AVOIDING SCAMS WHEN TRAVELING

          Naïve and trusting tourists are perfect targets for scams. The solution is to be alert and not overly trusting and that should lessen your chances of being scammed. A common place where scams take place is at busy markets where vendors or cashiers count really slowly. During the slow count, vendors hope to increase their cash flow by giving the wrong change and that tourists don’t pay attention to it. The wrong change may also happen unintentionally. At restaurants, waiters may be arithmetically challenged and shortchange you. So pay attention to your change, especially when using large bills. Certain coins may look alike. It can be confusing to when some coins are worth less but look bigger than the ones that are worth more.

          There are myriad classic scam scenarios such as accidental dropping something so you can kindly pick it up, and lose your wallet while doing it. Even worse, some may throw a baby at you while a partner thief snatches your purse. A good tip before helping anyone in need is to first guard your belonging and the carefully help out the “victim” when it may very well be you. Hopefully the case of throwing a baby won’t happen too often.