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Australia
20 scams
Also known as the land down under, or the outback, Australia is world renowned for the pristine beauty of its natural wonders and wide, open spaces.
The country is also very safe to visit, though there are some tourist targeted scams (mainly activity related) to watch out for.
Note: vast majority of trips are trouble free and there is no need to be paranoid. That said, it always pays to be aware, careful, and prepared.
Emergency numbers
- Police/fire/ambulance: 000
- SES assistance in floods/storms: 132 500
- Police assistance: 131 444 (all states except Victoria)
Travel resources
Fake monks in Australia
7 0How it works: A fake monk will hand you a charm, seemingly for free, then ask for a donation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw0kW6G2Hvc Places to beware: Sydney What to do: Decline. Real monks…
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Farm job scams in Australia
6 0How it works: Situation: in Australia, there are a couple of scams to look out for especially for backpackers and migrant workers seeking farm work. Variation 1 (fake job listing):…
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Car break-ins in Australia
6 0How it works: Although Australia is not renowned for petty crime, car break-ins or smash and grabs do occur especially if you leave your valuables exposed in your car. In…
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Kangaroo essence in Australia
6 2How it works: Kangaroo essence pills are claimed to be made of the testicles and penis of kangaroos and is promoted to tourists as a product for sexual enhancement. However,…
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Timeshare scam in Australia
6 1How it works: Situation: you may encounter timeshare salespeople at major theme parks – they will dress up to look like park staff. Opening: they approach, claim that a certain…
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Darwin Mindil Beach Markets hair braiding scams in Australia
3 1How it works: The hair braider will not quote a price, claiming that the price can only be determined at the end of the service. Obviously, you will be quoted…
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Discounted ticket scam in Australia
3 0How it works: Opening: this was a scam originally perpetrated on WeChat, a Chinese social media app/portal, though it has now migrated to other online platforms as it is so…
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Sob story scammers in Australia
3 0How it works: In late 2018, social media exposed a 49 year old woman who was found staking out carparks across western suburbs of Sydney with her sob story scam….
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Surfers Paradise pub crawl scams in Australia
3 0How it works: Opening: at Surfers Paradise, you may encounter touts pushing different kinds of schemes and discounted tickets. One such is a high priced wristband claimed to allow free…
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Online vehicle sales scam in Australia
2 0How it works: Backpackers/tourists who look to sell their vehicles (e.g. camper vans, trailers, motorbikes, etc) as their trip ends are likely to face this. Should you put up an…
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Vacation apartment scam in Australia
2 0How it works: Opening: the script is always the same. You come across an apartment an amazing price. That should be the first red flag – such apartments are almost…
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Taxi scams in Australia
2 0How it works: Version 1: drivers claim that the meter is down, and charge you an inflated flat fare. In fact, in Jan 2019, two tourists were charged $887 for…
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Paddy’s Market Chinese massage scam in Australia
2 0How it works: Opening: here, pushy Chinese touts will tempt you with the offer of a free massage or a massage at just $10. Set-up: however, once you agree and…
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Cairns Night Markets massage scams in Australia
2 0How it works: Version 1: quoting $15 for a 45 minutes massage, but stopping after 15-30 minutes. Another trick is to leave your feet in a basin of water for…
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Italian suit scam in Australia
2 0How it works: Opening: a well-dressed Italian man approaches while in his car to ask for directions. Next, he claims to be a manager at Giorgio Armani and has excess…
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