The common scams at European holiday spots that leave tourists out of pocket

A TRAVEL expert has revealed some of the most common travel scams currently catching out tourists across Europe.

Anton Radchenko, founder of Airadvisor, explained some of the tricks that scammers will use and told travellers how they can dodge them.

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Fake taxis

The first trick Anton warns against is the fake taxi, which can cost tourists hundreds of pounds if they’re not careful.

Unlicensed cab drivers will wait in taxi queues and pick up unsuspecting holidaymakers.

They will then take them to their requested destination, but charge four times the price it should cost.

Anton said: “If you feel comfortable enough, ask the driver to show you their credentials.

“Many of them have them displayed on their dashboard. You can even only go in a taxi if their credentials are being displayed.”

Fake police

Scammers won’t just pretend to be taxi drivers, they’ll also pretend to be police officers.

This scam involves people dressed as cops approaching tourists and asking for their documentation or even for money. 

Passports and cash have been taken from those caught out by this grift.

Anton recommends asking to be taken to the police station if ever approached by someone claiming to be a police officer, asking to see documents.

Genuine cops should be happy to do it, while scammers could be scared off by going to a place where there are real police working.

Accidental Spill

This trick is a two-person operation and first involves someone “accidentally” spilling something on you, like a drink or an ice cream.

Then, while they distract you by generously offering to clean you up, their partner in crime will take the opportunity to pick pockets, or steal any loose items.

To avoid this scam, Anton suggests that you insist on cleaning yourself up and avoid any physical contact with strangers.

He said: “Don’t let anyone offer to clean you up, and instead, tell them to keep their hands and feet to themselves.”

Camera Grab

It’s not uncommon to be asked to take a photo of someone when visiting a tourist attraction.

Unfortunately, scammers have cottoned on to this and will go to popular sites where they will offer to take photos of visitors.

However, handing your possessions over to a stranger like that, especially something expensive like a phone or camera, is never a good idea – some will run away.

Anton suggests buying a selfie stick for capturing photos of you with your friends or family, without the worry that someone’s going to steal your camera.

Meanwhile, tourists in Rome have warned about a photo scam that they say cost them more than £400.

And this travel influencer revealed another scam involving art forcing tourists to part ways with their money.

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