00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we'll be discussing some of the most commonly
00:15utilized methods of deception against tourists traveling abroad.
00:18I'll be watching you.
00:24Beggars in pickpockets.
00:25It's all about the distraction.
00:32We hesitate to use the word classic when it comes to describing this vintage tourist scam,
00:37perhaps established is more suitable when it comes to that age-old occupation of the
00:41pickpocket.
00:42These con artists want your wallet, and they're not above impersonating the unhoused to play
00:46upon the sympathy of tourists.
00:49These flim-flam operators will try and ask you for a paltry donation while attempting
00:53to live the whole shootin' shebang, so be sure to watch out where and how you carry
00:58a wallet, money clips, or purse.
01:00You know how the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a lifetime of cure.
01:08This illegal and moral scam isn't only relegated to the tourism sector, but it can very easily
01:21put a cramp in your vacation should you not be paying attention.
01:26We've probably all needed to grab cash in a quick pinch while we're on vacation.
01:43As a result, we may not exactly be totally focused on checking out our surroundings while
01:47hitting up an ATM.
01:48This is where skimmers come in.
01:50Since they can easily be placed over or within a cash machine that's left unmonitored, these
01:55skimmers can siphon off the unwary's banking info from the card.
01:58They're not only relegated to ATMs, either, since they can be also installed within innocent-looking
02:03card terminals at just about any store.
02:05I don't even know what to even look for, you know, if it looks real.
02:09Also recovered by investigators, a pinhole camera with a transmitter secured right above
02:14the keypad used to capture unsuspecting victims' fingers entering their personal identification
02:20number.
02:21Substance trafficking scams.
02:22Hey Kevin.
02:23I need more.
02:24I need more.
02:25What do you want me to do?
02:28I can only carry two bags and I can't fly back here every day.
02:31We're going to reference another grandpa saying for this example when we state that there's
02:35no such thing as a free lunch.
02:37In other words, those traveling abroad should always be wary of an offer that sounds too good
02:42to be true because it probably is.
02:45It's not entirely uncommon for tourists to be approached by strangers offering them what
02:49sounds like the deal of a lifetime, paid airfare or transportation, and the promise of lucrative
02:55windfalls.
02:56The only thing they have to do is go here, there, and everywhere on a planned itinerary.
03:01This is by design, of course, since the victims of these scams are basically being used as mules
03:05to facilitate illegal transport of goods across the border.
03:09Don't fall for it.
03:11When you're carrying drugs across the border, the idea is to remain calm.
03:15The way I do it is to think of something pleasant.
03:19A fun party, a moment of triumph, a sexual encounter.
03:25Cashier scamming.
03:26It sort of feels like a given that we should assume the cashier standing across from us at
03:30the checkout isn't going to intentionally rip us off.
03:33Then again, we all know what happens when we assume, right?
03:37Call it.
03:41Unfortunately, some less-than-scrupulous cashiers aren't above taking advantage of unwary tourists
03:47who aren't keen on counting their change.
03:49Some of these employees will either move like molasses while switching out bills or, even
03:53worse, attempt to snap a photo of your credit card as they are processing payment.
03:57This one can be tough to catch, and even more complicated when it comes to accusations.
04:02Our best advice is to be as vigilant as you can during every financial transaction abroad.
04:07The old switcheroo.
04:09You're so lucky.
04:11You're full of luck.
04:12It's your lucky day.
04:13No, it wasn't.
04:14It isn't only cashiers who might play around with your cash.
04:18Just about anyone handling your money could just have a trick up their sleeve that's designed
04:21to take advantage of tourists' unfamiliarity with local currency.
04:25See, we've had cases that I personally investigated where it was like $150, $180.
04:31And someone good at the scam can hit several stores in a day.
04:34Police have posted surveillance videos from across the country, $220 at this convenience
04:38store, and $2,100 ripped off from a single clerk at a Walmart in Albuquerque.
04:43A driver might have a secret stash of bills that they use to swap out when you're not looking
04:47or paying attention.
04:48And a aforementioned cashier might drop you counterfeit coins or incorrect change, all based solely
04:54on the assumption that you, the tourists, are a stranger in a strange land.
04:58It's always best to prepare oneself for any potential scams when it comes to handling
05:02money.
05:03And this includes knowing the values of coins and the proper exchange rate.
05:06And here's your change.
05:08$19,000, $20,000, $30,000, $40,000, $60,000, $80,000, $100,000, $200,000, $300,000, $500,000,
05:15$600,000, $700,000, $800,000, $1,000, $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $6,000, $7,000, $8,000, $9,000, $10,000.
05:22Thank you and come again.
05:23Non-helpful locals.
05:24Have a very special day for a very special little man.
05:30Okay.
05:31I can't believe that guy left us here.
05:38Let's be clear.
05:40Traveling can be a wonderful and life-changing experience.
05:43One that can include meeting scores of interesting new people.
05:46However, be careful about whom you trust since not all locals can be friendly.
05:51Some may come up offering advice on how to stay safe, only to glean info about where you
05:56happen to be stashing that wallet.
05:58Or locals may try to offer physical help in some fashion, such as finding a seat on the
06:02train.
06:03Then they'll forcefully demand a tip for doing so.
06:05Some of these scams can just as easily double as traps, such as those locals that intentionally
06:10try to create situations where you, the tourists, are caught alone, unawares, and ready to be robbed.
06:16Pardon me.
06:17Eh?
06:18Oh.
06:19Excuse me.
06:20Excuse me.
06:21Excuse me.
06:22Excuse me.
06:23Excuse me.
06:24A found ring.
06:29It could be a ring or something else like a wallet, but always be suspicious if a stranger
06:39picks something up off the ground and asks if it belongs to you.
06:42The found ring scam is one example of this behavior where a local or somebody else will
06:47be pointing out a ring on the ground and offer it up to you.
06:49Oh, hey, did you drop this ring?
06:51Is this ring yours?
06:52This gold ring?
06:53And you're going to say, of course, no, it's not my ring.
06:55And then they're going to try to get you to buy it from them for a small sum of money.
06:59And you might fall for that.
07:01Don't fall for it.
07:02They'll ask if you dropped it, but soon point out how it happens to be valuable.
07:05The scammer will then offer to sell it to you, even though this found ring happens to be
07:10the same bauble they dropped on the ground only moments prior to your arrival.
07:14The spirit of Sauron endured.
07:17His life force is bound to the ring, and the ring survived.
07:22Shell game.
07:23This is one of the oldest tricks in the book, yet it still seems to work on unsuspecting
07:28tourists, so here we are with the shell game.
07:31Here we go.
07:32Here we go.
07:33Where we go.
07:34Nobody knows.
07:35It may look like an innocent game of chance while you're walking down the street.
07:39But make no mistake.
07:40The odds are never in the tourists' favor with this one.
07:44That's the thing, little man.
07:45This is not a game of luck.
07:47It's about the science of memory.
07:48The shell game is designed to be a con where the player never correctly chooses where the
07:52ball is hiding.
07:53The house essentially always wins.
07:55And it doesn't matter if the shell game takes the guise of cards or cups.
07:59The proper course of action is just not to engage.
08:02Okay?
08:03Five will get to ten, ten will get to twenty, fifty will get to a hundred.
08:05Double your money, double your money.
08:06Just catch it once.
08:07One time, one time, one time.
08:10Friendship bracelet.
08:11Hey, we all want to take home some souvenirs when we travel, right?
08:16The experience can be made even more memorable if those souvenirs are handmade and indigenous
08:21to wherever we happen to be visiting.
08:23That said, always be careful about anybody attempting to place anything on your person
08:28while traveling.
08:29This includes items as initially innocuous as a friendship bracelet, which many con artists
08:33will try to put on before you can even notice.
08:36They'll then try to either demand you pony up some money or pick your pocket when you're
08:39not looking.
08:40No, thank you.
08:41No, no.
08:42I know the trick.
08:43I know.
08:44No, you put it on and ask them to me.
08:45No, nobody does.
08:46Yeah, yeah, yeah.
08:47Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified
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09:03Taxi overcharge.
09:04No hurry.
09:12The modern traveling landscape is one with a lot more options when it comes to how tourists
09:16can get around from spot to spot.
09:18And yes, while ride sharing services aren't perfect, the act of paying on an app essentially
09:23circumvents one of the oldest tourist traps in the book, the taxi overcharge.
09:28Unscrupulous drivers have historically loved to take their fares the long way around under
09:32the guise of a shortcut.
09:35Or the cabbie in question might take an intentional wrong turn, skipping your destination altogether
09:41while that meter runs up a bill.
09:43A public records request turned up six months of taxi complaints from the last half of 2024.
09:471880 complaints in total, averaging about 10 a day.
09:52But over 40% of those complaints, they were about fare issues.
09:56Watch how fast that meter goes.
09:58Watch out for flat fees.
10:00And beware that you don't get taken for any extra rides in that overpriced cab.
10:05Look at that.
10:06Isn't that great?
10:07Now you can take me uptown.
10:08Great.
10:09I'll be right back.
10:10See how you like it!
10:11Oh no!
10:12Oh no!
10:13No!
10:14Do you have any advice for the aspiring travel nut?
10:18Let us know some tips in the comments down below.
10:20And don't forget to like and subscribe for more WatchMojo videos.
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