Travel scams to look out for on your next trip.

28 October 2026

Whether you’re planning your next trip, or about to head off, ME is here to help you keep your money and belongings safe when travelling abroad.

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What kind of vacationer are you? Adrenaline junkie seeking adventure? Maybe you're a history buff headed for museums and ancient ruins. Or perhaps all expenses paid, rest and relaxation is more your speed.

No matter what you're seeking from your trip, you want to be safe. That doesn't just mean avoiding injury but protecting your belongings and your money too. There are plenty of people looking to make a quick buck from an easy target: a tourist unfamiliar with their surroundings.

Follow our guide to make sure the only holiday headaches you endure are from jetlag or too many sunset margaritas.

Watch out for these money grabs before you travel.

Most of us know the classic travel scams to be alert for while on holiday – but there are still some sneaky swindlers to be wary of before you've even boarded your flight.

Fake websites.

Make sure you’re booking from a legitimate source when locking in accommodation or other travel plans. There are dodgy sites out there mimicking the real thing or renting out properties that don’t exist. Imagine having to sort out a last-minute place to stay when you’re jetlagged and hangry. No, thank you.

There are a few telltale signs it’s a scammer site to keep an eye out for.

• Misleading URLs: subtle spelling mistakes, or fake lookalike domain names.
• Unsecure websites: secure website URLs begin with ‘https’ and include a padlock icon, also known as an SSL certificate. Most web browsers will warn you when a website isn’t secure.
• Too many ads: if you’re scrolling through pop-up ads just to get to the site information you want, we’d suggest starting your search again.

Third party websites.

Make sure you’re not going through a third-party aggregator site that slugs aggressive booking fees onto your reservation. When locking in accommodation, flights or any other overseas transport or experiences, it pays to look a little further than the first Google search result. Always do your research, shop around, and be wary of sneaky strategies like:

• high pressure tactics: fake countdown timers or scarcity claims like, ‘only 2 rooms left!’ are often used to bait your interest
• hidden service fees: extra charges added right before you checkout all add up.

Less scam, more pain in your pocket.

The following items aren’t illegal, but they sure can feel like it.

International transaction fees.

You’re doing all the right things, seeking out legitimate websites and booking directly. But then those extra charges hit your account for paying in international currency.

ME won’t pass on international transaction fees when you’re travelling overseas^*, but you get that benefit before you’ve left, too.

Use your SpendME Visa Debit Card when pre-booking all your travel reservations to avoid the sting of conversion rates or international transaction fees. Those charges add up, and could be spent on way better things, like a snow globe or a tacky tourist t-shirt.

Find out more about SpendME {link-button}

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Airport prices.

Speaking of excessive, ever tried to buy a snack at the airport? Goodbye travel fund.

We know a coffee at the airport is a necessary evil on early flights, but don’t forget you can BYO food.

You can bring solid food items like sandwiches, muesli bars, biscuits, even fruit – which can be hard to come by at the airport (a blueberry Danish doesn’t count).

You can take these items on the plane with you too; just make sure you leave any rubbish on the plane – particularly fruit elements – to avoid any biosecurity issues.

About to head off? Keep an eye out for these money scams while travelling.

Congratulations! You avoided the dodgy online deals, saving your hard-earned cash with no international transaction fees charged by ME*, and even packed snacks for the airport. Holiday time awaits! But while you chase the wanderlust, keep an eye out for some of these travel scams.

The overly friendly local.

Australians pride themselves on being a friendly bunch. But that kindness can be taken for granted abroad. The ‘friendly local’ scam is a common travel trap where a stranger approaches you, offering themselves up as a complimentary travel guide – telling you to come try the local drink at the bar their friend owns or offering to take you sightseeing locally. While some offers can be genuine examples of local hospitality, this can also be a tactic often used by scammers.

Telltale signs it’s a scam? They might pressure you into buying overpriced goods, ask you to buy them food, or leave you to foot a bill that’s much more than it should be.

While it can feel rude to do so, the best protection is to keep your distance from overly friendly locals – particularly in high traffic tourist areas, and especially if you’re travelling alone. And if you do ever hire a local guide or service, always agree on a price up front, before any walking or touring begins.

The ‘broken’ taxi meter.

Some taxi companies or drivers themselves might be looking to make a quick buck at a tourist’s expense. To avoid paying a whole days’ travel budget on one fare from the airport, remember these key tips.

• Know where you’re going: high-stress travel moments mean sometimes you’ve hailed a taxi before you know exactly where you’re going. To some taxi drivers, this looks like an opportunity to make some extra money. Make sure you know the address or name of where you want to go, look up the general route and time it should take to get there so you’re not literally and figuratively taken for a ride.
• Agree on the price before you drive: isn’t it crazy we have all the technology in the world at our fingertips, yet there are so many ‘broken’ taxi meters? When you agree on your fare price before you leave, you can’t get any nasty surprises once you reach your destination.
• Don’t tell them it’s your first time: like the first tip, this could be seen as an opportunity to trick you. We know – lying is bad – but not when it’s protecting you and your wallet.

The ‘gold ring’ scam.

The gold ring scam is a common street trick that can catch even the savviest travellers unaware. It goes a little like this:

1. A gold ring or expensive-looking piece of jewellery is left on the ground.
2. A ‘random’ passerby picks it up, asking if it belongs to you.
3. They examine it, tell you it is highly valuable, and offer it to you to keep.
4. As soon as you accept the ring, the person pivots and demands money – claiming it’s for food, travel, or a ‘reward’ for the gift.
5. The ring is worthless, not real gold. Sometimes, the dropped ring can even be a distraction while an accomplice tries to pick your pocket.

The lesson here is: if it doesn’t belong to you, don’t accept it! Try to ignore and just keep walking.

Don’t forget the classics.

New scams will come and go, but there are always the classics to be wary of. While these can happen anywhere, when you’re overseas in an unfamiliar place, with limited access to funds or your usual banking systems, you could be more vulnerable to them.

Card skimming.

Scammers install a small device that can steal your card details when using an ATM or making a transaction, then drain your funds over weeks or even days.

Always use ATMs located within reputable banks or ask your accommodation where to find a trustworthy one. If you find an ATM where the card reader protrudes outside the face of the machine – don’t use it. And always cover your hand when entering your PIN to avoid sneaky cameras stealing it.

Pick pocketing.

You might think you’d never fall for someone rummaging through your pockets or bags – but it can happen. There are some professional level grifters out there and all it takes is one moment of lapsed concentration for them to grab your belongings.

Always keep your personal items on you and within close reach and only carry what you need on the day. Always keep your bag zipped, and have it in front of you when in busy areas or using public transport.

Public Wi-Fi.

Most public Wi-Fi isn’t secure, and some scammers can even use it to install malware on your device.

Avoid public Wi-Fi unless it’s from a trustworthy source like a Starbucks or your hotel, or invest in a global sim – you can get these for a good price, and they can cover multiple locations.

Counterfeit cash.

Fake cash has existed almost as long as physical tender itself. And modern printing technology is only making it harder to distinguish.

Familiarise yourself with the local currency, and only exchange cash in reliable locations like in Australia or at the airport. Some hotels will even offer currency exchanges; you might pay a small fee, but it’s worth it for peace of mind.

Bon voyage and bon chance.

Always let ME know before you head overseas. Even if you take all the precautions and your card is still lost or stolen, you can block it immediately in the ME Go app.

And if you’re heading off soon, keep your travel buddies close, and your personal belongings even closer.

Your travel money goes further with ME.

You can say arrivederci and au revoir to international transaction and ATM fees from ME* when you travel abroad with a SpendME Visa Debit Card.

Find out more about SpendME