Travel scams by city
0Loading crowd target
Questions and sources
Travel Scams by City — Daily trivia Sunday, March 1, 2026: questions and answers
All 10 questions with answers and explanations. Play this daily
Q 01In Barcelona, pickpockets are especially active along which famous pedestrian street?
- ALa Rambla
- BPasseig de Gràcia
- CCarrer de Ferran
- DAvinguda Diagonal
Show answer
La Rambla
La Rambla is Barcelona's most famous pedestrian boulevard and also its most notorious pickpocketing hotspot, with organized groups targeting tourists among the street performers and market stalls.
Q 02Friendship-bracelet scammers are best known for working the staircase up to which Montmartre landmark?
- AThe Panthéon
- BNotre-Dame
- CSacré-Cœur
- DArc de Triomphe
Show answer
Sacré-Cœur
Scammers on Sacré-Cœur's long staircase tie a braided bracelet on a tourist's wrist, then press for a donation while an accomplice works the pockets.
Q 03In New York City, what is the common Times Square scam involving costumed characters?
- AThey sell counterfeit Broadway tickets
- BThey pose for photos then demand large tips
- CThey distract tourists while an accomplice picks pockets
- DThey charge admission to a roped-off viewing area
Show answer
They pose for photos then demand large tips
Costumed characters in Times Square pose for photos with tourists, then demand large tips, and they can turn confrontational if refused.
Q 04In Bangkok, what is the common tuk-tuk scam that targets tourists visiting the Grand Palace?
- ADrivers take tourists to a fake replica of the palace
- BDrivers charge by the minute instead of a flat fare
- CDrivers claim the palace is closed and offer an alternative tour
- DDrivers require a deposit that they never return
Show answer
Drivers claim the palace is closed and offer an alternative tour
Drivers claim the palace is closed for a made-up holiday and offer an alternative tour, which ends at a gem shop pitching 'duty-free' jewellery.
Q 05In Cairo, what is a common scam tourists encounter at the Pyramids of Giza?
- APhotographers charge per photo taken of you
- BVendors sell fake ancient artifacts certified by the government
- CGuides claim certain pyramids require a separate VIP ticket
- DCamel riders demand huge fees after an unsolicited ride
Show answer
Camel riders demand huge fees after an unsolicited ride
At the Pyramids of Giza, camel riders demand huge fees after an unsolicited ride, sometimes refusing to let tourists dismount until they pay.
Q 06How does the Beijing tea house scam near the Forbidden City typically begin?
- AA vendor offers free tea samples laced with a mild sedative
- BFriendly locals invite you to a tea ceremony that results in an enormous bill
- CA tea merchant claims you broke a valuable teapot and demands payment
- DA guide offers a private tea house tour that leads to a locked souvenir shop
Show answer
Friendly locals invite you to a tea ceremony that results in an enormous bill
Friendly locals invite you to a tea ceremony that results in an enormous bill, and the 'friends' pay theirs so the tourist follows suit.
Q 07In Istanbul's shoe shiner scam, what happens after a tourist returns the shiner's dropped brush?
- AThe shiner insists on cleaning the tourist's shoes then demands a large payment
- BThe shiner claims the brush is valuable and demands compensation
- CThe shiner accuses the tourist of stealing and threatens to call police
- DThe shiner offers a guided tour as thanks and leads them to a shop
Show answer
The shiner insists on cleaning the tourist's shoes then demands a large payment
The shiner drops a brush on purpose; when a tourist hands it back, the shiner insists on cleaning the tourist's shoes, then demands a large payment.
Q 08What deceptive practice do Prague currency exchange booths commonly use to overcharge tourists?
- ARequiring a minimum exchange of 500 euros
- BDisplaying rates from the previous year
- COffering a free gift card with every exchange
- DAdvertising a favorable rate that only applies to selling, not buying
Show answer
Advertising a favorable rate that only applies to selling, not buying
Booths lure tourists by advertising a favorable rate that only applies to selling koruna back, not buying; the rate tourists actually get is far worse.
Q 09What do the fake police officers who approach tourists in Bogotá typically demand?
- AA fee for entering certain neighborhoods
- BTo inspect the tourist's wallet for counterfeit currency
- CThe tourist's passport as collateral for a supposed fine
- DA bribe to avoid deportation
Show answer
To inspect the tourist's wallet for counterfeit currency
In Bogota, individuals in convincing police uniforms approach tourists claiming to check for counterfeit currency. During the wallet inspection, they steal cash or swap real bills for fakes.
Q 10In which European city is the fake-charity petition scam, a cover for pickpocketing, a common tourist trap?
- AParis
- BBerlin
- CAmsterdam
- DVienna
Show answer
Paris
The petition scam is widespread in Paris, particularly around the Louvre, Notre-Dame, and other major landmarks. Groups approach tourists with clipboards, and while the target is distracted signing, accomplices pick their pockets.
How to play
- One question at a time, four options. Tap an answer to lock it in.
- You see the answer and a short explanation right away.
- Harder questions and faster answers earn more points. Share your score at the end.