QUESTION: Fraud and deception: what are the most common scam schemes?

Travel is often overshadowed by the actions of malicious actors who take advantage of tourists' inattentiveness and gullibility. The most common scam schemes include fake guides imposing expensive and useless excursions, street vendors trying to pass off defective goods or demanding huge sums for free souvenirs, and taxi drivers who intentionally take longer routes or turn off the meter. Various tricks involving fake museum tickets and requests for help from foreigners allegedly who lost their documents are also popular.

To avoid becoming a victim of fraud, trip preparation should begin well in advance and systematically. Regarding fraud and deception, start by creating a clear plan that includes travel dates, a budget, and priorities divided into must-sees and optional activities. Then, book critically important things in advance through trusted aggregators and official websites so you don't have to rely on random offers on the spot.

Special caution should be exercised in crowded places, train stations, markets, and near popular attractions. Scammers often work in pairs: while one distracts your attention with a question or an artificially created crowd, the second quietly steals valuables or a wallet.

Never leave your bags and gadgets unattended, keep money and documents in secure inner pockets, and always check the change given to you in shops or cafes, as you might be handed out-of-circulation banknotes from another country.