Popular Scams from Around the World that Every Traveler Should Know About

YouTube · Post by **General Mackevili** » Tue Dec 15, 2015 11:52 am

For some peace of mind, it's important to familiarize yourself with scams that are common in your travel destination. The travel company Justtheflight.co.uk created a nice infographic listing 40 of the most common travel scams using information from sources like Lonelyplanet.com, the U.S. embassy website, and Wikitravel.org. From their info, cab drivers, hotel staff, and overly friendly locals are most likely to scam you while you're on your holiday.

Most of the scams involve some form of distraction. For example in Rome, a random woman on the street may throw her baby (a doll) into your arms, and while you're in shock and your hands are occupied, her accomplices go through your pockets or bag. In Paris and London, you may find street magicians performing tricks to a large audience. When you go over to watch, their accomplices (usually dressed as tourists) will pickpocket you.

Other common street scams involve locals pretending to offer you a free product or service like a flower for your spouse or a music CD, but then aggressively demanding payment after you accept the gift. Some locals may offer to take a photograph of you only to run away with your camera...

...continued...

http://www.earthables.com/popular-touri ... 99972.html

obelisks · Post by **obelisks** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 4:18 pm

is this some type of scam which I have encountered several times in Phnom Penh as well as Laos but not in Thailand?
You are walking along when suddenly a motorbike carrying male and female couple will pull at the side of you and the female will make some kind of remark such as asking if you are on holiday or something?
or it could be someone who makes a personal observation about your clothing.
The people involved are always very gushingly friendly and are always Filipino nationality ( they have a very distinctive accent which always give them away).
I always feel like they're about to ask for something or do something so I usually bring the conversation to a close or I asked them if they were from the Philippines at which point they kind of lost interest in further conversation.there has to be some catch to it because they are all using the same modus operandi.
Has anyone else experienced this ?

Post by **Username Taken** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 4:25 pm

obelisks wrote:is this some type of scam which I have encountered several times in Phnom Penh as well as Laos but not in Thailand?
You are walking along when suddenly a motorbike carrying male and female couple will pull at the side of you and the female will make some kind of remark such as asking if you are on holiday or something?
or it could be someone who makes a personal observation about your clothing.
The people involved are always very gushingly friendly and are always Filipino nationality ( they have a very distinctive accent which always give them away).
I always feel like they're about to ask for something or do something so I usually bring the conversation to a close or I asked them if they were from the Philippines at which point they kind of lost interest in further conversation.there has to be some catch to it because they are all using the same modus operandi.
Has anyone else experienced this ?

There are a number of threads about this. Filipino Blackjack scammers. Here's one of them

https://cambodiaexpatsonline.com/general ... t5269.html

Anchor Moy · Post by **Anchor Moy** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 6:47 pm

Love that "Thrown Baby" scam. So if anyone ever throws a baby at you, just throw it right back; lol.

obelisks · Post by **obelisks** » Fri Dec 18, 2015 5:26 pm

Username Taken wrote:
obelisks wrote:is this some type of scam which I have encountered several times in Phnom Penh as well as Laos but not in Thailand?
You are walking along when suddenly a motorbike carrying male and female couple will pull at the side of you and the female will make some kind of remark such as asking if you are on holiday or something?
or it could be someone who makes a personal observation about your clothing.
The people involved are always very gushingly friendly and are always Filipino nationality ( they have a very distinctive accent which always give them away).
I always feel like they're about to ask for something or do something so I usually bring the conversation to a close or I asked them if they were from the Philippines at which point they kind of lost interest in further conversation.there has to be some catch to it because they are all using the same modus operandi.
Has anyone else experienced this ?
There are a number of threads about this. Filipino Blackjack scammers. Here's one of them

https://cambodiaexpatsonline.com/general ... t5269.html

aha ! Thanks a lot for that

so I feel pleased that I must be saying or acting in the right way to put them off because they soon back away from me ha ha