To deceive Russian tourists in Turkey, local residents and even hotel staff implement old schemes of fraud and invent new ones in order to cash in on the ignorance and naivety of vacationers. The tricks are so perfect that it is impossible to suspect something from the first minute, because everything seems honest and transparent. Analytical service Tutu.ru and travel expert Anna Nevzorova spoke about the three most popular ways to deceive scammers in Turkish resorts.
Staff fraud in hotels
- Supercharged room. The hotel staff is often cunning and informs tourists upon arrival that, unfortunately, all rooms are currently occupied and they are forced to move them to another vacant room. As a rule, this can be a room in another building, more distant from the beach, a room with an old renovation and interior, overlooking a landfill/construction site, or next to a utility room, where, of course, it is very noisy and smells unpleasant. Describing the prospect, the employees immediately offer salvation, but for the money: a room of the highest category for a small surcharge. As a result, the tourist will be accommodated in the same hotel room that was originally in the tour package, but with additional costs.
- Air conditioning costs. This is another common type of scam. The staff removes the remote control from the room and requires payment if the tourist wants to use it.
- Supplement for alcoholic drinks. According to the expert, enterprising Turks sometimes manage to charge extra for alcohol included in the all-inclusive system. Nevzorova also advised to carefully study the contents of the minibar, as hotel staff may deliberately put open or empty bottles there, and then charge for alcohol that was opened or drunk.
Cheat in cafes/restaurants
Caterers at resorts cheat travelers with price tags in obscure currencies. Near each item in the menu, a number is displayed without specifying the currency. Naturally, the guest is guided by prices in Turkish lira, but later he finds out that in fact the cost was indicated in euros. In addition, the Turks resort to tricks with the volume ordered. For example, a tourist may think that the price tag is indicated for a portion, but in fact it is for 100 grams of a dish.
The specialist urged to carefully check the bill. Often, additional positions can be hidden in a long check that travelers did not even penalize. In addition, she warned prematurely to enjoy the treats generously presented by the Turks. Often, waiters additionally serve various snacks, cakes, tea or other drinks on the tables. However, under the guise of compliments from the institution, a new position in the check is hidden.
Cheat with currency exchange
Recently, the dollar exchange rate was significantly lower than the euro exchange rate, and local sellers in the markets, in cafes, bars and restaurants skillfully used this and calculated the prices for goods in the same equivalent for both currencies. Or, for example, tea for 2 Turkish lira (at the rate of 10 rubles) they can sell as tea for $2/2 euro (120 rubles).
“In addition, it is often possible to fall for scammers at currency exchange offices. For example, you want to exchange 200 dollars for lira, you give them away, and in return you receive Turkish currency for only 100 dollars. When asked where the rest is, the Turkish scammer looks surprised and says that you only gave $100. Therefore, currency transactions in Turkey can only be carried out in official banks,” the company explained.
Travel Fraud
The victims of this type of scam are usually Russians who want to go on a tour offered by street barkers. Compatriots are not even embarrassed by the cost, which is much lower than the market price.
In fact, this turns out to be a “going through the throes” for travelers: a trip in an old bus without air conditioning and without a seat, because in order to save money, fraudulent guides combine several tourist groups into one. Among other things, street tour vendors do not protect buyers from accidents by saving on insurance.
Unplanned trips to souvenir shops during excursions are another popular scam trick. Turkish guides stop at such shops under the pretext that tourists can go to the toilet or buy water. And in passing they say that there is a souvenir shop nearby with “special” goods, affordable prices and personal discounts. Vacationers happily run there and buy goods of unknown quality and origin at inflated prices. The travel agency or guide will receive a percentage of everything tourists buy in the store.
Pickpockets and theft in hotels
Unfortunately, in Turkey, theft thrives in crowded places: in transport, in bazaars, markets, beaches, on trips and even in hotel rooms. What conclusions should a Russian tourist draw? Do not take a large amount of cash with you, be careful in crowded places, do not let anyone close to you and do not give personal belongings and documents into the hands of a stranger, use a safe in the room.
For those who care healthy lifestyle, we recommend reading: “The Russians were told the dangers of eating beer and champagne.”