Five travel scams to avoid

Be wary of free WiFi access when you're travelling. If you haven't paid for it, there's a chance it won't be secure. Photo / Thinkstock

Megan Singleton on the favourite tricks con artists play on unwary travellers.

Free WiFi

You know the saying about free lunches? Well the likelihood is if you haven't bought at least a coffee and got the login password, it could well be a dodgy WiFi spot set up to siphon off passwords or even infect your computer. If you absolutely need to update your Facebook status do so at your peril, but don't go into your bank account and start shifting money around lest it end up elsewhere.

Flower givers

This is a form of begging so if you're happy to part with your loose change, then happily accept that posy for good luck or the pretty postcard or "friendship" wristband, but be aware that this is all about money. If you take it and walk on they will chase you down until you pay.

English language

This is a tough one because there are a lot of genuine people who love to practise their English on tourists to their home town by "guiding" them around. I was in Cusco and a young boy could reel off every capital city of every country thrown at him. He walked with me for a while until it became apparent he wanted money. I was fine with that, but I made him work a bit harder and show me somewhere for dinner before I forked out. I now wonder if it was his dad's restaurant ...

Pickpockets

Keep your handbags closely about your person. Last time I was in Covent Garden, London, I stopped a pickpocket from getting into a girl's handbag as she was sitting on the steps. He was nonchalantly sitting beside her blending into the crowd while creeping his fingers over the concrete to her open bag. I shouted at him and her at the same time.

Sneaky taxi drivers

"Oh sorry the meter is broken," they'll say in broken English. But you'll say, "Ok, well how much to my destination?" and they'll pick a fare out of the air. You'll agree because you don't know any better and they'll have scammed you. Another thing that's been reported is you'll tell them the name of your hotel and they'll tell you it's closed for refurbishment and offer to take you to another - one they get kickbacks from.

For more from Megan, see bloggeratlarge.com.