7 Travel Scams That Nearly Got Me! And How To Outsmart Every One…

Scammed Abroad? Not Me… But Almost! Spot These Red Flags Before You’re Next!

It happened in Kyiv. I was on my way to meet some friends for a few pints on a Friday night in a small basement pub back in the day called “The Drum” or “Baraban”.

A few blocks away, two guys in street clothes stepped out from behind a parked Lada and flashed what looked like Soviet-era ID badges.

“Police,” one said flatly, motioning for my passport. My first thought? “Did I just time-travel to a KGB movie?” My second thought? “Well, guess this is how I lose my passport, wallet, and dignity, all before my planned night out.”

Not to mention all the wallet drop scams that seemed to plagued a certain area in downtown Kyiv for decades…

That wasn’t even the closest call.

There was the “broken taxi meter” in Tbilisi that nearly cost me triple the fare.

Then there was the “helpful” guy at a Strasbourg ATM who got way too friendly with my transaction.

And of course, a street hustler in Sofia who tried to rope me into a “charity” scam involving puppies and laminated photos. Laminated. He meant business.

After years of living and traveling across Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and beyond, I’ve become a scam magnet with just enough paranoia to survive.

And while I’ve never lost more than a few bucks (and a chunk of pride), I’ve come frighteningly close more times than I care to admit.

So if you’ve ever thought, That would never happen to me, I’ve got news for you.

Think again!

Here are 7 scams I almost fell for, and exactly how you can avoid walking into the same traps.

1. The Broken Taxi Meter (Thailand, Ukraine & Georgia)

Kyiv, 1999. I stepped out of Boryspil Airport and right into a taxi that looked like it had survived Chernobyl.

The driver smiled, nodded at my hostel address, and then gave me the classic line: “Meter broken, but I give you good price.”

And guess what? He did not give me a good price.

Flash forward a few years in Bangkok, different continent, same script.

“Meter not working today,” the driver said while eyeing my backpack like it was lined with gold bars.

These guys must attend the same international scammer boot camp.

Red Flags: No meter running. Refusal to state a price. Vague smile that says, “You’re about to overpay by 300%.”

How to Outsmart It: Before you get in, agree on a price or insist on the meter.

Better yet, use ride apps like Bolt, Grab, or Uber (depending on the country).

And if they try the broken-meter line?

Just smile and walk away! 

Nothing breaks faster than a “broken” meter when a customer does that.

2. The Fake Police Officers (Ukraine & Georgia)

It happened on a quiet side street in downtown Kyiv, not far from Maidan Square.

Two guys in jeans and knockoff leather jackets stepped into my path, flashed something that looked vaguely badge-like, and said they needed to “check my documents.”

I’d read about this trick. But standing there, solo and preoccupied with a Friday night out, my hand instinctively moved toward my passport.

That’s when the alarm bells finally went off.

Red Flags: No uniforms. No police car. No explanation.

Just “badge,” bark, and bluff.

How to Outsmart It: Never hand over documents to anyone not in full uniform unless you’re inside an actual police station.

Say, “Let’s go to the station,” and watch them evaporate like Soviet-era promises.

3. The Too-Friendly Local Offering Help (Strasbourg)

Place de la Cathédrale, Strasbourg, France, I was at an ATM pulling out euros when a guy behind me leaned in and said, “Careful, this machine sometimes keeps your card. Let me show you.”

He reached toward the screen, and I nearly reached for his throat.

I’d heard stories from other travelers, cards swallowed, PINs memorized, and bank accounts drained before they even finished their apéro.

Red Flags: Too eager. Too helpful. Standing way too close.

How to Outsmart It: Don’t accept unsolicited help. Especially near ATMs, metro ticket machines, or currency exchanges.

If someone lingers, cancel the transaction and wait them out, or find another machine.

4. The Long Route Scam (France & Bulgaria)

I once asked a cabbie in Sofia to take me to my hotel near Vitosha Boulevard.

What should’ve been a ten-minute ride turned into a 35-minute tour of every industrial warehouse and random back alley in the city.

Same thing happened in Paris. I asked for the train station (Gare de l’Est).

The driver nodded… then proceeded to loop around so many side streets I thought we were trying to break a record for slowest escape route ever.

Red Flags: Driver doesn’t confirm the address. Takes “creative” turns. Hums cheerfully while watching the meter spin like a roulette wheel.

How to Outsmart It: Use Google Maps or a GPS app to follow the route. If you notice detours, call it out.

Better yet, have your hotel or Airbnb host write the address in the local language, and snap a pic of the license plate before hopping in.

5. The Currency Switch (Romania)

Bucharest. I friend of mine told me about the time they had paid for a snack at a market using exact change.

The vendor looked down, looked up, and said to him, “You gave me the wrong bill.” Except, he was sure he hadn’t. The “vendor” was lightning fast too.

He’d swapped my friend’s 50 for a 10 and tried to make “my friend” feel like the scammer.

This happened again to a former colleague, an ESL teacher. She was in Cluj, said she once handed over a 100-lei note and watched it magically become a crumpled 10 before her eyes. David Copperfield would have been proud.

Red Flags: Fast hands, sleight-of-cash, and “confused” facial expressions.

How to Outsmart It: Use small bills. Count slowly. Watch their hands.

And if you’re not fluent in the local language, keep transactions simple and public.

6. The Fake Petition or Bracelet Scam (Spain)

Barcelona’s Las Ramblas 1998. I was spending a few days in the city before heading north to the French side of the Pyrenees to start my first Camino de Santiago.

A woman approached me with a clipboard and a cause.

Before I could say “no gracias,” she tied a string bracelet around my wrist, told me it was “free,” and then immediately asked for money.

I didn’t even want the thing, it looked like it came from a middle school friendship circle.

But now it was physically on me, and she wouldn’t let go until I gave her something. I slipped her a coin and ripped it off 10 steps later.

Red Flags: Unsolicited gifts. Pushy tone. Sudden guilt-trip eyes.

How to Outsmart It: Don’t engage. No eye contact, no stopping, and definitely don’t let anyone touch you.

If someone tries to hand you something for “free,” assume it’s anything but.

7. The Friendly New “Friend” at the Bar (Poland)

Kraków. I’d just finished a long day of CELTA training when a guy at the bar struck up a conversation.

Friendly, funny, and full of recommendations.

He insisted I join his group. Drinks started flowing. And just when the check came… poof. Gone. Copperfield strikes again.

Years later, a former colleague of mine who taught in Warsaw told me he got hit with the same routine, except in his case, the “new friend” left him with a bottle of overpriced champagne and a mysteriously inflated bill.

Red Flags: Instant best-friend vibes. Generous with drinks. Disappears faster than a Polish sun in winter.

How to Outsmart It: Always ask for the menu. Pay as you go. Don’t leave your credit card at the bar.

And if someone’s being a little too friendly, trust your instincts over their charm.

What These Scams Taught Me

Even with years of travel under my belt, I still get caught off guard. Scams don’t just target newbies, they prey on politeness, fatigue, overconfidence, and distraction.

Sometimes, they even work because deep down, we want to believe the best in people.

But travel has taught me this: your instincts are usually right. 

If something feels off, it probably is.

Scammers rely on hesitation, guilt, or confusion.

Don’t give them any of it.

So stay alert. Be kind, but cautious. And don’t let fear keep you from exploring, just let it sharpen your radar.

Have you ever been scammed, or almost scammed, while traveling?