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9 Unusual Travel Scams That Could Ruin Your Trip

There’s nothing that will ruin your vacation faster than getting scammed out of your hard-earned money—and even the most seasoned travelers can sometimes get tricked. (There’s no shame in it—I’ve personally fallen victim to both pickpockets and dishonest taxi drivers, and I do this for a living.) But “forewarned” is “forearmed,” which is why we’re letting you in on some of the most common—but still for many, the least expected—travel scams perpetrated around the world.

Important Preliminary Tip: U.S. citizens should also always read up on their destination on travel.state.gov before they travel. “Travel.state.gov has a wealth of information about these scams,” says Michael Shaw, an American Citizen Services Specialist for the Bureau of Consular Affairs. He says it’s also a good idea to sign up for The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, and let your friends and family know your itinerary in advance.

—Kelsey Blodget, Oyster.com

This article was originally published by Oyster.com under the headline The 9 Surprising Travel Scams You Need to Know About. It is reprinted here with permission.

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