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As travelers continue to flock to Mexico’s best shores, two of them see scams becoming more common.
Vacationers to Cancun and Cabo are warned not to become a victim by booking their dream beach getaway.
These scams range from hotel fraud to panhandling. Travelers should be vigilant and not allow themselves to fall for fraudulent activities.
With so many people vacationing in Mexico this year, without the proper knowledge, it can be easy to become a victim.
While the following scams have become common in Cancun and Cabo, they can happen anywhere.
This is what travelers should know:
Capes fake ads
According Good morning americaCabo has been targeted as a destination with an influx of bogus hotel listings.
Scam sites accept payments for hotels that are not yet open or do not even exist.
The scammers use the names of the hotels that are currently being built and list them as if they are open to the public.
Travelers are falling for this scam as there are articles about new resorts but they don’t do enough research before booking.
A little more digging online will go a long way! It’s not just about luxury hotels and resorts. They are also vacation rentals.
Airbnb and other reputable platforms tend to be safe for bookings. If a website doesn’t sound familiar, it’s best to do more research before proceeding with the booking process.
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Especially if a « host » requests an advance payment, such as credit card, Venmo, PayPal, or any type of bank transfer. That is the last red flag.
Be careful when using ATMs in Cancun
Travelers should always be wary of ATM scams no matter where they are in their travels. Unfortunately for Cancun tourists, ATM scams have become more popular of late.
It is always best to use an ATM at a bank when possible as they are much less likely to be tampered with.
There has been an increase in reports of theft devices, which steal sensitive information from debit cards. But these are more frequent when the ATM is not inside a bank.
Travelers should know that not all ATMs are operated by banks. Those who run small businesses tend to have a not-so-wallet-friendly exchange rate.
It is also wise to never use an ATM after dark unless absolutely necessary. You never know who is watching.
Unwanted friends in Cancun
Many come to Cancun to relax at one of its many luxurious resorts, but everyone needs a night out, too!
Travelers can stumble upon one of the most common scams when enjoying a night on the town and meeting some friendly people at a bar or nightclub.
Maybe a little too kind. After a few drinks, your new friends will encourage you to go somewhere else with them.
Everyone is having a good time, so why not go bar hopping around town right? The problem is, your new friends at the new bar will keep the drinks flowing until a bill arrives with a few extra zeros in the total.
Congratulations, you have just been scammed by your new friends with extremely inflated prices! All without the opportunity to look at the menu.
Aid! I lost my passport!
Common in Cancun right now, the « stolen tourist » scheme targets tourists to strike a chord.
Someone will approach an obvious traveler for help because they have lost their wallet, passport, or both.
Instead of going to the nearest embassy as any traveler should, they will ask for financial help in the hope of gaining the trust of a fellow traveler.
Instead of helping them financially, it is better to point them in the right direction of the embassy, as this is the proper protocol for this situation if it is a real scenario.
Can taxis be trusted?
there has been ongoing Taxi vs. Uber Battles in Mexico for years. Taxis don’t have the best reputation for honesty and trustworthiness either, from the classic « my meter is broken » trick to the unreported last-minute inflated prices in Cancun.
What usually happens is that you think you’re accepting a ride for 100 pesos (approximately $5), but when it’s time to pay at the end of the ride, the driver demands $100 USD.
Big difference! Travelers should know that no ride must be anywhere in this ballpark for pricing.
Haggling over the price and confirming a clear understanding is the best option before taking off for your destination.
traveler alert: Don’t forget travel insurance for your next trip!
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
