Common Scams and Street Smarts

Most of the trouble newcomers run into in any big city is not dramatic. It is a distraction at a cafe table, a message that looks like it is from the bank, a card machine with an extra digit. The good news is that a handful of habits avoid most of it. This guide covers those habits, without trying to scare you.

Why newcomers are targets

You look around more. You carry more valuables, often all your documents at once. You do not know prices yet, or how things normally work. And you are trying to be polite in a language you are still learning. None of that is a problem in itself; it just means a little more attention in the first months.

On the street

The table and the chair. A phone left on a cafe table near the street is the easiest thing in the city to take. Keep it in a pocket or a zipped bag. Loop a bag strap around your leg or the chair.

Distractions. A spill on your clothes, a map pushed in front of you, a sudden question. Sometimes these are genuine. Sometimes one person distracts while another takes something. If someone suddenly gets very close, step back and put a hand on your bag.

Showing what you carry. Walking while looking at a phone, especially at the curb, is a common way to lose it. Step into a shop doorway to check directions.

Cash. Carry what you need for the day, in a front pocket. Keep a spare card separately from your main one.

At the till

Card machines. Look at the amount on the screen before you tap or enter your PIN. Keep the card in your sight. If the machine shows an amount that looks wrong, ask for it to be canceled and start again.

Change. Count it before you walk away. Mistakes happen; it is easier to sort out at the counter.

Tourist pricing. If a menu has no prices, ask before you order. At markets, ask the price per kilo before the vendor weighs anything.

On your phone

Messaging scams are common almost everywhere.

• The family emergency. A message from an unknown number says it is a relative with a new phone, asking for money urgently. Call the person on their old number before doing anything.
• The bank alert. A message says your account is blocked and asks you to click a link or call a number. Banks do not ask for passwords or codes this way. Open your banking app yourself instead.
• The delivery fee. A message asks for a small payment to release a parcel. Check the tracking on the carrier's own site.
• The too-good deal. An apartment with a low rent and a landlord who is abroad and cannot show it. Never pay a deposit before seeing the place and checking who owns it.

Turn on two-factor authentication for your email, bank and messaging apps, using an app rather than SMS where possible. See US mail, phone number and two-factor codes.

Public wifi

Cafe and airport networks are convenient and less private. Avoid banking on them, or use your mobile data instead. Some people use a VPN on public networks.

Rides

Use a ride app or an official taxi rank, and check the car and plate before you get in. See Ride-hailing safely.

If something happens

• Do not resist if someone threatens you. Hand it over. Things can be replaced.
• Call 190 for the police. See Emergency numbers.
• Block your cards and phone right away. See Phone theft.
• File a police report, which you will need for insurance.

Checklist

1. Keep your phone off tables near the street.
2. Carry only the cash and cards you need for the day.
3. Check the amount on every card machine.
4. Verify any urgent money request by calling the person.
5. Turn on app-based two-factor authentication.
6. Save emergency numbers and your bank's card-blocking number.

Common questions

Should I carry my passport every day? Many people carry a copy and leave the original locked away. Check what your status requires. See Documents to carry when you land.

Is it rude to keep my bag on my lap? No. Nobody will notice, and it is a good habit everywhere.