15 Things Savvy Travelers Do to Avoid Getting Scammed

Let me paint you a scene.

I had just landed in a new city, the air thick with possibility and jet lag. I needed an apartment for a month, nothing fancy. Craigslist had a perfect one. Sunny photos. Hardwood floors. “Owner abroad, but keys will be mailed once deposit is received.”

The rent was just slightly below market, not suspiciously low, just low enough to feel like a lucky find.

I thought about wiring the deposit, but it seemed a little too good to be true. I visited the location advertised first thing when I landed, and it turned out the apartment did not exist. I had just escaped a scam.

If that story feels familiar, it’s because it is. Rental scams are one of the most common traps travelers fall into, especially when looking for short-term housing in competitive cities. Scams don’t work because people are foolish. They work because people are hopeful.

Travel makes you optimistic. Scammers know that. Here’s how to protect yourself.

1. Vet Accommodations Ruthlessly

Never wire money for an apartment you haven’t verified. Reverse image search listing photos. Cross-check addresses on Google Street View. Look for the same property listed under different names. If someone claims to be “out of the country” and unable to show the place, that is a red flag.

Use established platforms with buyer protections when possible. If you go off-platform, understand you’ve removed your safety net.

2. Check Your Government’s Travel Website Before You Go

If you’re a U.S. traveler, consult the U.S. Department of State website. It lists:

• Visa requirements
• Entry restrictions
• Health requirements
• Current safety advisories
• Known scam patterns by country

There’s a color-coded advisory map that breaks down safety considerations by level. Read the fine print, not just the headline color.

While you’re there, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). It allows your embassy to contact you during emergencies and sends alerts about local risks, including scams currently circulating.

Knowledge beats bravado every time.

3. Buy Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance feels boring until you need it. Trip interruptions, medical emergencies, lost luggage, evacuation support. A scam that wipes out your wallet hurts less if you’re financially buffered.

Don’t confuse optimism with preparation.

For long-term travelers and nomads, SafetyWing offers flexible, subscription-style coverage across 180+ countries. For traditional trip insurance, Squaremouth is the easiest place to compare plans from top providers.

To learn more, check out our travel insurance guide here.

4. Consider Hiring a Local Guide

A local guide doesn’t just provide history; they provide context. They know which taxi stands are legitimate. They know whether bathroom “fees” are customary or fabricated.

For example, in parts of the Middle East, small restroom fees are common. But at certain official tourist sites, charging a random “cover” may not be legal, yet someone may attempt it anyway. A local will quietly tell you what’s normal and what’s nonsense.

Bartering is another area where cultural literacy matters. Having a local with you dramatically reduces the “tourist tax.” Browse local guided experiences on Viator or GetYourGuide — both let you filter by destination and read verified reviews before you book.

5. Use Digital Ride Apps, but Stay Alert

Services like Uber can reduce haggling and pricing manipulation because the fare is set in the app.

However, a common scam works like this: the driver accepts the ride in the app, then claims there’s an additional cash surcharge. There isn’t. If it’s not in the app, it’s not real. Cancel and report if necessary.

Digital convenience reduces risk, but it doesn’t eliminate it.

6. Don’t Accept “Free” Gifts

Bracelets, flowers, trinkets handed to you “as a gift.” Once it’s in your hand, the demand for payment comes. If you refuse, they may escalate or create a scene.

Don’t engage. Don’t take the item. Keep walking. Scammers weaponize politeness.

7. Maintain a Vigilant Presence

Pickpockets look for distraction and passivity.

• Use a money belt worn under clothing.
• Carry a closed bag with locking zippers, never an open tote in crowded cities.
• Be aware of known pickpocket hotspots (public transit, train stations, major landmarks).
• If someone bumps into you, check your belongings immediately.

Body language matters. Walk with intention. Confusion is visible from twenty feet away.

8. Use RFID Protection

RFID-blocking wallets and passport holders reduce the risk of electronic skimming of contactless credit cards. It’s not the most common scam, but it’s low-effort prevention. Layer your defenses.

9. Avoid Dense Crowds When Possible

Overcrowded areas are prime pickpocket zones. If you must be in one, secure your belongings beforehand. Assume distraction attempts are deliberate. Travel is not the time to test your faith in humanity.

10. Watch for Counterfeit Bills

In some destinations, counterfeit currency circulates heavily. When possible, use digital payments. Choose a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. It saves money and creates a transaction record if fraud occurs. Cash is anonymous. So are scammers.

11. Prepare Your Financial Backup Plan

• Notify your bank before traveling.
• Travel with two credit cards (e.g., Visa and MasterCard, or Visa and American Express) in case one network fails.
• Keep about $200 USD tucked separately for emergencies.
• Use ATMs located inside reputable banks (they can help you recover your card if the ATM eats it). If an ATM looks tampered with or isolated, skip it.

Sketchy machines rarely advertise their sketchiness.

12. Protect Your Documents

• Make physical and digital copies of your passport.
• Carry extra passport photos if traveling to regions where visa extensions may require them.
• Consider obtaining an international driving permit if needed.
• Use an eSIM to avoid overpriced airport SIM scams. Airalo is our go-to — it covers 200+ countries and you can download a plan before you board and land already connected. Connectivity equals control.

Read More: Why Airalo is My Go-To eSim When Traveling Abroad

13. Secure Your Accommodation

Lock your door. Use hotel safes for passports and spare cards. Don’t let strangers into your room, even if they claim to be staff. Verify with the front desk. Trust is earned, not assumed.

14. Use Translation Apps Strategically

Language barriers create asymmetry. Translation apps level it. Even demonstrating that you can translate in real time changes how you’re perceived. Scammers target confusion.

15. Be Skeptical of Urgency

“Only five minutes left.”

“Police are coming.”

“You must pay now.”

Artificial urgency is a universal scam tactic. Slow down. Scammers hate patience.

Travel scams evolve, but they follow predictable psychological patterns: urgency, distraction, politeness traps, authority impersonation, and hope.

The Craigslist apartment that wasn’t real could have cost me money. Travel doesn’t require paranoia. It requires awareness layered with preparation.

The world is extraordinary. So are the ways people try to take advantage of it. Move through it informed, steady, and just skeptical enough to stay free.

Need a hand planning your trip? Here are the sites and services we rely on most, from booking tools to travel products we love.

Inspire your next adventure with our articles below:

• From Police to Pets: How I Went From Investigating Major Crime to Full-Time Housesitter
• Eight Countries, Eleven Days: A Love Letter (and a Reality Check) to Train Travel in Europe

Want to discover more hidden gems and helpful travel tips? Join our free newsletter for the latest travel secrets and travel articles.

We are reader-supported and may earn a commission on purchases made through links in this article.