COMMON SCAMS ABROAD

By John Gobbels, Chief Operating Officer, Medjet

Staying Secure: Avoiding Scams and Theft While Traveling

The creativity of thieves and scammers abroad never ceases to amaze me. These scammers have become increasingly sophisticated and their scams more and more frequent. I always emphasize the importance of situational awareness and proactive security measures to mitigate risks while traveling. Whether you’re in a crowded tourist hub or engaging with a seemingly friendly local in a quiet pub, staying alert, staying a little bit skeptical, and implementing best practices in personal security can prevent costly and stressful experiences.

Below are some of the most prevalent scams and security threats we’ve been hearing about, along with strategies to counter them.

Pickpockets Are A Persistent Threat

Pickpocketing remains one of the most widespread security risks for travelers, particularly in high-traffic areas across Europe and Latin America. These criminals do not fit a specific profile—they can present themselves as anyone from a distressed tourist, a group of rowdy schoolgirls, an elderly individual to a young mother seeking assistance with a baby.

Common tactics include:

Distraction techniques such as bumping into you, dropping items, asking you to help do something or pretending to help clean off a stain on your clothing.
Group maneuvers where multiple people work together, with one engaging you while another picks your pocket.
Opportunistic grabs when valuables are left in the open or in easily accessible pockets.

What You Can Do:

Utilize an RFID-blocking money belt or an interior security pouch.
Keep phones, wallets and valuables in front, preferably zippered, pockets.
Remain vigilant in crowded spaces, especially when approached unexpectedly.

Guard Your Phone

Phone snatching is a huge problem in tourist destinations. It’s not only inconvenient, losing a phone can be disastrous. Even with password protection, criminals can access your phone wallet, drain your bank accounts, and reset your ID ~ effectively (and permanently) locking you out of your own photos, keychain and other cloud stored assets.

You’re walking along, looking at your maps app or you set it down on the table while having a meal. A criminal speeds by on a bike or moped and your phone is gone.
Prevention: Secure your phone at all times. Don’t have your phone out in a crowded environment. If you need to check the map or a text, duck into a protected area like a doorway or a store.
If you have an iPhone, Apple has tips on how to best secure your phone here: https://support.apple.com/guide/personal-safety/safety-check-iphone-ios-16-ips2aad835e1/web .
UK cyber security experts The Final Step also have great information on making your phone as impenetrable as possible in case it does get snatched, we’ve included that link here as well: https://www.thefinalstep.co.uk/bytesizebriefings/10-top-tips-to-protect-your-iphone-before-it-is-stolen.

Common Tourist Scams and How to Counter Them

"I Found This, Is It Yours?"

A scammer presents a "valuable" item, such as a ring or wallet, and when you say it’s not yours they attempt to sell it at a "bargain" price.
Response: Do not engage. Acknowledge the scam and walk away.

The "Try It On" Scheme

Scammers may offer bracelets or jewelry, forcibly placing them on tourists and then demanding payment.
Response: Keep your hands to yourself, avoid engaging in demonstrations (especially with anything that looks difficult to remove, like a friendship bracelet) and firmly decline.

Fake Discounts and Salespeople in Distress

Phony "designer" products are commonly used to pressure tourists into overpaying or, worse, to lure them to a “secret showroom”.
Response: Avoid transactions that seem too good to be true and verify authenticity through reputable sources. Never enter a building with someone you don’t know.

Counterfeit Currency and Money Exchange Shorts

Scammers may employ slow-counting techniques, bill-switching tricks, or sleight-of-hand maneuvers to shortchange tourists. This includes taxi drivers, servers and cashiers so pay attention.
Response: Always count your change out loud and be familiar with local currency looks and denominations.

The "Helpful" Stranger at ATMs or Ticket Machines

These scammers offer assistance but are actually after your PIN code or cash.
Response: Never allow anyone to "assist" you with financial transactions. Shield your keypad and opt for indoor, well-lit ATMs. Jiggle the card slot as well. If it’s loose, it may have a skimmer in it and you may want to choose a different machine or another bank.

Bouncer-Enforced Overcharges

A seemingly friendly (and quite often very attractive!) local invites you for a drink, only for the establishment to present an outrageous bill enforced by security.
Response: Always choose the venue yourself and avoid accepting invitations from strangers.

Phony Police Officers

This one is the scariest one to me, and why it’s good to know ahead of time what the police uniforms look like at your destination. Criminals may impersonate security personnel to gain access to your belongings.

These fraudsters claim to be verifying "counterfeit money" or inspecting passports and attempt to steal from unsuspecting travelers.
Response: Insist on verification at an official police station before complying with any requests.
This is another good reason not to accept anything from anyone you don’t know or let anyone put anything on you.

Fake Front Desk Calls

The front desk calls you late at night to tell you there’s a problem with your credit card and they need the numbers again.
Response: Hang up and call the front desk yourself. If there is a problem, go down and handle it in person.

Fake Hotel Staff

Posing as room service or maintenance staff, these criminals gain entry to steal valuables.
Response: Verify hotel staff identities by calling the front desk before allowing entry.

Some Additional Advice:

Maintain digital backups of your important documents and store them securely in cloud storage. Leave a copy with someone you trust back home as well.
Use strong passwords and set up multi-factor authentication for all financial and travel website logins. Even with a VPN, try not to log into your financial institutions on unknown WiFis.

Never charge your phone in a public USB or USBC port, or at least use a data blocker.What is a data blocker? I’ve detailed them, and some other useful travel safety items in this blog post from May.
Carry a fake wallet with limited cash and old credit cards as a decoy in case of attempted theft.
Trust your instincts—if a situation feels off, remove yourself from it immediately.

By integrating these security strategies into your travel routine, you significantly reduce the likelihood of falling victim to scams. Always stay informed, remain skeptical of unsolicited engagements, and prioritize safety over convenience. Safe travels!