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Tag: Seattle
Vacation rental listing scam in USA
2 5How it works: Situation 1: like anywhere globally (e.g. Spain, Netherlands), there is quite a substantial number of fraudulent apartment/villa listings online, as it is so easy and so lucrative…
Street pickpockets in USA
1 1How it works: Version 1: they work in a gang – one onlooker, one blocks, pushes, distracts, or engages you, one grabs and the final hides the loot under a…
Public transport pickpockets in USA
1 0How it works: Version 1: one blocks you at the door (ties shoelaces/drops something), another steals from behind and slips to a third who escapes, and one blocks others from…
Snatch thefts in USA
1 1How it works: Two versions: strike and run; distract and grab. Possible scenarios: Street, mall, shop, park, transportation hub: distracting and snatching from you, then escaping via a getaway car or…
Credit card skimming in USA
1 0How it works: Situation: the vast majority of tourists would probably not fall for this but on the off-chance that you do, you need to know how to spot the…
Unofficial parking attendants in USA
4 0How it works: There are fake parking attendants who will intercept you (and direct you to a side street) and charge you an inflated parking fee. You may or may…
Unlicensed taxis in USA
4 2How it works: Opening: at some places, it is illegal to hail taxis from the streets. Hence, unlicensed drivers will have to intercept you before you reach the official queue…
Taxi scams in USA
3 1How it works: Version 1: taking a longer route to inflate the fare. This is prevalent in Las Vegas as the distance between the airport and the strip is pretty…
Fake beggars, sob stories in USA
3 3How it works: Version 1: beggars who use drugged babies/toddlers claiming to be jobless and hungry. They work in shifts and pass the babies/toddlers around. Version 2: claiming to be…
Donation scams in USA
3 0How it works: Version 1: fraudsters claiming to represent homeless people, the poor in Africa or endangered animals will pass you a fanciful donation brochure or a petition and then…
White van speaker scam in USA
1 0How it works: Situation: scammers in groups of 3 pose as workers of a company and drive a van around. Opening: they approach you and explain that due to a…
Fake hotel front desk calls in USA
1 1How it works: Set-up: scammers use smuggled phones to pose as front desk personnel and call guests in the wee hours to request for credit card information: Version 1: claiming…