Common Tourism Scams
Oct 14, 2006, 1:56 am
#16
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Originally Posted by Palal
London (Quiet Sunday Morning, March 2006):
I'm walking from my hotel to Victoria Station. My trip is nearing its end and I'm finishing up the sightseing that I haven't done during the past week.
As I'm walking from my hotel towards Victoria Station, a guy pulls up in a nice-looking BMW. Something didn't look right. I later realized it was the steering wheel, which was on the left, so he was next to the curb (or "kerb" if you want to sound British
). The guy opens his window and asks me to come over. He's holding a map, so my guess is that he wants directions.
Sure, being in the city for a week, and usually knowing my way around places I haven't been to, I approach him. He then starts telling me about how my face looks Italian. I tell him in my American accent, that I'm not Italian.
Abridged version of the conversation:
Him: "Where are you from"
Me: "SFO"
Him: "Oh SFO, yeah San Mateo, Redwood City, I've been there. I'm a sales manager for Giorgio Armani..." [basically tells me how important he is.
Me: "ok."
Him: "Since you look like you're Italian, I want to give you these two leather jackets. I was at a trade show and these are just samples. They may have some minor problems with them, but for the most part are good. My card is in there - just let me know if you need anything else - give me a call and I'll help you out."
Me [looks at the jackets which are in the bag]: "I can't take this, thank you."
Him: "Take them, I don't need them, they're just extra luggage for me."
Me [thinking if this guy's crazy or if he's up to something]: "Ok."
He then starts telling me this story of how he was at a casino last night and he was playing and lost all his money and maxed out his only credit card (he shows me his wallet and it only has his passport - which seems to be from Italy, according to the cover - and ONE credit card. NOTHING ELSE.) He shows me his near-empty gas tank and tells me he needs two tanks of petrol to get to the Continent. He says because it's Sunday, he can't get money from a bank, because the banks are closed, and his Credit card had been maxed out the previous day.
I play dumb, his English wasn't perfect, so I decide to see where this goes. At this point I still hadn't realized what he wanted and what the deal was. He wants two tanks of petrol. I make it a point of not understanding petrol, and not understanding why he would need two gas tanks of petrol (with British petrol prices, the sum turns out to be pretty hefty ~$200-300 as I later calculated.). I tell him I didn't have this kind of money (well, I did, actually, but it was in USD). After a bit of back and forth on this, he takes his jackets and off he goes with a sour face.
Why was this a scam, you ask?
1. His wallet didn't have anything but his passport and a single credit card.
2. I made it a point of asking for his business card several times. He said it was in the bag with the jackets.
3. If you were at a casino last night, what would you be doing early Sunday morning in the middle of London? Do they even have casinos in the UK? I know they have slot machines IN London, but what about "full-service casinos."
4. He didn't let me see the jackets. Maybe they were good quality leather jackets, but were they really Armani?
5. Finally, a friend later told me that he had a similar thing happen to him near Times Square in NYC on his way home from work.
The biggest things that stopped me:
1. It sounded too good to be true.
2. I didn't have the $$ in GBP.
3. What would I do with three leather jackets in SF (I was wearing one from Costco as it was pretty cold, which I had torn - just a bit - the day before when it got caught on an Underground fare gate, so in the beginning this sounded like a good thing - hey a free replacement jacket!)
4. If they were Armani, would I have problems with bringing this back into the US if the customs people checked me.
5. Where would I put the jackets, I already got a lot of transportation-related souveniers from the Tube staff (the effort to get a photo permit paid off) so room in my luggage was limited.
6. Why would someone who drives such a car would only have one credit card? Maybe this is just the American in me showing up.
The guy was Italian (or was faking it pretty darn well) and was in a car from the continent (I don't remember where his plates were from) with a left-hand-side steering wheel. His passport was Italian, but in the end it didn't add up.
I'm walking from my hotel to Victoria Station. My trip is nearing its end and I'm finishing up the sightseing that I haven't done during the past week.
As I'm walking from my hotel towards Victoria Station, a guy pulls up in a nice-looking BMW. Something didn't look right. I later realized it was the steering wheel, which was on the left, so he was next to the curb (or "kerb" if you want to sound British
). The guy opens his window and asks me to come over. He's holding a map, so my guess is that he wants directions. Sure, being in the city for a week, and usually knowing my way around places I haven't been to, I approach him. He then starts telling me about how my face looks Italian. I tell him in my American accent, that I'm not Italian.
Abridged version of the conversation:
Him: "Where are you from"
Me: "SFO"
Him: "Oh SFO, yeah San Mateo, Redwood City, I've been there. I'm a sales manager for Giorgio Armani..." [basically tells me how important he is.
Me: "ok."
Him: "Since you look like you're Italian, I want to give you these two leather jackets. I was at a trade show and these are just samples. They may have some minor problems with them, but for the most part are good. My card is in there - just let me know if you need anything else - give me a call and I'll help you out."
Me [looks at the jackets which are in the bag]: "I can't take this, thank you."
Him: "Take them, I don't need them, they're just extra luggage for me."
Me [thinking if this guy's crazy or if he's up to something]: "Ok."
He then starts telling me this story of how he was at a casino last night and he was playing and lost all his money and maxed out his only credit card (he shows me his wallet and it only has his passport - which seems to be from Italy, according to the cover - and ONE credit card. NOTHING ELSE.) He shows me his near-empty gas tank and tells me he needs two tanks of petrol to get to the Continent. He says because it's Sunday, he can't get money from a bank, because the banks are closed, and his Credit card had been maxed out the previous day.
I play dumb, his English wasn't perfect, so I decide to see where this goes. At this point I still hadn't realized what he wanted and what the deal was. He wants two tanks of petrol. I make it a point of not understanding petrol, and not understanding why he would need two gas tanks of petrol (with British petrol prices, the sum turns out to be pretty hefty ~$200-300 as I later calculated.). I tell him I didn't have this kind of money (well, I did, actually, but it was in USD). After a bit of back and forth on this, he takes his jackets and off he goes with a sour face.
Why was this a scam, you ask?
1. His wallet didn't have anything but his passport and a single credit card.
2. I made it a point of asking for his business card several times. He said it was in the bag with the jackets.
3. If you were at a casino last night, what would you be doing early Sunday morning in the middle of London? Do they even have casinos in the UK? I know they have slot machines IN London, but what about "full-service casinos."
4. He didn't let me see the jackets. Maybe they were good quality leather jackets, but were they really Armani?
5. Finally, a friend later told me that he had a similar thing happen to him near Times Square in NYC on his way home from work.
The biggest things that stopped me:
1. It sounded too good to be true.
2. I didn't have the $$ in GBP.
3. What would I do with three leather jackets in SF (I was wearing one from Costco as it was pretty cold, which I had torn - just a bit - the day before when it got caught on an Underground fare gate, so in the beginning this sounded like a good thing - hey a free replacement jacket!)
4. If they were Armani, would I have problems with bringing this back into the US if the customs people checked me.
5. Where would I put the jackets, I already got a lot of transportation-related souveniers from the Tube staff (the effort to get a photo permit paid off
) so room in my luggage was limited.6. Why would someone who drives such a car would only have one credit card? Maybe this is just the American in me showing up.
The guy was Italian (or was faking it pretty darn well) and was in a car from the continent (I don't remember where his plates were from) with a left-hand-side steering wheel. His passport was Italian, but in the end it didn't add up.
A very well organised scam in England a few years back. Ads started appearing in the glossy mags for a designer watch - something I'd never heard of, you know the sort of thing "Ario Bunzatti of Geneva", with a price tag of say £2000, give or take a bit.
Anyway there were stories of tourists being approached by shady types in BMWs been offered supposedly knocked off Ario Bunzatti watches for £100 or so, they were being shown the ad and being told "look, you're getting a £2000 watch for £100".
It was all a scam. The watches were worthless £10, junk. The whole advertisement scheme was a bait to con people into think Ario Bunzatti was a prestigious make. They had never sold a single watch in a shop.
Oct 14, 2006, 6:21 am
#17
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In AMS coming in on a late train, I grab a taxi to the hotel. Ask the driver how much, 10 - 15 euros. Ok (never been to AMS before).
1 block out he refuses to put on the meter when I ask and refuses to let me out of the taxi... we get to the hotel, a total of about 8 blocks and won't let me out until I give him now 20 euros. I hand him 10 as the concierge comes to the car... if it hadn't of been for the concierge I am sure my partner and I would still be in the car.
1 block out he refuses to put on the meter when I ask and refuses to let me out of the taxi... we get to the hotel, a total of about 8 blocks and won't let me out until I give him now 20 euros. I hand him 10 as the concierge comes to the car... if it hadn't of been for the concierge I am sure my partner and I would still be in the car.
Oct 14, 2006, 11:47 am
#18
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Note: Most of these stories are about extortion and robbery as opposed to scamming.
>>> In hind sight, I never found out the price (of the shoe shine) before hand.
Given the story as told, finding out might have done no good, the shoe shiner may have quoted a different price at first.
Travel tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm
>>> In hind sight, I never found out the price (of the shoe shine) before hand.
Given the story as told, finding out might have done no good, the shoe shiner may have quoted a different price at first.
Travel tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm
Oct 14, 2006, 11:59 am
#19
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 78
I was approached by a similar 'Italian' guy when I was visiting Paris and this time he wanted only a tank of gas to get home to Rome and offered three jackets in return
This guy didn't pretend the jackets were Armani or anything and we didn't pretend that we fell for the sob story. We bartered him down and got some fairly decent jackets at about half the price they would've been in a shop!
P.S. We do have casinos in London!
This guy didn't pretend the jackets were Armani or anything and we didn't pretend that we fell for the sob story. We bartered him down and got some fairly decent jackets at about half the price they would've been in a shop!
P.S. We do have casinos in London!
Oct 14, 2006, 12:16 pm
#20
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Originally Posted by Palal
I was wearing one from Costco as it was pretty cold, which I had torn - just a bit - the day before when it got caught on an Underground fare gate, so in the beginning this sounded like a good thing - hey a free replacement jacket!
Oct 14, 2006, 12:26 pm
#21
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Brazilian shoe shine, Rio Beach
I spent a month in Brazil last year. Most of it in Rio. It was a bit cold then, so I only walked on the beach one time. A local Brazilian lady told me to watch out for thieves.
As I left, and was waiting to cross, I felt something hit the ground, near my feet. I looked over at the 13 or 14 year old punk standing near me, and he just grinned. A shoeshine guy had been there a minute earlier, but the light wasn't green yet, so I waited, while he sprinted across.
As I get 2/3 of the way through, I notice the shoe shine guy waiting for me on the other side. As I get close, he starts yelling and pointing at my shoes. I now notice theres a big glop of what lookis like baby crap on one of my shoes.
He starts saying, "I clean, I clean for you, stop Mr". I connect the dots, and know it's a scam. I get a bit pissed off and tell him "No, no, no". He tries to get me to stop so he can clean them.
Since A: he and his buddy were responbile for the thing in the first place, they will either try to rip me off from behind while I'm bent over, or B: they'll try and charge me some outrageous amount, I'll have *nothing* to do with this scam.
He still won't stop trying to get me to stop, so I just start to yell "No" louder and louder, and keep walking. I get back to my apartment, and am a bit afraid to see what substance is on my shoe. It ends up being some yellowish petroleum substance. It does not come out easily. I halfheartedly try, but give up after a few minutes.
Luckily I had brought a new pair of shoes with me, and was getting ready to switch to them anyway, so I just took a picture of the lovely old shoes, and then tossed them.
I liked Brazil a lot, however the constant threat of crime, and scams with Taxi drivers and such made difficult to fully enjoy.
As I left, and was waiting to cross, I felt something hit the ground, near my feet. I looked over at the 13 or 14 year old punk standing near me, and he just grinned. A shoeshine guy had been there a minute earlier, but the light wasn't green yet, so I waited, while he sprinted across.
As I get 2/3 of the way through, I notice the shoe shine guy waiting for me on the other side. As I get close, he starts yelling and pointing at my shoes. I now notice theres a big glop of what lookis like baby crap on one of my shoes.
He starts saying, "I clean, I clean for you, stop Mr". I connect the dots, and know it's a scam. I get a bit pissed off and tell him "No, no, no". He tries to get me to stop so he can clean them.
Since A: he and his buddy were responbile for the thing in the first place, they will either try to rip me off from behind while I'm bent over, or B: they'll try and charge me some outrageous amount, I'll have *nothing* to do with this scam.
He still won't stop trying to get me to stop, so I just start to yell "No" louder and louder, and keep walking. I get back to my apartment, and am a bit afraid to see what substance is on my shoe. It ends up being some yellowish petroleum substance. It does not come out easily. I halfheartedly try, but give up after a few minutes.
Luckily I had brought a new pair of shoes with me, and was getting ready to switch to them anyway, so I just took a picture of the lovely old shoes, and then tossed them.
I liked Brazil a lot, however the constant threat of crime, and scams with Taxi drivers and such made difficult to fully enjoy.
Oct 14, 2006, 12:33 pm
#22
Join Date: Oct 2003
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"INFAMOUS"
Just do a google search using the terms "bangkok jewelry scam" and see the prototype.
In fairness, I provide the perspective that after nearly a dozen trips to Thailand, the ONLY negative experience dealt with buying a beautiful ring/pendant/ear rings set. The quality of the items was never in question; we were just overcharged considerably, and expertly manipulated al along the way. The coordination among the participants was little short of amazing, this IS a practiced art!!!
Plus, I observe that buying (thousands of dollars of) jewelry is probably not something one does every day, and if it were, the scam might not be so effective. But still, the short story is: IF YOU EVER GET CAUGHT IN THE WEB YOU LIKELY WILL NOT ESCAPE UNSCATHED. One is literally in foreign territory, in more than one sense.
In fairness, I provide the perspective that after nearly a dozen trips to Thailand, the ONLY negative experience dealt with buying a beautiful ring/pendant/ear rings set. The quality of the items was never in question; we were just overcharged considerably, and expertly manipulated al along the way. The coordination among the participants was little short of amazing, this IS a practiced art!!!
Plus, I observe that buying (thousands of dollars of) jewelry is probably not something one does every day, and if it were, the scam might not be so effective. But still, the short story is: IF YOU EVER GET CAUGHT IN THE WEB YOU LIKELY WILL NOT ESCAPE UNSCATHED. One is literally in foreign territory, in more than one sense.
Oct 14, 2006, 12:37 pm
#23
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Buenos Aires Taxi Ripoffs
Part of this was posted on the original IST scam thread.
I've been to EZE once or twice a year for the last 4 years. I've learned from my own adventures and those of friends there.
The most important is to always have exact change for the taxis. When I change money at the airport (best place is the bank that has a window just inside the customs area, others are ripoffs, so always know what the exchange rates are), and get lots of small bills - 2 peso, 5 peso and 10 pesos.
I have a money clip where I keep 10 peso and larger bills. I keep this in one pocket, and a small roll of 2 and 5 peso bills along with change in the other pocket.
I had gone out to eat in Puerto Madero, and the taxi ride there from my Congresso apartment was 5 1/2 pesos or so, and the driver took the long way there, so should have been a bit less.
Leaving, I took a taxi that was *parked* near there. That was my first mistake. Always flag down a taxi that is driving by. He goes the direct way, but I notice the taxi meter is hyperactive and going about twice as fast as normal. I know I'm getting taken for a ride.
When I get out, the fare is just over 10 pesos, so about double what it should have been. I take a 10 peso bill out of my big money clip, and give him a 50 peso coin. I give them to him. He now points at the 10 peso bill, which has now become a 2 peso bill. I laugh at him, call him a crook, and leave without giving him any more. He shrugs and leaves.
This switch is fairly common. I think I had this happen one other time the year before, when I was pulling money out of my pocket in a dark taxi. This is one of the reasons why I switched to this system. It also helps to say the demonination of the bill you're handing over, to reinforce that they can't rip you off.
The other reason to give exact, or close to exact change is to keep them from passing fake bills to you. They will counterfeit even small bills, such as 5 peso or 10 peso notes. The currency will have a different feel, if you pay attention. I usually will run the tip of my fingernail over the denomination amount in the corner. You'll be able to feel some texture there. If it's totally smooth, then it's a laser copy or such.
Most taxi's in EZE are fine, but just watch out for some of them! Radio taxi's are usually the best ones.
I've been to EZE once or twice a year for the last 4 years. I've learned from my own adventures and those of friends there.
The most important is to always have exact change for the taxis. When I change money at the airport (best place is the bank that has a window just inside the customs area, others are ripoffs, so always know what the exchange rates are), and get lots of small bills - 2 peso, 5 peso and 10 pesos.
I have a money clip where I keep 10 peso and larger bills. I keep this in one pocket, and a small roll of 2 and 5 peso bills along with change in the other pocket.
I had gone out to eat in Puerto Madero, and the taxi ride there from my Congresso apartment was 5 1/2 pesos or so, and the driver took the long way there, so should have been a bit less.
Leaving, I took a taxi that was *parked* near there. That was my first mistake. Always flag down a taxi that is driving by. He goes the direct way, but I notice the taxi meter is hyperactive and going about twice as fast as normal. I know I'm getting taken for a ride.
When I get out, the fare is just over 10 pesos, so about double what it should have been. I take a 10 peso bill out of my big money clip, and give him a 50 peso coin. I give them to him. He now points at the 10 peso bill, which has now become a 2 peso bill. I laugh at him, call him a crook, and leave without giving him any more. He shrugs and leaves.
This switch is fairly common. I think I had this happen one other time the year before, when I was pulling money out of my pocket in a dark taxi. This is one of the reasons why I switched to this system. It also helps to say the demonination of the bill you're handing over, to reinforce that they can't rip you off.
The other reason to give exact, or close to exact change is to keep them from passing fake bills to you. They will counterfeit even small bills, such as 5 peso or 10 peso notes. The currency will have a different feel, if you pay attention. I usually will run the tip of my fingernail over the denomination amount in the corner. You'll be able to feel some texture there. If it's totally smooth, then it's a laser copy or such.
Most taxi's in EZE are fine, but just watch out for some of them! Radio taxi's are usually the best ones.
Oct 14, 2006, 12:39 pm
#24
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If you ever visit New Orleans, and someone on Canal Street or in the French Quarter offers
"I'll bet you $10 I can tell you where you got your shoes"
... don't go for it.
("You gots your shoes on your feet")
"I'll bet you $10 I can tell you where you got your shoes"
... don't go for it.
("You gots your shoes on your feet")
Oct 14, 2006, 12:57 pm
#25
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Originally Posted by swag
If you ever visit New Orleans, and someone on Canal Street or in the French Quarter offers
"I'll bet you $10 I can tell you where you got your shoes"
... don't go for it.
("You gots your shoes on your feet")
"I'll bet you $10 I can tell you where you got your shoes"
... don't go for it.
("You gots your shoes on your feet")
The answer is also: "You got your shoes on your feet on Canal Street".
It was only $5 in the mid 90's.
Oct 16, 2006, 9:06 am
#26
Join Date: Jul 2005
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late evening, suburban ROC hotel parking lot.....
I was just getting back to the hotel after dinner, walking across the lot, and a guy comes up to me (walking from the hotel entrance, out into the lot). He tells me a story that he lives an hour or so out of town, his wife had a heart attack earlier that day, was in a hospital in town. He had followed the ambulance, and now he was here, with an empty tank of gas, and no wallet.
He asked for $20 for gas to get home, showed me the registration from his car with an NY address - couldn't tell if the distance was accurate, and promised to repay me by mail when he got home.
I gave him the $, along with my address and email address, figuring I had a 50-50 chance of getting my money back. Never did see it....
I was just getting back to the hotel after dinner, walking across the lot, and a guy comes up to me (walking from the hotel entrance, out into the lot). He tells me a story that he lives an hour or so out of town, his wife had a heart attack earlier that day, was in a hospital in town. He had followed the ambulance, and now he was here, with an empty tank of gas, and no wallet.
He asked for $20 for gas to get home, showed me the registration from his car with an NY address - couldn't tell if the distance was accurate, and promised to repay me by mail when he got home.
I gave him the $, along with my address and email address, figuring I had a 50-50 chance of getting my money back. Never did see it....
Oct 16, 2006, 9:30 am
#27
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Originally Posted by Jaimito Cartero
I referenced this "entertaining" scam in the IST thread.
The answer is also: "You got your shoes on your feet on Canal Street".
It was only $5 in the mid 90's.
The answer is also: "You got your shoes on your feet on Canal Street".
It was only $5 in the mid 90's.
Oct 16, 2006, 10:16 am
#28
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At the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, a girl said "Hello, I saw you at the hotel this morning." and continued by asking me how was I enjoying my visit. Eventually, turns out that she knew of a great place to buy gems at great prices. They were even having a sale for that day only. Yeah, right!
Oct 16, 2006, 10:50 am
#29
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A common one, even used by normally reputable hotels and other places, is to do the foreign currency conversion before charging your credit card in your home currency. The hotel or other merchant uses a much less favorable conversion rate than you would get by letting it charge your card in the local currency and letting the banking system do the conversion.
Oct 16, 2006, 10:57 am
#30
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Hotel bill
Originally Posted by tjl
A common one, even used by normally reputable hotels and other places, is to do the foreign currency conversion before charging your credit card in your home currency. The hotel or other merchant uses a much less favorable conversion rate than you would get by letting it charge your card in the local currency and letting the banking system do the conversion.
This is one reason why I always try to have a printout of what the "base" currency is that the hotel prices in. That way I can see if it necessary to hit an ATM before I leave.