Yahoo Finance Aussie travellers heading to Europe warned about scam exploiting 'kindness of strangers'
One traveller captured a beggar walking perfectly fine after pretending to be crippled.
Aussies heading to Europe to escape the cold have been warned about scams targeting unsuspecting tourists. There are plenty of ways scammers can con travellers out of their hard-earned cash and one that has gone viral on social media is "exploiting the kindness of strangers".
An Aussie on the Greek island of Paros filmed a beggar hobbling around on a crutch in a busy street outside a restaurant. It's not an uncommon sight in some parts of Europe, however, the tourist managed to capture the same beggar the next day walking perfectly fine without needing her walking stick.
Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert at Finder, told Yahoo Finance this is one of many scams you need to look out for.
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“Getting scammed in Europe is nothing new – these types of schemes have been around for decades," she said.
“The scam in this TikTok is relatively harmless, the traveller probably only parted with a few dollars. But some of these scams have the potential to ruin your holiday if they get away with a decent chunk of your cash."
The Aussie who filmed the TikTok was flooded with comments from people who saw the exact same beggar in different parts of Paros.
"Literally just saw her 15 mins ago and felt so bad thank you for this," said one user.
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This isn't just confined to Greek islands and has been seen in cities across Europe. People have been warned on places like Reddit to be very wary of beggars at tourist hotspots.
"Once I saw a beggar guy without legs. As soon as police came his legs come out of nowhere and [he] started running away. Because of this I can't trust anyone," cautioned one individual in Prague.
"Just want to make you aware that we just gave money to a guy begging outside Edge Lane Lidl (we have seen him there a few times) only to then see him getting into this van with a group of people," said another in England.
Police in Wales also noticed a group of beggars were travelling from Cardiff to Aberystwyth to prey on unsuspecting people.
"I'm proud to work in a town where people want to help each other, but in this case their kindness is being exploited," PC Phil Woodland said. "We've tried working with the group to ensure they have the support they need, and through this effort, it's become clear they are not genuinely homeless."
Scams to be aware of in Europe
Megginson told Yahoo Finance there is no shortage of ways for people to have their money or belongings stolen in Europe.
She gave a handy list of what to be wary of:
Pickpocketing: This is a "major concern", especially in crowded areas. Even though Aussie travellers might not be walking around with loads of cash these days, Megginson said thieves will try and take your belongings if you're not careful.
Taxi scams: The Finder expert said "unethical" drivers might try to get more money out of you by taking longer routes or inflating fares. "Try to pre-book reputable taxis, agree on fares beforehand, or use ride-sharing apps with clear pricing, and avoid getting into taxis flagged down by strangers," she said.
The friendship bracelet scam: Scammers will aggressively try to sell you a bracelet, which is just a ruse to distract you while an accomplice pickpockets you.
How to keep your money safe when travelling Europe
Aussies heading to Europe have been warned to "trust their gut" if they feel unsafe.
"If something feels off, it probably is – don’t be afraid to speak up, ask for time to make a decision if you feel pressured, and walk away from a situation if you feel uncomfortable," Megginson told Yahoo Finance.
She added that if you're heading out with cash then it's wise to use a money belt or an anti-theft bag, and it's best to split it up in different bags and pockets "so if one piece of luggage goes missing, you only lose a portion of your money".
If you're in crowded locations, always be mindful of your belongings to make sure someone isn't pinching it or the contents inside.
Megginson added that you should also let your bank and phone provider know where you are going "to avoid any hassles while you’re overseas as well".
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