Scams are everywhere and unfortunately you even have to worry about it while you’re traveling. Think back to your last trip – Did you come across that one person wearing sneakers, golf shirt with a windbreaker over it, shorts – Oh and don’t forget about that baseball cap that doesn’t fit quite right. That’s the type of person scammers are going to target. They know that person is a tourist. Don’t dress like that at all. In fact, try to blend in as much as you can.

But how else can you protect yourself against these notorious scammers? Keep these 3 things in mind:

Keep An Eye Out on That Taxi Driver

You may have heard about a taxi driver scam before. After all, it happens way too often, especially with travelers. Say you get into the taxi and you have an idea of what the ride will cost. You may even make the mistake of trusting the driver. You arrive at your destination, only to find out you are being charged double or even triple what the cost should have been. The driver tells you your total, with an intimidating look and a half-crooked smile.

Solution: Find out the most reputable taxi service before you even step foot in your destination.

If You’re Single, Take Note

Single and heading out to travel. You’re likely going to run into some interesting people of the opposite sex. Maybe back home nobody is worth getting to know, but you run into someone during your travels that caught your eye. Unfortunately, scammers are looking forward to tourists traveling to their location. For example, they get you interested in talking with them, suggest drinks, and get you to let your guard down. You wake up the next morning not remembering much and not having any cash in your wallet. This scam is real and you need to keep your guard up at all times.

Solution: Limit your drinks so you know what’s going on. Make sure you watch your drinks being made. If you meet someone nice, why not go out for a coffee instead. At least with coffee you’ll remember the entire time together.

Photo Credit: fabartdiy.com

Is That Handbag Even Real?

It’s not just the internet you need to be careful on when you purchase a brand name handbag – You also need to be cautious when you are traveling. Southeast Asia and China are well-known for their knock off items, which is why their electronics and luxury items are incredibly cheap. The majority of the time the products you’ll come across are Western-designed items, which have been copied by the locals.

Solution: Always know what you want. If you have your eye on a Michael Kors bag, you need to either go to the website and view the bags closely or go online and type in “real vs fake Michael Kors bag” – Always educate yourself before being scammed.

You may not always be scammed when you’re traveling but it’s ideal to know what you’re in for ahead of time.