3 Common Travel Scams — How to Avoid Them and Keep Your Money Safe

Posted on by Darren Alff

If you travel long enough, you will eventually encounter a scam.

After more than two decades of traveling all around the world, I’ve had my fair share of close calls, strange encounters, and situations that could have gone very wrong if I hadn’t been paying attention.

In the video above, I share three real travel scam situations that were attempted on me during my travels. These aren’t theoretical scams you read about online — these are real experiences that happened to me personally on my bicycle tours all around the world.

And the important thing is this: Each one teaches a lesson that can protect you anywhere in the world.

1. The “Friendly Local” Setup

One of the most common scams doesn’t feel like a scam at all — at least not at first. It starts with someone being incredibly friendly.

They approach you, strike up a conversation, ask where you’re from, and seem genuinely interested in helping you. Maybe they offer directions, invite you somewhere, or just hang around chatting.

At first, everything feels completely normal. But then, slowly, things start to shift.

The “friendly local” may:

  • Guide you somewhere you didn’t intend to go
  • Introduce you to another person involved in the scam
  • Put you in a situation where you feel socially pressured to pay or comply

This type of scam works because it builds trust first. And once trust is established, it becomes much harder to say no.

According to travel safety experts, many scams begin with a friendly approach designed to lower your guard before anything suspicious happens.

How to avoid it

  • Be polite, but keep your guard up.
  • Don’t follow strangers to secondary locations.
  • Avoid getting pulled into situations you didn’t plan for.
  • Trust your instincts if something feels off.

The key lesson: Not every friendly person has bad intentions — but scammers rely on you believing that they don’t.

2. The Theft / Pickpocket Situation

Another situation is more direct and more common than most travelers realize. This is the classic theft or pickpocket scenario.

It can happen quickly and quietly:

  • Someone distracts you
  • You get bumped in a crowd
  • Your attention is pulled elsewhere for just a second

And that’s all it takes. Wallet gone. Phone gone. Money gone.

Pickpocketing is one of the most widespread issues travelers face worldwide, especially in busy public areas and transportation hubs.

What makes this particularly dangerous is how subtle it is. You often don’t realize anything has happened until much later.

How to avoid it

  • Keep valuables in front pockets or hidden pouches
  • Avoid carrying large amounts of cash
  • Be extra alert in crowded areas
  • Don’t let distractions pull your focus away from your belongings

Also, consider this: If something unusual is happening around you, it may be intentional. Distraction is one of the oldest tricks in the book.

3. The “Roadblock” / Forced Payment Situation

This is the most intense story I share — and while I mention it’s not exactly a traditional scam, it’s something every traveler should be aware of.

What generally happens is: Someone literally stops you in your path and tries to extract money from you simply because you’re a traveler.

Situations like this can happen in remote areas, rural regions, or places where locals feel ownership over a road, trail, or territory.

And in these cases, logic doesn’t always apply.

It becomes less about right or wrong… and more about:

  • Staying safe
  • De-escalating the situation
  • Getting out without conflict

How to handle it

  • Stay calm and non-confrontational
  • Avoid escalating the situation
  • Be willing to walk away or change your route
  • Prioritize safety over being “right”

This is one of the hardest lessons for travelers: Sometimes the smartest move is not to win — but to leave safely.

Why These Situations Happen

All three of these scenarios have something in common:

They target travelers because travelers are:

  • In unfamiliar environments.
  • Carrying valuables.
  • Often alone or isolated.
  • Trying to navigate new situations quickly.

And because of that, travelers are seen as easy targets. Even experienced travelers aren’t immune — they’re just better at recognizing the signs.

The Bigger Lesson: Awareness Beats Experience

You don’t need to be paranoid when you travel. But you do need to be aware!

The goal isn’t to avoid every interaction with strangers or walk around in fear. Most people in the world are good, kind, and helpful.

The goal is simply this: Recognize when something feels off — and act on it early.

Because in almost every scam or bad situation:

  • There’s a moment where something doesn’t feel right.
  • A small warning sign.
  • A subtle shift.

And if you catch that moment early, you can avoid the entire situation.

Final Thoughts

Travel scams come in many forms — from subtle psychological tricks to more direct confrontations.

But the three situations in this article/video highlight something important: Scams aren’t always about clever tricks. Sometimes they’re just about putting you in a vulnerable position. If you stay aware, trust your instincts, and don’t let yourself get pulled into situations you didn’t choose, you’ll avoid the vast majority of problems.

Travel smart. Stay alert. And enjoy the adventure.