NEW Travel Scams You MUST-KNOW in 2024! (Airport Scam is SO SNEAKY!)

// WATCH NEXT

These are the top 7 MUST-KNOW tourist scams from around the world in 2024. From the notorious ATM scam to the sneaky fake flight booking scam, we've got real-life examples and red flags to watch out for the next time you travel. I'll also share my experience getting scammed in Vietnam with the photo scam and the fake menu scam, and Bali with the SIM card scam.

Have you ever been scammed?! Share your experience in the comments, you might save someone from fallng for the same trap!

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// ABOUT

Welcome to Portable Professional: your go-to resource for stress-free travel. I’m Megan, and I’m here to share my tips and tricks from 300+ flights to help you feel confident about your travels while making the most of every trip.

Join over 5,000 travelers diving into smart travel secrets, receiving personalized advice, and uncovering savvy hacks.

00:00 Travel Scams EXPOSED
00:23 Fake Customer Support Scam
02:14 Photo Opportunity Scam
04:09 Restaurant Scam
05:35 Airport Scam
06:15 #1 way to avoid scam
07:09 ATM Scam (there's a new one!)
08:40 Rental Scam (this was crazy!)
10:06 Phone Scam (I fell for it!)
11:45 Best phone hack or travel

When I travel, I am very suspicious of “naturally friendly strangers.” I never accept any voluntary offer of help of any kind. To me, they are all scammers waiting for a victim. Places like Bali and Thailand are pretty well known for scammers passing as “friendly locals.” I always decline anything and I am always suspicious of everyone. You think I am bad? Well, I don’t care. My safety comes first.

[Idaho-Idaho]

I got caught up in the photo scam in Nassau. The woman wanted my phone to take photos and after the first one I realized she was going to sell me my phone back. I quickly asked to view the photo then ripped the phone out of her hand. She yelled at us for several minutes the moved on to scam others. NEVER HAND YOUR PHONE TO

[lylez]

When you rent a car, make sure you verify that they record the current mileage accurately. Take a picture of the odometer for proof.

[zjfcbni]

Shortly after I arrived at my hotel room in Mexico I received a call stating the hotel front desk was having issues with my credit card and they needed the number again. I didn't fall for it because I had read about that scam.

[cryptosunflower]

Almost scammed in a very upmarket resort in Krabi, Thailand. Awesome dinner with the most attentive waiter. Genuinely best service ever. But he was very keen on serving alcohol, pouring our wine. When the bill came, even though I was quite tipsy, I decided to check. When I came across the 1st thing we didn’t order, he quickly tried to grab the bill back saying sorry small mistake. But I kept looking. Literally he added so many things, the bill was double. The 10% service fee is automatic, so he gets money from that. But I also suspect that the cashiers are behind the scam and probably reverse the incorrect bill. Was just surprised that it happened at that kind of resort. Afterwards he hid from my friend and I for the rest of our stay, but I saw him fawning over another 2 women. Always check your bill.

[Twogirlsabroad]

I learned from another YouTuber to keep the menu while you eat. That way when you pay you have the original menu they gave you. That way you know.

[windsongdesigns]

If in Rome, watch out for the men dressed up as Gladiators! He put his arm around my Mom (without asking) and said take my photo. I have traveled a lot and thought it was a scam. So I asked him how much?( in English and Spanish) and he said "no money". My Mom looked excited, so I took a photo. Then we walked away from him and he started yelling at the top of his lungs that we did not pay him, we were stealing his childrens money, etc. This lasted 5 mins until I could find a shop to go into. Didn't work. He kept yelling at the door and finally my Mother wanted to pay him. But I said no. I spoke to the man in Spanish and reminded him he said it was free so we were not paying. I told him if he had said it was 10 Euro when I first asked him, we would have paid him. He finally walked away. Never again!! Great Video.

[chrisgeorge]

I had Avis in Slovakia accuse me of swapping tires on our rental. They claimed we took off the new tires and put on old ones and were going going to keep our $1, 200 deposit. We fought this with Avis head office and won but it had never occurred to me to also record the condition of the treads on the car rental.

[daniellenewsome]

About seven years ago, I went to Paris, France with my sister and her two adult children. I've done a lot more international traveling than they have, so I immediately knew that the very friendly 'local' who approached us in the gardens by the Louvre was a scammer. Unfortunately, before I could warn them, the local had latched on to my niece and started making a friendship bracelet on her wrist and started up a conversation with her, my sister, and her brother. Then another friendly local came up and joined them, making a bracelet on my nephew's wrist. By then, local #1 had finished my niece's bracelet and had moved on to my sister. In the mean time, I was off to the side, obviously unhappy. Then local #2 came up to me and started talking. I didn't smile, but let him make me a friendship bracelet. My family couldn't understand why I was not enjoying the lively conversation, that is until #2 finished my bracelet and said, with a big smile, that it would be 20 euros for the bracelets. I glanced at my sister, who's face fell. I paid the 20 euros, the locals left, and then we had a good talk about what happened. They learned that lesson: never trust a happy stranger who comes right up to you and initiates a conversation.

[rosemarymonty]

I’m getting pretty sick of googling a Company and the first four or five that show up are NOTHING to do with the Company I’m looking for. It’s extremely annoying.

[TeeRo]

Almost scammed in Cuba a few years ago. Arrived only to find there was a mix-up with my airport pick-up that was arranged via the airbnb. There are tons of the vintage cars at the airport that act as taxi's. I picked one and a short distance after leaving the driver pulls into a gas station and tells me he's running low on gas and that I have to buy the gas. He wanted me to fill his tank up and still pay for the ride. I told him to take me back to the airport. We went back and forth for a minute until he realized I wasn't going to give in and then proceeded to my accommodation.

[iancvisuals]

The reality is for most of these is if you show up ignorant you are going to get taken advantage of. My work colleagues always jibed me about the amount of research I did before going to a new destination but in near 35 yrs of business and personal travel I’ve luckily never been scammed due to knowing what to expect.
However that still won’t avoid the typical credit card scamming that can occur. The one time this happened was kinda funny though. I brought a City Tour Bus ticket from a kiosk at Heathrow Terminal 2 as I was going to be stopping over in London for the weekend. A worker in the kiosk then proceeded to charge about 30+ other tickets on my card for the remainder of the day. The funny thing was the idiot then proceeded to order a bunch of food and have it delivered to his home address. I was on a business trip in the region so was still around when the CC company alerted me and I filed a police report before leaving. The CC company provided the charge details and the food charges enabled them to catch the guy.

[chilesauce]

Take a photo of the menu when you order. Then if they charge more you have proof.

[dougaz]

Never leave your passport with anyone!

Barcelona is also a place where scammers and pickpockets are literally everywhere waiting for victims. It’s quite an organised crime there. Stay away from anyone who comes close especially in public transport. Keep your bag in the front not the back and hug it at all times. Don’t ever accept voluntary help from anyone in the streets in Barcelona and always ask a policeman or someone at a shop if you need to ask for anything.

[niamarieturek]

My husband books hotels using a vpn. He will say he’s in the country he’s booking the hotel for. A hotel booking from America is over $100. Booking from let’s say Thailand is $13.

[backupnoname]

When I was in Tbilisi, a cab driver approached me after I got into the airport lobby. He harassed me while I tried to buy SIM card, he harassed me while I was getting coffee (it was 5am), he harassed me while I sat at the bus stop. The same thing happened when I took a train to Batumi. They keep screaming “TAXI!” at you, in your face, no matter what you say.

[Vanlovestravel]

A couple of scams in the DR. We were ushered very quickly into a hall at the airport after picking up our luggage under the pretext that we were being escorted to our airport transfer. In fact, the person was trying to force us to purchase excursions etc and refused to take no for an answer. On another trip to the same destination, a man came out of nowhere, grabbed our luggage from out of our hands and ran towards some waiting buses. He refused to release our luggage until we paid him. Keep a very tight hold of your luggage at airports generally. And don’t go with anyone purporting to help escort you unless they are wearing the company’s official uniform and/or have picture identification proving they’re an employee of the company.

[drwoo]

Always take photos of your passport, important documents, and tickets. It helps, if you get it stolen.

[magietagie]

Thanks for posting all of these! It’s scary how sophisticated these scammers have gotten! It’s getting harder and harder to NOT fall for them…