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Traveling is a great way to see new places, gain new experiences, and learn more about the world. The exposure from your travels will add to your knowledge in ways you may not think possible.

If you are planning a trip to the United States of America, you bet there is a lot you’ll learn. However, swindlers can take the fun out of your travels by making you lose your hard-earned money or even endangering your life.

As we dive into the most common travel scams and ways to prevent them, you will learn how to protect yourself while enjoying your trip to the fullest.

If you are ready, let’s get started!

Taxi scams

Taxi scams are quite common in the US, and most travelers have fallen victim at one point. Although these hoaxes may come in different forms, they are all aimed at ripping you off.

One of the common ways some dubious taxi drivers deceive newcomers is by taking longer routes to increase fares. They prey on unsuspecting victims because they know they may have many issues finding the way around by themselves.

If you are unsure how to navigate any city in the US, install Google Maps or other navigation apps before starting any trip. You’ll do well to keep the app running while in the taxi so you’ll know when they are taking a different route.

Some mischievous drivers may also try to dupe you by rigging or breaking their meters to make your trip more expensive. Meters let you know the distance covered and the price. Therefore, any interference with it can lead to you spending more than necessary.

Be careful not to fall for this con by ensuring nothing is wrong with the meter of the taxi you are taking. If it isn’t working well, feel free to take another cab.

Hotel booking scams

You have to be careful when making hotel reservations in advance. There are a lot of fake hotel booking websites that you could lose your money to if you are not careful. After booking accommodation using fake websites, you will be stranded when you reach your destination and find out it was a sham. That’s an example of how hotel booking fraud works.

Before booking, double-check hotels online through their official phone numbers.

Charity fraud

Imagine a situation: you come to another country, buy a sim card, and then receive a call where someone asks you to donate to a charity. You, as a kind human being, donate a certain amount thinking that this sum will help someone in need. Unfortunately, this money will go to scammers’ pockets.

To prevent this from happening, reverse search the number you are contacted from on Nuwber. If there are any discrepancies, hang up and block the number.

If you feel like donating to anyone, there are many legitimate and well-known charities that can be easily found online.

Rental car damage scams

Another con you should be wary of is rental car damage. The car rental companies involved in this fraud rent out faulty cars to unsuspecting visitors and blame them for the pre-existing damage. You’ll be convinced you caused the damage and will have to pay for it.

One of the best ways to spot these fraudulent rental companies is by checking for online reviews on Yelp and other sites. You will likely find out if some companies have duped anyone.

Also, carefully inspect any vehicle you are given for poor maintenance and damage before paying for it. Take note of every seat stain, bumper scratch, and broken headlight. Take pictures before reporting what you noticed to the company. Then, wait for it to be fixed or replaced.

ATM skimming scams

ATM skimming is a common fraud you will likely fall for in any busy US city. Skimmers lurk around ATMs just as they do around gas stations, restaurants, and retail stores.

To run a successful operation, they attach a card reader (or skimmer) to the machine to steal your card numbers and PIN codes and replicate them on their cards. They could also plant a tiny camera around the ATM to record the PIN you will enter. In some cases, they could place a fake keypad over that of the ATM just to steal your PINs.

Although technology is being developed to monitor ATMs and ensure no skimming devices are placed on them, you should note what genuine PIN keypads and card insert slots look like.

If the machine has been tampered with, you will notice a pinhole camera, glue residues, tapes, bulky PIN keypads, and card inserts. Wiggle or gently try to lift the keypad or card slot to see if it comes off.

If anything looks amiss, report it to the bank branch for proper action. Also, block your bank account if your card is already compromised.

Street scams

Street scams are found in most cities. They involve pickpocketers and street thieves trying to steal people’s belongings. These gambits often have one or two accomplices, so as one person spins you a story, accuses you of nudging them too hard on the street, or spills coffee on you, the other picks your pocket.

Apart from picking your pockets, these swindlers can also run away with your belongings while you are distracted by their accomplices.

So, when you stroll around any part of the US, don’t be too trusting of anyone. Travel light, don’t leave your bags unattended for even a second, and avoid talking to strangers.

Don’t forget to safeguard your valuables, and don’t draw attention to expensive jewelry.

Front desk scams

Hotel front desk fraud occurs when you get a call from someone claiming to be the front desk officer or receptionist at the hotel you are lodged in. This call often comes in at night and is intended to catch you half-asleep so you can easily divulge your credit card information.

These fraudsters often call hotels and ask to speak with the occupants of random room numbers. However, it’s better to hang up and personally dial the front desk to let them know what is happening. Preferably, do not pick up calls late at night.

Final Thoughts

The lengths fraudsters go to defraud innocent travelers is disheartening. Hopefully, the government and law enforcement agencies are doing their best to curb most travel scams in different cities. In the meantime, you have to be on alert at all times.

Don’t allow swindlers to get a hold of your hard-earned money. Use the 7 tips to stay safe as you journey to the United States of America.