Frauds when exchanging currency
Tourists arriving in a foreign country often look for a more favorable currency exchange rate, but scammers often take advantage of this.
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“Looking for the best currency rate in unofficial exchange offices, we may receive counterfeit money or encounter hidden fees. It is very difficult to distinguish a fake banknote in another country, and later recovering the money can be almost impossible. Therefore, such an attempt to save money can be very costly,” says M. Kutkaitis.
According to him, the safest way to keep money while traveling is on a bank card, and if cash is needed, to withdraw it from ATMs or official bank branches. It is also worth checking before the trip what fees apply when paying or withdrawing money abroad.
Card data theft
Another common risk when traveling is payment card data theft. Although such cases are usually associated with cash withdrawals from ATMs, card data can also be stolen when paying at points of sale, especially where there are large customer flows and devices are not constantly monitored.
“Scammers can attach additional readers to ATMs or payment terminals that copy card information. Sometimes hidden cameras are also used to capture the PIN code. Having the card data and PIN code, scammers can try to use the card or its copy, for example, to withdraw money or perform other illegal actions,” explains M. Kutkaitis.
To reduce the risk, he advises choosing ATMs in well-lit places or bank branches, covering the keypad with your hand when entering the PIN, and regularly checking bank account statements.
Deceptive “Wi-Fi”
At airports, hotels, or cafes, tourists often use free internet, but not all networks are safe.
“Scammers create fake “Wi-Fi” networks whose names look almost identical to official ones. Connecting to them may aim to intercept your login data, such as online banking or email passwords, or redirect you to fake websites where users enter sensitive information themselves. Having obtained such data, scammers can try to access your accounts, perform financial transactions, or misuse your identity,” says M. Kutkaitis.
He recommends connecting only to officially indicated networks and avoiding banking operations or logging into important accounts over public internet where sensitive data is transmitted.
Fake accommodation reservations
In recent years, cases of fake rental properties have increased, where scammers offer non-existent accommodations on classifieds portals or social networks. Such offers usually look very attractive because the price is lower than on official websites.
“Scammers create attractive ads with photos of non-existent apartments and ask for advance payment. Upon arrival, the person finds that such accommodation does not exist or is already rented out. In such cases, not only the paid money is lost – one has to urgently look for other accommodation, which at the last minute is often much more expensive,” says the expert.
According to him, it is safest to book accommodation and pay for it through official accommodation service platforms. If the landlord offers a lower price but asks for direct payment, this is often one of the main signs that the offer may be fraudulent.
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Fake QR codes
Increasingly, fake QR codes are found in tourist places, where their use for payments and other digital services has rapidly grown in recent years. However, scammers often exploit this habit.
“Scammers stick their QR codes on parking meters, restaurant tables, or ticket offices. A person scanning them is redirected to a fake page asking to enter payment card details. Scammers can use the data for illegal payments, attempts to empty the account, or to extract even more personal information,” warns M. Kutkaitis.
Therefore, before scanning a QR code, one should assess whether it looks trustworthy, and before paying, check the website address you are redirected to. It is also worth paying attention to whether the QR code looks like it is stuck over another sticker or otherwise modified.
Hidden fees and overcharges
Tourists often suffer from dishonest service providers. When traveling to less familiar places, it is difficult to assess how much a taxi ride, tour, or other services offered to tourists should actually cost.
“Taxi drivers, guides, or street vendors may take advantage of the fact that the tourist does not know local prices. There are cases when several times higher amounts or additional fees are charged for a service. Although each individual overcharge may seem small, over the entire trip they can significantly increase vacation expenses,” says M. Kutkaitis.
To prevent such situations from spoiling the joy of vacation, it is worth checking preliminary prices online before using services, using official apps, and agreeing on the final amount in advance.
Emotional scams
During holidays, people relax, are often in a better mood, communicate more with strangers, and are less likely to expect to become targets of scammers. That is why some fraud schemes rely not on technology but on psychological influence.
“At first, the person you meet may seem friendly and sincere, but later it turns out that they urgently need money – allegedly due to an accident, lost documents, stolen wallet, or other problems. In such situations, scammers usually try to evoke pity and a sense of urgency so that the person does not have time to critically assess the situation. They often promise to return the money later, but after the transfer, contact simply ceases,” says M. Kutkaitis.
According to him, in such situations scammers usually aim to provoke a strong emotional reaction because then people more often make decisions without considering all circumstances. Therefore, one should not rush to transfer money or otherwise financially commit to little-known persons, even if their story seems convincing.
The most important thing – don’t rush
According to M. Kutkaitis, the most important thing when traveling is to stay vigilant and not give in to haste. “Scammers usually take advantage of people’s fatigue, hurry, or excessive trust. If a situation seems suspicious, double-check the information and do not rush to make decisions,” says M. Kutkaitis.
If you suspect you have become a victim of scammers during your trip, you should inform your bank as soon as possible, contact the local police, and, if necessary, the Lithuanian embassy.
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