Beware of hidden pitfalls abroad

More and more people are getting ripped off abroad, the latest research has revealed.

Travel Insurance News - 11/07/2005

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More and more people are getting ripped off abroad, the latest research has revealed.

It seems that holiday-makers forget to use their common sense while on holiday and frequently fall victim to all sorts of scams and fraud.

In Bangkok, the latest rip-off is the "fake gems" trick. Travellers are talked into buying gems at a supposedly bargain price, which can then be sold on in the UK for a profit.

However, when the unsuspecting customer arrives home, he finds that they are in fact worthless.

Other things to watch out for include buying fake train tickets, hidden extras when hiring a car, being under-changed at money bureaus and perhaps the most common occurrence: credit card fraud.

One of the most frequent types of credit card fraud abroad is when a vendor will take your card away and clone it out of sight.

Having your card skimmed at an ATM is also very common, and travellers should be vigilant of anything that has been added to a machine.

Experts also advise keeping credit cards in sight at all times, wearing a money belt to prevent pick-pocketing, and taking travellers cheques instead of cash.

It is similarly advisable to ensure that holiday-makers have adequate holiday insurance to cover any stolen goods or money in an emergency.

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