10 Biggest Tourist SCAMS in Spain

I hope these tips help you stay safe in Spain!

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Editor – Clément Letourneur
Thumbnail designer – Lucas Kieffer
Camera operator –

==== WHO ARE WE? ====
Hola, Spain lovers! We're James and Yoly. James is a New Zealander, and Yoly is from Spain. We both live in Madrid. Our channel gives you a local insight into life in Spain and helps you experience this country like a local when you come to live (or visit!).

If that sounds like your kind of thing, bienvenid@!I

[willmosswick]

The best way I've found to fight off scammers is simply to laugh when they approach me, shake my head and walk pass them. This signals that I know what they're doing and ythat I'm not going to fall for it. Every single time they change course and don't even bother with me. Another tip is to not make eye contact, if you accidentally look at them simply look away, laugh, shake your head and walk pass. Works like a charm every time.

[j.joseph]

These tips are applicable wherever you travel. The scams may change slightly, but overall they're the same throughout the world.

[alexriddock]

I got caught with the Bracelet one while visiting Madrid (Right in Plaza Mayor where you opened the video actually!). My girlfriend and her mum were showing me around as that's their hometown. Got stopped by one guy who opened by complimenting my shoes, naturally I said thanks and that was it, I was in the conversation. Initially he told me the bracelet was free, then after I was trying to leave, he then changed his mind, asked for €10, then €5. Then tried to tell me he was trying to feed his kids. Thankfully he wasn't physically pushy or aggressive and my girlfriend and her mum knew exactly what was going on. You definitely have to know how to exit these conversations easily or completely avoid them. Thanks for bringing this up!

[vanilla_vanancie]

I learned a Hard lesson in Porto, Portugal. A taxi driver charged me with €75, he drove me a long way around. He drove stright to the hotel, when I started gps in my phone and told him that I have been driving small trucks in my home country. Next day I had to call for a taxi - it cost me €30.. same way back. Every time I get into a taxi now, I start my own GPS immediately.. Letting them know that I know too

[shangyien]

If you would prefer not to spend anything on your museum tickets, go in the last two hours of the day. It's free at he Prado, Sofia Reina and the Thyssein-Bornemisza museums. That's long enough to walk around a museum and you can go back again the next evening to see another section.

[jimriceva]

James, I wish I had seen this before my trip! This is an important video for any travelers. May 25, in Seville, Jardines de Catalina de Ribera, I got hit by the bird poop pickpocket. That [glass bowl] sprayed a ton of stuff on my wife and me. I should have caught on, that there aren't eagles with upset stomachs flying around Spain. He took me for €150, plus two of my credit cards. Disgust is a powerful distraction.

[earlineahonima]

Very helpful, every bit of this video. I used Welcome Pickups on my last trip to Barcelona at the suggestion of my hotel. Upon my arrival, the driver was in the Welcome area outside the baggage claim area with my name on his iPad, and the pickup was easy and pleasant. On my return, the Welcome Pickup driver arrived at my hotel right on time and was also pleasant and helpful. I paid for both trips in advance, and so no money was exchanged. I plan to use them again whenever I can.

[moonmist]

A big hotel on Venus beach in Marbella has fish prices listed on the menu (which you have to look up digitally as it's not printed on paper), but for tired tourists it's easy to miss the fine print which says that the prices are for 100 grams of fish (who eats only 100 grams of fish)??? We had to pay close to 100 Euros for that fish which wasn't even tasty. The smirking waiter looked like he was very proud of himself. We didn't go near that place again. I feel like this is a scam. Who puts fine print on a menu, and then makes you look at it on tiny phone screens?

[richardherkert]

I lost my wallet in Barcelona while sitting on a bench, only found out half an hour later.
I go back; it’s not there.

Walking away a little bummed out, someone taps me on my shoulder.
He found the wallet and saw me looking at the bench, i got it back with everything still inside.

At a later day someone bumped into me in Raval, immediately checked my pocket, phone gone.
I turn around and this guy just gives the phone back and exits the scene, it was too busy to run and probably he didnt like the look in my eyes.

I might be the luckiest dude in Barcelona :D

[joanward]

These tips are very good to remember but it is not only Spain it is all over the World.

[ryanmunroe]

I got honey trapped in a bar in Málaga on my first night of my holiday(I visit several times a year) I was held up at knife point on the way back to my apartment and he stole my bag with my money, phone & bank cards. I was lucky the police got me into my apartment where my iPad and other bank card’s were. I couldn’t cancel my bank card because I couldn’t call the bank, when I got home (the next day after paying a fortune for another flight) he had tried to withdraw money from my bank several times but got nothing! Cost me a fortune to be robbed for nothing of value 😮‍💨

[MrSbpool]

I was "scammed" at O'Hare Airport in Chicago while using a ticket machine. A big guy on the next machine asked me what I needed and paid for it with his own card. Then he said "welcome to America"
It absolutely made my trip ❤

[alexcaz]

Yeah! I got approached by the rosemary scammers in Sevilla. I bought a bocadillo with jamon and sat down to eat it by the Cathedral. As I was about to eat I got approached and she held out a rosemary. I said “no gracias”, but she was insistent. So I took it and from that point she asked for my hand to do a palm reading. After she was done she asked for money. I said I just have some change and she was like “ no, I only take paper. I’ll give you change” she said. I was like “well that’s all I have, you can take it or leave it.” Boy was she mad afterwards 😂😂😂

[mrn]

Excellent "dynamic summarising what to come introduction walking towards the camera and the camera backs" to the background of Plaza Mayor! Bonsoir from Paris, where the same advices are applicable 10/10

[lizellymeza]

All GREAT tips!!! Just shared this vid w/ my sister who leaves w/ her fam to Spain tomorrow 😅

[bkm]

Sounds like some good advice James.
Thank you for sharing👍❤️

[padders]

Thanks James! Great tips and as other commenters have mentioned, these apply whether your are travelling in the world. ❤ to you, Yoly and the little one!

[elconquistador]

Great advice. As far as carrying cash, I’ve noticed that most of the restaurants I’ve been to in Spain will take a credit card but I’ve been into a few in Portugal that didn’t. I brought some friends to a small local spot and when the bill came, luckily I had cash on me because no one else did. And until here recently, I’ve always had to carry cash for taxis in places like Seville.

[Super.Aguacate]

My advice (for the first scam on this video): Say "No Gracias" to the scammer, don't make eye contact and KEEP walking, the scammer needs you stop moving to steal your wallet or ask you for money/info. Say "No Gracias", and keep walking without making eye contact.

[soundslight]

Great video with tons of useful tips. Thanks for sharing