Families urged to take care in these holiday hotspots for crime

Holiday scammers have stolen more than £11 million from Brits last year alone so experts are warning families where to best avoid if you’re looking to stay safe and away from travel scam areas

Planning for your next adventure and having fun on holiday are key to the best time ever, but in some areas around the world, if you don’t have your wits on high alert you might find yourself falling victim to a scam.

Of course, no one sees them coming. Con people on holiday prey on innocent families and holidaymakers who have their guard down while relaxing in new environments. The best thing anyone can do is make smart decisions and stay alert.

It’s easy to keep bags close to you, take use of hotel safety deposit boxes and stay away from areas that you’ve already been warned about, but it’s far more difficult to stay on top of the clever scamming techniques of professional criminals.

The travel and luggage experts at Bounce understand the importance of keeping you and your things safe. Using reviews and forums on trusted Tripadvisor, they’ve revealed which global tourist attractions receive the highest volume of tourist-related scam reports.

Intramuros, Philippines

Perfect for any history fan, this translates to ‘within the walls’ and was built during the Spanish colonial period. Intramuros showcases what remains of one of Manila’s oldest districts. This ancient attraction is visited by people all over the globe, and unfortunately, this makes tourists susceptible to scams. Overpriced tours here comes top on the list of scams – preying on vacationers with a passion for the rich history and culture.

The Forbidden City, China

There have been almost 80 mentions of scams on Tripadvisor for the Forbidden City, making up 0.55% of all reviews on the site.

Located in the heart of Beijing, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the epitome of Chinese tourism, exhibiting unique cultural architecture. Of the scam-related reviews posted by tourists who have visited here though, some common occurrences include people being approached by scam artists inviting them for tea in an attempt to get free drinks and scam taxis that hugely overcharge unsuspecting tourists.

One tourist warned about the “guided tour tea ceremony scam,” where visitors are lured into expensive tea ceremonies under the guise of a cultural experience.

Petra, Jordan

Famed for its exquisitely detailed sandstone constructions and the ruins of what was once a theater carved from rock, the ancient city of Petra attracts visitors worldwide. Unfortunately, like any other popular attraction, scam artists have tried their luck against tourists.

One visitor expressed frustration, detailing that the attraction is home to “amazing history but beware of scammers all over” after they came across a fraudster claiming to be a golf cart employee who later took advantage of them and demanded extortionate payment.

The Eiffel Tower is the top-cited attraction for scam-related reviews

Paris’ Eiffel Tower needs no introduction, but this iconic French attraction deserves an honorable mention when it comes to scams. It falls just shy of the top three when considering the total number of reviews. Still, due to its popularity, this tourist hotspot has the highest number of individual scam-related mentions.

More than 540 visitors have shared their scam-related experiences at this symbolic structure, from the three-cup and ball magic trick to distract travelers who then proceed to pickpocket.

And make sure you book guided tours through reputable companies. Lots of reviews state that often, for high prices, “no-one turns up!”

However, the highest European city with the most scam-related incidents is Riga, Latvia. Europe’s oldest market town is known for overcharging people for taxi journeys and ‘free’ walking tours where tourists are pressured into giving big tips.