Late-breaking Travel Scams You Need to Know

Traveling opens us up to new experiences, but unfortunately, it can also expose us to sophisticated scams designed to separate us from our money and belongings.

From digital payment tricks at restaurants to lightning-fast street theft, travelers face an evolving landscape of scams that can turn a dream vacation into a nightmare in seconds. Understanding these tactics is your first line of defense against becoming another statistic.

The travel industry has seen a concerning rise in digital and physical scams targeting tourists who are often distracted, unfamiliar with local customs, or caught off guard. Recent footage from popular destinations like London, Rome, and Barcelona shows just how quickly and efficiently these criminals operate, with many victims not even realizing they’ve been targeted until it’s far too late.

With proper awareness and a few strategic precautions, you can significantly reduce your risk and focus on enjoying your journey rather than dealing with the aftermath of theft. Let’s get started on what you need to know today.

New Restaurant Tip Scam

We’re all too familiar with the old tip scams – like the one where you tip on a bill that included the tip already, but now there are some new scams, and they seem to be popping up everywhere.

Tipping is a sore subject in America, and some think it’s out of control – here are a few new examples of sneaky ways tips are being demanded of travelers:

• Tips on takeout orders
• Tips requested by flight attendants (!?!)
• Airport servers ‘helpfully’ marking out lower suggested tip amounts on bills
• Higher than normal tips and making it impossible to select a reasonable amount

Businesses and staff that pull stunts like this try to trick travelers who are either too nice, too drunk, or not paying attention enough to notice or make a fuss.

As digital payment systems (like table kiosks) are proliferating in restaurants and bars, there’s a new restaurant tip scam to watch out for, and even worse – it’s a difficult one if you struggled with math in school. Here’s a new tipping scam at restaurants to watch out for!

As you see in the video, the table kiosk automatically increases the tip amount using wonky math! I don’t know about you, but all of the times I’ve dined at a restaurant with these payment things at the table have had the absolute worst service I’ve seen.

I asked a few friends what they would do in this situation, and the consensus was either:

• Tip nothing in protest, or
• Tip nothing on the kiosk and leave some cash behind instead

Would you do something differently?

Pro tip: Make sure you verify the tip amount is correct if it’s automatically added for you!

Street Theft Tactics: How Thieves Target Travelers On the Go

While restaurant payment scams might leave you feeling cheated, street theft can completely derail your vacation. Recent videos have captured thieves in action across major tourist destinations, revealing just how quickly these crimes happen.

The Phone Snatch

One of the most common theft tactics happens in seconds – a thief on a motorcycle, e-bike, or scooter zooms by and grabs your phone right out of your hand. This isn’t just happening in notorious pickpocketing capitals like Barcelona or Rome – it’s becoming common in London, Paris, and American cities.

The theft is so quick that victims have virtually no time to react. 

In London, these “phone snatchers” work busy tourist areas and upscale neighborhoods alike. As one victim described it: “One second I was checking directions, the next my phone was gone and the thief was halfway down the block!“

Pro tip: Don’t use your phone while you’re walking. Keep it in a zippered pocket or bag. 

If needed, check the directions by stepping inside an entranceway or placing your partner or travel companion in front of you to block the opportunity to snatch.

Some pickpockets even dress like tourists to blend in. In Mallorca, Spain, security cameras recently caught a team targeting an oblivious traveler. The travelers didn’t even hear the warnings shouted out! 

Team Tactics

Many pickpockets work in coordinated teams with other thieves. The strategy typically involves:

1. A spotter who identifies vulnerable targets
2. A distractor who creates confusion (asking directions, “accidentally” bumping into you or pushing you in a crowded place)
3. The actual pickpocket who makes the grab during the distraction

See this man get blocked by a seemingly focused traveler who snatches something from his pocket while he smiles at the thief, who then jumps on the train to escape.

The “Helpful Stranger” Scam

This particularly devious scam preys on travelers’ trust and often targets those with luggage. Here’s how it works:

1. Thieves approach travelers at train stations or airports
2. They claim escalators or elevators are broken (they’re not)
3. They offer to help carry bags upstairs
4. While one carries a bag, another steals from your purse or backpack

A cruise passenger in Barcelona nearly missed her sailing after falling victim to this scam. Two young women told her the escalator was broken, and while “helping” with her luggage, they emptied her purse of cash and credit cards.

Pro tip: Don’t let strangers help you. Instead, loudly say No Thanks! and keep control over your bags.

Practical Safety Strategies

The best defense is situational awareness at all times. Most thieves look for easy targets who appear distracted, confused, or overwhelmed, which are easy states to be when you’re traveling, especially if you are jetlagged and unfamiliar with the location!

Simply being alert and looking confident can make you a less appealing mark. Thieves are more likely to move on to other easier targets.

For your devices

• Use your phone away from street edges and doorways
• Consider a cross-body phone case with secure attachment
• Enable “Find My” features and remote wipe capabilities
• Keep backup authentication methods for essential accounts

For Your Valuables

• Use anti-theft bags with hidden zippers and locks
• Consider a money belt or cross-body pouch for passports and extra cash
• Separate your valuables (don’t keep all cards or cash in one wallet)
• Separate your identification too (don’t keep your passport and passport card in the same place)
• Leave expensive jewelry and watches at home

If you become a victim, contact your bank or credit card companies immediately and report the theft to the local police. You won’t get what you lost back, but you will need that police report to make an insurance claim.