Around the World in 80 Scams: an Essential Travel App

Around the World in 80 Travel Scams is an essential travel guide for world travellers. Comprised of years of experience, and over 85,000 words of valuable advice and examples, this app is designed to help travellers anticipate and respond to potential pitfalls when on the road. Don’t stop travelling – get smart!

This essential app is a practical, focused, and detailed guide to eighty of the most common scams and crimes travellers might encounter. It is packed with real-world examples drawn from resources right across the globe and the author’s own travels. Being aware of scammers' tricks is the best way of avoiding them altogether; forewarned is forearmed.

Who is this app for?
This app is for anybody who travels and wants to avoid being scammed. It is especially helpful for newer voyagers such as Gap Year travellers and students, but even more experienced people and lifelong travellers (who may be aware of various scams already), are likely to discover new information that will help protect them from trouble. Avoid just one scam in this app and you’ll have made your purchase price back.

The Scams:
Section 1, Hotels and other accommodation scams: 1 RESORT FEES AND OTHER HOTEL "BAIT AND SWITCH" SCAMS, 2 GUIDEBOOK-RELATED SCAMS, 3 TIMESHARE SALES SCAMS, 4 TIMESHARE RESALE SCAMS, 5 RESORT INVESTMENT SCAMS, 6 ACCOMMODATION RENTAL SCAM, 7 HOTEL EXCHANGE RATE SCAM, 8 HOTEL TOUT SCAMS, 9 HALF-BUILT HOTEL SCAM, 10 FALSE FELLOW TRAVELLER SCAMS, 11 ONLINE HOTEL REVIEW SCAM. Section 2, Transport scams: 12 TAXI METER SCAMS, 13 ROBBERIES AND GASSINGS ON OVERNIGHT TRAINS, 14 SCENIC ROUTE TAXI SCAM, 15 SPIKED DRINKS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT, 16 HIJACKING OF TOURIST BUSES, 17 TAXI MAFIA SCAMS, 18 OTHER TAXI SCAMS, 19 THIEVING BAGGAGE HANDLERS, 20 AIRPORT SCANNER SCAM, 21 ARMED ROBBERIES NEAR AIRPORTS, 22 DELHI RAILWAY TICKET BUREAU SCAM, 23 TICKET INSPECTOR SCAMS, 24 THEFT FROM BUSES' LUGGAGE HOLDS. Section 3: Cash, ATM and credit card scams: 25 TOO MANY ZEROS SCAMS, 26 ATM MUGGINGS, 27 SOPHISTICATED ATM SCAMS, 28 CREDIT CARD SCAMS, 29 WE'VE GOT YOUR WALLET AT THE POLICE STATION SCAM, 30 CURRENCY EXCHANGE SCAMS. Section 4: Travel agent and travel club scams: 31 LYING TRAVEL AGENT SCAMS, 32 FRAUDULENT TRAVEL AGENT SCAMS, 33 TRAVEL CLUB SCAMS, 34 VISA-RELATED SCAMS, 35 VOLUNTEERING SCAMS, 36 TOUR GUIDE SCAMS. Section 5: Shopping scams: 37 FAKE GOODS SCAMS, 38 TAILOR-RELATED SCAMS, 39 NATIVE OR "TRIBAL" MARKET SCAMS, 40 ADMISSION TICKET SCAMS, 41 RIP-OFF TRADER SCAMS, 42 GEM/PRECIOUS STONE SCAMS, 43 TRADITIONAL MEDICINE SCAMS, 44 ART SCHOOL SCAM. Section 6: Eating, drinking and gambling scams: 45 CLIP JOINTS, 46 POISONING INSURANCE SCAM, 47 SPIKED DRINKS IN BARS, 48 CASINO SCAMS, 49 THREE-CARD MONTE SCAM, 50 RIGGED BETTING GAME SCAMS, 51 NO MENU SCAM, 52 REFILLED BOTTLED WATER SCAM, 53 TEA CEREMONY SCAM. Section 7: Government scams: 54 VISA FEES SCAM, 55 FOREIGNER CHARGES SCAM, 56 EXIT TAX SCAMS, 57 COMPULSORY TOURIST GUIDE SCAM, 58 OFFICIAL EXCHANGE RATES. Section 8: E-mail and Internet scams: 59 INTERNET CAFES AND INTERNET BANKING SCAMS, 60 AIRLINE TICKET FUNDS SCAM, 61 ATTACK WEBSITE AND MALICIOUS SPAM SCAMS, 62 EBAY HOLIDAY SCAMS, 63 TRAVEL-RELATED SPAM SCAMS, 64 INTERNATIONAL DRIVING LICENCES SCAM. Section 9: Begging and street hustling scams: 65 BEGGING, 66 PARISIAN GOLD RING SCAM, 67 BAKSHEESH SCAMS, 68 LEATHER JACKET SCAM, 69 COIN SWAP SCAM, 70 FAKE "GOOD SAMARITANS" SCAMS. Section 10: Extortion, blackmail and fraud scams: 71 FAKE POLICEMEN SCAMS, 72 PASSPORT EXTORTION, 73 POLICE TRAFFIC STOP SCAMS, 74 ON-THE-SPOT FINE SCAMS, 75 RENTAL DAMAGE SCAMS, 76 PROSTITUTE BLACKMAIL SCAMS, 77 INJURED RELATIVE SCAM, 78 INSURANCE CLAIM SCAMS, 79 TOURIST KIDNAPPING, 80 DISTRACTING AND MUGGING TRAVELLERS