Quick, cheap, and easy transport has allowed everyone and their mother to fly all over the world. One day you can dine in lavish French restaurants in Paris and the next you can ride elephants in Thailand. However, with travel inevitably comes that less-than-honest tout looking to separate you from your money. Maybe you run into that nicely dressed taxi driver who informs you that he knows of a “special shopping sale” and offers to take you there for next to nothing. Maybe you fall into the trap of street games (cards, dice, etc.) and loose your pocket change. Worse yet, maybe you never realized you were scammed at all.

The primary thing to be said is that most people who are traveling internationally are ignorant of the customs, traditions, laws, and social behaviors of the host country in which they are traveling. Every foreigner immediately becomes an easier target for any sort of scam, simply because they are less likely to ever realize they are unfairly separated from their money. Beyond this, there is the wide misconception that travelers are rich. Most people in the world don’t have the money to travel, and it is a sign of wealth if you can indulge in such luxuries. It matters not if you have only a dime to your name. This is especially true in poorer countries, where scams are far more likely to occur. It pays to be cautious on the family vacation to London, but it is a matter of necessity to have your wits about you when walking the streets of Bangkok.

It is impossible to safeguard yourself from every possible scam. Thousands exist and hundreds more are thought of each day. The number one way to protect yourself, then, is to be aware that you are a target when you are abroad, especially if traveling alone or on a budget. Foresight is the primary shield. Nothing is excessively easy or cheap, and if anyone claims that they can get you across the country for half of what you thought it would cost, you should probably pass up the offer. Realize that you are most likely to be scammed when you are tired, cramped, groggy, overwhelmed, or busy; the time when your mind is distracted is the time when you should be on the lookout. It is always best to rely on your cautious side rather then jump on every deal. You may miss out on a few cheap T-shirts, but you won’t end up having your bag sliced on an overnight bus and have your money stolen.

There are, however, common scams. They are implemented in a variety of ways, but if you are aware of them and can spot the signs, you will save yourself a lot of time and money. The following scams are compiled from both my personal experience with too much lost money and far too many headaches and the tales of fellow travelers.

Money Exchange/Exchange Tax

This scam occurs primarily at land border crossings, but be aware of it at all times. It is always best to exchange money at banks or branches of a bank. Official exchange counters are also reliable. This scam is a union between touts, which involves a group of people. You will be called into a shabby store or restaurant, likely beckoned by your taxi driver or a friendly face seeking to help you find a place to exchange your money. He or she will likely tell you that you should change your money at a specific place, as any other place collects an exchange tax that will cut your exchange rate by up to 25%. This is untrue. If you are ever informed of any exchange tax, or a selective tax that is collected only at specific banks or exchange counters, you are being scammed. If you are out of cash and need money (i.e. you don’t have enough local money to get yourself a taxi away from the border or to a neighborhood with a bank), exchange only enough to get you away, because you are getting ripped off.

Overnight Transit

The faults of overnight transit, especially on any kind of bus or train, are obvious. Often you are forced to leave your bags on easily accessible racks or cargo holds. But you don’t have enough money to fly, so what do you do?

The key to protecting yourself on overnight transit is to realize that the cheaper the transit, the more likely you are to either be scammed or robbed. Also, theft is more common if you are traveling with a private company. Public and government transportation is always safer. If you find yourself with a lack of options or money, and need to book a cheap bus overnight, there are a few ways to minimize your risk.

First, lock your bag with a combination lock with four or more numbers rather than a key lock. Key locks are easily picked, but thieves rarely have enough time to try out the ten thousand possible combinations that would be required to open your bag if you used a combination lock. Also, take everything of value out of your primary bag prior to travel (travel documents, cash, credit cards, cameras, etc.) and carry them with you in a day bag. Some buses, trains, or boats have people stored in the luggage compartments, and they spend the hours en route to the destination cramped below deck picking locks and reaping the rewards. In most cases, having a locked day bag sitting between your legs is safe, and if your primary bag is broken into, you won’t loose anything more than a few pairs of socks.

Cheap Taxis

Taxis come in a wide variety of forms. Rickshaws, tuk-tuks, motorbikes, and rowboats await you at every turn. Taxis, in all these forms, will often express their desire to take you anywhere in whatever city or locale you happen to be in for an extremely small fare. They will then say they must make a quick stop, which inevitably leads to a drawn out attempt to sell you something expensive. They will take you to some sort of shop (jewelry, gem, tailors, and travel agents are all common) and you will be hassled to purchase something. If you choose to buy anything, a commission will be given to the taxi driver. Unbeknownst to you, this commission will be tagged atop a price tag that is already overpriced. Do not get in a taxi offering extremely low fares or if they tell you they need to make a stop. It is a quick way to waste away a few hours haggling your way out of spending money.

Destination Dirty, Closed, or Full

This scam usually involves a taxi driver or a travel agent. When you tell the driver you want to go to a certain guesthouse or hotel, or try to make a reservation, they will tell you that it is either closed, dirty, or full. They will proceed to inform you of a very cheap alternative that will suit your needs. If you choose this route, it is likely that you will end up paying more for substandard service and accommodation. It is always a good idea to call before you show up or to go check your intended destination anyways, regardless of what you are told. Taxis and travel agents are often lying in this regard, hoping that they can book you or take you to a hotel where they get a commission.

A slightly modified version of this involves major tourist sites. If approached by anyone who claims that a major tourist site is closed for renovation or a government holiday, be weary. This is a common lie that usually leads you towards some other destination (usually a shop or hotel) in hopes of getting you to spend your money. Disregard such statements and check your desired destination yourself. Or, if you must, check with a local tourist police or tourist information center to determine whether the site is closed.

Border Crossings

Border crossings are a haven for scams. This, however, does not hold true if you are flying into a country. Passport control and immigration in airports is always well regulated. Land crossings are harder to monitor, and therefore there is potential for risk. When traveling across borders by land, make sure you are using the largest and most common border crossing. Often there is more than one border crossing between any two given countries. Check with other travelers and licensed travel agents to determine which one is best. Also, make sure you have the most recent entry requirements and visa/entry fee information on hand. Many scammers (even official men in uniform) will tell you that you must pay a visa or an entry fee to cross the border. The tricky part is that for some countries and/or nationalities, this is true. Every country has different fees and requirements, which sometimes differ based upon your individual nationality. Scammers take advantage of this because you may see someone pay an entry fee that may not be applicable to you. You are asked to pay this same fee, and you go right ahead and pay it. If you are not careful, you could lose some money. The lesson is to check with an embassy or consulate before you cross (this can be done online).

Other Ways to Protect Yourself

• Keep all important documents (passports, credit cards, ATM cards, etc) with you or locked in a deposit box. Never leave them in your primary bag.
• Photocopy all travel documents, as it eases the process of replacing them if lost or stolen.
• Avoid credit card use, except at well-established shops, hotels, restaurants, etc (credit card fraud is very common, especially at jewelry/gem stores, particularly in Asia).
• Lock all bags at all times. Combination locks with at least for number are best.
• Divide your resources—keep some money in your day bag, some in your primary bag, and some in a wallet or a money belt. If you are robbed, you will have some money to get back on your feet.

Unfortunately, no matter how smart, prepared, and cautious you are, there will always be a new scam that will catch you off guard. There are too many people who are out to separate a traveler from their money. Keep your wits about you and never trust something that seems to good to be true—it probably is.