While you want to relax and have fun when traveling abroad, safety should never be far from your mind. With this in mind, it’s important that you be aware of the many types of scams that are perpetrated on travelers, often by skilled criminals who have been playing the same games for years. One of the most convincing travel scams is the fake police scam. While there are variations of this scam, the general theme is the same in many places. Here, we’ll share some valuable pointers for spotting and avoiding scams perpetrated by fake law enforcement representatives.
Fake Police Scams: The Basics
In most fake policeman scams, scammers work in teams in order to defraud unsuspecting tourists. Often, contact with people posing as police officials will be preceded by contact with someone who seems completely unrelated to the scammer, but who is actually playing an important role in ensuring the scam scenario seems realistic enough to fool even savvy individuals.
In some cases, you’ll meet someone who seems to be a helpful new friend, or you may even become the victim of a pickpocket or some other petty criminal who allows you to catch him in the act. In both cases, a uniformed or “undercover” policeman with a convincing badge and an officious attitude to match arrives either as your new friend is getting you into some kind of trouble, or as you are “catching” the criminal who tried to pick your pocket.
In the first instance, you’ll be caught doing something “wrong” you didn’t know was against the law, and a friendly policeman might search you for contraband, then demand that you pay a fine on the spot or go directly to jail. In the second instance, you might be taken to a fake police station, where you find yourself tied up and held against your will for several days while the perpetrators help themselves to all the money in your bank account.
In either case, your new friend or the “pickpocket” you just caught might actually plant contraband on your person for the fake police officer to find. In this case, you’ll likely be confused and frightened, and you will happily pay an extortion fee just to rid yourself of the fake policeman and his accomplice.
Some fake police scams involve scuffles between an entire cast of characters including fake crooks and fake undercover officers, who put on quite a show so that additional accomplices can rob tourists who are watching the action take place right in front of them. Some fake police approach tourists who appear to be having trouble at ATMs, then offer to help, stealing PIN numbers and other personal information in the process. Fake police have been known to grab wallets and run, and they sometimes drive cars equipped with flashing lights to fool tourists who are driving rental cars.
One of the best ways to prevent yourself from becoming the victim of a fake police scam is to familiarize yourself with the cars, law enforcement uniforms, and police practices at your destination, before you go. You can also demand proper identification from anyone who stops you if you’re at all suspicious that he or she may be impersonating a law enforcement official, and ask to speak to a superior. In addition, familiarize yourself with police phone numbers, and don’t be afraid to call to confirm whether an officer is legitimate or not.
Finally, don’t give people a reason to single you out. Fake police are like other scammers – they look for easy targets. Appearing confident and traveling with others can help prevent you from becoming an appealing target. Enjoy your vacation, but don’t let your guard down.