was active in milan
we didn't spend much time in old town prague, so missed on any of those

[Raised_By_Wolves]

Libbyh, was it only one guy? I think they could also nick our wallets with the ring and talk distraction. Good that you kept an eye out around you.

[poppy]

I was well and truly scammed in China. Elder son and wife along with TB and I had gone to Shenzhen for the day. It was later in the day and TB wasn't leaving without them and they where still into shopping. So to fill in time and use the last of my cash, decided to have a pedicure. Extremely naive and a bit tired, didn't click that whenever the one girl said a price another put the price up by a couple of dollars. At one stage, told them I didn't have anymore money so didn't want them doing anything else - no you have visa all is okay. Yep dumbarse me went along with it, as I didn't have a Visa card only a mastercard, the owner of the store had to take me to another store to pay. Our what I thought pedicure by two should have cost around $70aud ended up cost $500. Live and learn - never again would they be able to get me like that.

[Raised_By_Wolves]

Quick question: how to deal with Roma children who cling tightly on one's leg(s) and won't let go?
Happened to me in Tibet but my partner was with me who peeled the filthy little fingers one by one to release me. But when one's alone? I've been reading about this problem in certain places in Albania (where I am visiting in 2 weeks time, without my partner).

When the Roma adults swamp you and your wallet/phone etc is expertly removed.

[lolasf]

I sorta got stuck by the bracelet thing in Ghana, but I actually did want one. We played innocent and dumb, then bargained the shit out of it at the finish point. I think ben_h paid £2 for it in the end, and it's a treasured souvenir.

I've been screwed by taxis before. It's actually made me sorta suspicious and bitter. I'm slow to trust when I find genuinely nice people while traveling.