Scams to Know Before You Go

The best travel safety tip I can give you is also the simplest: know the scams before you land.

Every city has its classics. The taxi drivers who "forget" the meter. The petitions at the Eiffel Tower. The friendly stranger who wants to show you his cousin's shop. Once you know them, they lose their power.

Here are the ones I've seen, the one that got me (yes, me), and the ones you should have in mind before you go anywhere new.

The one that got me: Paris airport taxi

One of my first solo trips was to Paris. I landed, I was in a hurry, and I grabbed the first taxi I saw at the airport. He drove me into the city and charged me around 100 euros. What should have cost me around 55.

Lesson learned. And more than the money, it was that sinking feeling of being scammed on day one that stayed with me.

Every time I land somewhere new, I check in advance what's the right way to get from the airport to the city. Fixed-rate taxi? Official taxi rank? Uber? Train? Airport shuttle? Whatever it is, I know before I get off the plane. It takes ten minutes of research and it saves you money, time and the sinking feeling of being scammed on day one.

Classic street scams

Petitions. Groups of young women or teenagers standing in front of tourist attractions with a clipboard. They ask if you speak English, then push a "petition" for a charity into your hands. If you sign, they demand money. If you say no, a second person might try to pickpocket you while you're distracted. Just walk past. Don't stop, don't engage, don't feel bad.

The shell game (find the ball). Three cups, a little ball, a small crowd cheering someone winning. It looks like a game of luck — it isn't. It's a rigged setup with fake winners planted in the crowd to convince you to bet. You will lose. Every single time. Just keep walking.

The friendship bracelet. Someone approaches you smiling, grabs your wrist, ties a bracelet on you before you can react — and then demands payment. Common in Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and other big European tourist spots. A version I saw in Rome: someone approaches you, ties on a bracelet, tells you a warm story about their family, and by the time you realise what's happening they're asking for money and you feel too awkward to say no. Keep your hands to yourself, keep walking, and don't let anyone put anything on you.

The fortune tellers. It happened to me in Seville — women approach you offering to read your palm or tell you a little something about your future. They talk fast and warm. The moment you stop and listen, they ask for money. This kind of thing happens in many places around the world in different variations. I'm Argentinian, so I'm used to it and I don't even slow down — but if it's new to you, know what it is and just keep walking.

The costumed photo. Very common in Rome around the Colosseum: men dressed as gladiators (or other characters) insist on taking a photo with you. "Come on, come on, take one with me." If you do — even a photo on your own phone — they'll demand money right after. Don't stop, don't smile, just walk past.

The "photo tax" in Marrakesh. In Jemaa el-Fnaa, the main square of Marrakesh, if you film or photograph any of the street performers — musicians, snake charmers, dancers — they'll come and demand money. I was once filming the square from what I thought was a safe distance and accidentally caught a performer in the shot. He spotted me instantly, came running over demanding cash, and I had to walk away quickly. Not a nice moment. Same goes for the snake charmers with the cobras — even a quick photo means you're paying. If you want a picture, agree on the price before, or don't film at all.

Airport and taxi scams

Unofficial taxis at airports. Not everyone who approaches you inside the terminal is a scammer — some are legitimate drivers with fixed rates. But you can't tell from a friendly face. If you haven't researched what a fair price looks like and where the official taxi rank is, don't get into any car offered to you inside the terminal. Walk to the official taxi rank outside, or use a rideshare app. If someone offers you a ride, ask them the fixed price first and compare it to what you already know is normal.

"Broken meter" scam. The driver says the meter isn't working and quotes you a fixed (inflated) price. If a meter is required in that city, refuse and get another taxi.

Fake hotel closure. Driver tells you your hotel is closed, burned down, or overbooked, and offers to take you to "a better one" — where he gets a commission. Always call your hotel to check, or just say no and get out.

Hotel and accommodation scams

Fake Airbnb / booking listings. Beautiful photos, unbelievable price, and the "host" wants you to pay outside the platform. Never do that. If a deal feels too good, it's a scam.

Fake Booking.com messages. After you book a hotel through Booking.com, you may get a message through their private chat asking for your credit card details, or with a suspicious link to "confirm" your reservation. It looks legitimate, but sometimes it isn't — scammers have been targeting the platform's messaging system. Before clicking anything or sharing any information, call the hotel directly to confirm the message really came from them.

My rule: research before you land

Before I travel anywhere new, I spend fifteen minutes looking up what's specific to that place — the taxi trick at the airport, the corner where the shell game is set up, the neighbourhoods where pickpockets work. That kind of research is the best free travel safety tool you have.

That's exactly why I share these guides — so you don't have to piece it together from scattered sources. And the idea behind SheWandersSafe goes even further: I want this to grow into a community of women alerting each other about situations, sharing what happened, what to watch out for, what to avoid. The more of us sharing, the safer we all travel.

The mindset

Scams work because they catch you off guard. Someone smiles, someone helps, someone makes you feel rude for saying no. Once you know the shapes of these scams, you spot them coming — and you keep walking with a smile.

Being cautious doesn't mean being paranoid. It means being informed. You can still trust people, love a place, meet locals, and have an amazing trip. You just don't hand your money to strangers because they were nice for two minutes.

Have you experienced this while travelling solo? Share your story with the She Wanders Safe community soon.