(^2018) I SAGA.CO.UK/AUG-MAG (^39)
Beat the con artists
SCAM 3
The tourist trap
There’s nothing new about a small minority
of dishonest locals attempting to trick
holidaymakers in the street into giving
them money – from selling dodgy trinkets
to signing people up for non-existent tours,
but fraudsters try fresh ideas all the time.
One example from Rome involves a man
stopping his car and asking for directions.
He will then say he is running out of petrol
and will offer to sell you something, such as
an unused item of clothing, at a ‘bargain’
price, in order to pay for fuel. Needless to
say, the item is practically worthless.
How to protect yourself
Treat any unsolicited approach with
a degree of caution. Learn the phrase ‘I’m
sorry, I can’t help’ in the local language to
politely but firmly decline their request or
offer. Research online before you travel to
a destination to see whether there are any
specific local scams you need to be aware of.
SCAM 4
Fake travel companies
Most of us like to bag a bargain when it
comes to travel. But if a deal seems too good
to be true, the chances are it’s a con.
Action Fraud warns that fraudsters are
contacting people, often out of the blue, and
offering them a dream holiday or desirable
accommodation at an extremely
competitive price. The travel company
behind the offer may seem legitimate and
even have a convincing website – but it’s
bogus. They will only steal your money.
How to protect yourself
There are several questions you should ask
yourself before you book. First, why has
Extra online
For more on scams
and how to beat
them, visit saga.
co.uk/aug-mag
sean pound
(Sean Pound)
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