In my last column I discussed several well-known scams that can land eager travelers in some serious trouble. Here are a few more well or lesser-known techniques that some individuals use to prey on people visiting their country while on vacation.
Email: A couple opens their email and lo and behold there is a travel deal with a free component. All you have to do is phone in to register.” In some cases the airfare might be free but you are obligated to stay at their chosen accommodation that is either really expensive or there are hidden costs.
Hint: Something free can be something suspicious.
Tickets: John goes online to purchase a package for Super Bowl XLV. He receives the hotel and air vouchers and is told where to pick up the Super Bowl tickets upon arrival. John arrives in town, checks into the hotel and upon arriving at the ticket pickup location, finds out there are no tickets or there is no location.
Hint: Pay by credit card and have your tickets in hand before you leave.
Parking valets: Brian and Jenna decide to have the restaurant valet park their vehicle. After dinner, when their vehicle is driven up to them the camera is missing.
Hint: Do not leave valuable items in your vehicle at anytime. Stash them in the trunk before arrival. Do not hesitate to complain regardless of the warning on the back of the valet ticket.
Street games: You are in Barcelona, on Las Ramblas, where you run into a game where you have to guess under which cup the small ball or pea is located. The person across from you wins at the game and then plays again with $50 and wins again. After observing how easy it looks you put down $50. You not only lose but the group quickly disappears.
Hint: The hand is quicker than the eye — a legitimate player will never win.
Here are some other tips that can help ensure your trip is more of a vacation than headache.
• Wear a money belt that fits underneath your clothing.
• If you are in a country where you need a passport at all times, make a photocopy of it and carry that with you. Place the original in a safe.
• Before you take a taxi, find out the most direct route and the approximate cost of the trip. Ask the doorman, concierge or front desk.
• Make yourself familiar with any foreign currency that you purchase. How does it relate to the Canadian or U.S. dollar?
• In restaurants, bars, Internet cafĂ©s, etc. loop any straps under the leg of the chair.
• Be aware of “overly friendly” people who approach you on your vacation.
• Avoid placing your tray of valuables on the x-ray machine conveyor belt until you are ready to walk through the metal detector.
• In crowds, constantly be aware of any valuables you have with you, especially when you are physically contacted.
• Never give your credit card number over the phone unless you made the call and know that you are dealing with a reputable company.
• If you have been robbed or think you are about to be robbed, yell or wave your arms or act as if you are taking the picture of the would-be-thieves.
• To avoid paying cash for tickets that do not exist or purchasing event travel packages that do not include tickets, thoroughly research the validity of the seller.
• In regards to any unsolicited email, letter or phone call in regards to a trip, receive complete details in writing prior to payment — price, cancellation fee(s) and information on the specific components of the package.
• In regards to the unsolicited promotion be aware of any restrictions, plus have the ability to personally verify or confirm all arrangements directly with the hotel, cruise ship company or ticket agency.
• Wrap a few rubber bands around your wallet. It makes it more difficult for a pickpocket to extract it.
• And of course, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Bill MacDonald is a St. Albert-based travel consultant. He can be reached at [email protected]
