Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not going on. I’m talking about travel SCAMS.
And whether you want to acknowledge it or not, scams in the travel industry are as real as in anywhere else you could have heard about them. Ignorance won’t be defense, so we bring to you the most lethal, most common scams we have seen.
Whereas everyone will seem as genuine as they look, pushing the limits of friendliness far to far on the road, the scammers on our roads, especially in Africa are as many as there is the sand in the sea. This writing could save you so much so stick with us.
Ticket Scams
You arrive at the bus terminal and someone approaches you with tickets to sell, claiming they are at a discounted rate or that you can jump the ticket queue. You purchase a ticket only to find out when you board the bus that it’s fake and invalid. The seller? Nowhere to be seen and your money is gone. This particular scam led my good friend Hakiz Ronald to start and scale a startup solely to help travelers find and book genuine bus tickets online. The catch is that you will not have to fall for the same scammers he faced. He has been featured on notable media platforms among them CNN. In fact, you could save yourself a lot by simply using the Ugabus App while on that trip in Africa.
Money Changing
The good old note switch-a-roo happens everywhere but its more notable in African Bus terminals. The vendor gives you less change than you are supposed to get. Or they will quickly switch a 50 for a 5 and then claim you haven’t given them enough. Never gets old, does it?
Tip: Never accept torn, worn or damaged notes. They can be difficult to get rid of later.
Fake Police
You have heard of fake cops in the aviation industry but what if you heard them on road highways, bus terminals or even near your favorite tourist destination? This “fake cops” scam keeps getting upgraded. Key among their basket of tricks is that they’ll often ask you for your personal ID and then issue you a fine indicating that it has to be paid right away for no reason. Or they can change and ask for a bribe to give back your ID. People always find themselves paying because of fear for getting into trouble.
You should note that; real police may ask you for your personal ID but they will never ask you to pay the fine on the spot. If you are approached by someone looking official, show them your ID but do not give it to them. Be bold enough to ask for their ID as well. If issued with a fine, tell them you will go to the police station to deal with the matter. The fake ones will usually stop insisting and disappear. Luckily too, most African governments have adopted computerized fine payments. In the case of Uganda, even road offenses need a genuine receipt that can later be paid at the bus at the bank.
Fake artefacts
Think of this! You have visited an ancient city in Egypt and you find a unique shop selling primordial carvings or paintings. But are they original? Have they been crafted by the natives? Are the materials sustainably sourced? Sadly, everywhere in the world you frequently find goods and handicrafts manufactured in factories instead of being locally made by artisans. Before buying any, make sure you have made enough research on how to differentiate fake from real souvenirs.
Friendly people starting up a conversation
Be on the lookout for any strangers trying to strike a conversation with you. While locals are generally friendly, this is a scam where overly-friendly people come up to you and start talking about that certain area and their personal stories. So as your enjoying the conversation, their associate pickpockets you. If you suspect your “new best friend” doesn’t have the best intentions, politely end the conversation and walk away.
Fake travel agencies and tour operators:
These are everywhere and certainly not a reserve of some south American country. I was victim of a fake tour and travel operator on my maiden trip to Japan. Being from Africa and of African native, having hustled my way through most of these scams, a certain instinct kept telling me something was amiss. Indeed, when it came to payment, the scammer insisted on Western Union as payment means. When asked to submit his national ID to me for review, it had all the marks of a photoshopped ID. Of course I could quickly tell a Photoshop ID using my long experience in the web design field. Some of these skills I still apply them at Zuk Technologies, a web, app and software development company. I survived paying over $1700 to a travel scammer. If asked, always look out for clues of scammers whenever dealing with these.
Africa is no exception. Keep all your senses active and live like a true champion.
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