Many fraudsters will try to scam you by promising a holiday that doesn’t exist, but others target unsuspecting tourists who are already on vacation.
They might promise an amazing experience or opportunity only for the holidaymaker to realise it doesn’t exist or it’s far from what they paid for.
Mexico travel expert Shelley Marmor spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk about the time she was swindled abroad.
She claimed: “A friendly local approached, offering an irresistible deal – a magical tour of the Mayan ruins, complete with a luxurious lunch and breathtaking cenote swim – all for an unbeatably low price.
“My travel-savvy brain alarms didn’t go off, seduced as I was by the enchanting description and the persuasive charm of the seller.
“As you may have guessed, the ‘magical’ experience was less than spellbinding. The tour seemed hastily thrown together, the ‘luxurious’ lunch resembled a mystery meal, and the grand finale was a cenote that looked nothing like the paradise in the brochures. I did blame myself for thinking SO much of it.”
Shelley may have been enchanted by the so-called “irresistable deal” at the time, but looking back the signs of a scam were there.
She admitted: “In hindsight, though, I do think that there were signs. For example, he lacked detailed information and pressured me to pay upfront – that offer was too good to be true.
“It was a classic case of ‘you get what you pay for’, but I learned that paying what you get for gets you to pay with both money and disappointment.”
Shelley continued: “But let’s sprinkle a little sunshine on this tale. Every misstep is a dance move learned, don’t you think? Falling for this scam did sharpen my senses, helping me become the seasoned traveller I am today.
“Now, my eyes are like hawks spotting their prey when it comes to identifying fishy deals or overly eager vendors. I’ve learned that it’s essential to do a quick credibility cha-cha: check reviews, ask for recommendations, and always listen to that little salsa dancing intuition in your gut.”
Shelley Marmor is a Mexico travel expert, ex-pat, and founder of Travel To Oaxaca.
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Travel tour operator expert Rob Burley has also fallen victim to a travel scam abroad.
He told Express.co.uk: “Scams in Grand Prix travel are more common than you might think. Even with all my experience, I’ve run into a few myself.
“I remember one time at the Monaco Grand Prix a guy was selling what he claimed were special passes to a VIP area. It was pricey but worth the while. I got there to claim my seats… They were fake! Duplicates, not even accurate duplicates. They had changed the logo and all, and I was just too new to the place to notice or know that,” Rob claimed.
“Looking back, I can see where I went wrong. The guy was pushing for cash and got all twitchy when I asked too many questions about the passes. I got caught up in the excitement and ended up falling for it.”
Rob Burley is a travel tour operator expert and the founder of GP Traveller.
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