Traveling is an exciting experience, but it also poses many risks, especially the risk of being scammed. First-time visitors to new locations often become easy targets for bad guys. To have a safe trip and avoid scams, refer to the tips below.
Find Out About Your Destination in Advance
Before traveling, take the time to carefully research your destination, from culture, customs to security information. Learning about safe areas, areas to avoid, and common scams at your destination will help you prepare mentally and be more alert throughout your trip.
You can also get opinions from travelers who have been to that destination through forums, travel blogs or travel review sites like TripAdvisor. Mastering this information will help you be more confident and easily recognize the signs of fraud.
Only Use Reputable Services
When renting a car, booking a hotel room or participating in tours, always choose reputable and highly rated services. Avoid using services from individuals or organizations of unknown origin, without a business license, or at unusually cheap prices.
You should book services in advance through reputable websites or travel applications to ensure safety and avoid scams. When you arrive, check the service provider’s information and don’t be afraid to refuse if you don’t feel confident.
Don’t Carry Too Much Cash
To minimize the risk of theft or fraud, you should not carry too much cash when traveling. Using credit cards or other electronic payment methods is a safer way to pay for services and make purchases. If you must carry cash, divide it into small portions and keep it in different places to avoid losing it all in a bad case.
When withdrawing money from ATMs, choose machines located in safe areas such as banks or shopping centers and always be wary of strangers around. Limit withdrawals at night and avoid withdrawing large amounts at once.
Beware of Attractive Invitations
When traveling, you may encounter attractive offers such as cheap tours, shopping for branded goods at extremely low prices or participating in lucky games with big rewards. These are often fraudulent traps aimed at appropriating tourists’ property.
Always be wary of offers that are too good to be true. If someone invites you to participate in an activity or make a purchase that’s too cheap, politely decline and continue your trip. In particular, do not trust strangers who approach you on the street with emotional stories or reasons to ask for money or help.
Take Care of Your Personal Assets
During the trip, you need to always pay attention to your personal property, especially when in crowded places such as markets, bus stations, train stations or famous tourist destinations. Use a backpack or zippered bag and keep the bag in front of your body to avoid pickpockets.
Do not leave valuable assets such as passports, phones, and wallets in places that can easily be stolen. If you need to use money or your phone, take it out in a safe and private place. When returning to the hotel, use a safe (if available) to preserve important items.
Always Be Vigilant When Moving
When using public transportation such as taxis, buses or motorbike taxis, make sure you are using official services and be clear about the price before boarding. Avoid using taxis that are not metered or do not have clear license plates. You can use reputable ride-hailing applications such as Grab and Uber to ensure prices and routes are tracked.
If you feel unsafe during the trip or the driver is behaving inappropriately, ask to stop and find another vehicle. Always stay in touch with relatives or friends throughout the journey and provide information about your destination to ensure safety.
Protect your assets when traveling
Avoiding travel scams is not difficult if you prepare carefully and stay alert. From finding out information before your trip, using reputable services to carefully preserving your assets, all help you have a safe and complete trip. Always be alert and trust your intuition to detect and avoid fraudulent situations during your travel journey.