Travel Scams by City
About this daily · 10 questions & answers
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 02Paris's 'friendship bracelet' scammers are best known for working the staircase up to which landmark?
- AThe Panthéon
- BNotre-Dame
- CSacré-Cœur
- DArc de Triomphe
Show answer
Sacré-Cœur
The "string men" work the long staircase up through Montmartre, tying a braided bracelet on a tourist's wrist and then pressing 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 (dressed as superheroes, Elmo, etc.) aggressively pose for photos with tourists and then demand tips of $10-20 or more, sometimes becoming 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
Tuk-tuk drivers near the Grand Palace frequently tell tourists the palace is closed for a ceremony or holiday, then offer to take them to gem shops or other businesses where the driver earns a commission.
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 and horse owners often offer free or cheap rides, then demand far more money at the end, sometimes refusing to let tourists dismount until they pay up.
Q 06In Beijing, the tea house scam targets tourists near the Forbidden City. How does it 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
The Beijing tea scam involves friendly English-speaking locals who approach tourists, strike up conversation, and invite them to a traditional tea ceremony. The bill arrives at hundreds of dollars, and the scammers split the profit with the tea house.
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
In the classic Istanbul shoe shiner scam, the shiner deliberately drops a brush, and when a kind tourist picks it up, the shiner gratefully insists on shining their shoes for free, then demands an inflated payment once finished.
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
Many Prague exchange booths advertise attractive rates in large print, but these apply only when selling Czech koruna back. The buy rate (what tourists actually get) is far worse, often hidden in fine print.
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.
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