News /Ten holiday scams

Palma de Mallorca airport is one of the most popular flight destinations for Manchester holidaymakers - but it can easily turn into a nightmare.

Now bosses at the Spanish airport have issued their own warning about the ten scams travellers can fall victim to. To try to stop your holiday being ruined by these fraudsters, here are 10 scams to watch out for when travelling abroad. 1. The airport security scam Although airport security has tightened these days, scammers are using the security procedure in order to make off with a victim’s most valuable goods. When you unload your valuables into a tray on the conveyor belt, it slides off to be scanned. You wait to go through the body scanner, but the person in front of you is taking forever. They have more jewellery, keys and watches than most and they keep forgetting to take them out of their pockets as they go through the scanner repeatedly. They go through and so do you, only to find your laptop, watch, wallet, handbag and jewellery missing. They are known as a security staller, holding you off so that their accomplice, who has already gone through, could make off with your belongings. To make sure this doesn’t happen, keep your eyes on the belt at all times. Watch for anyone loitering suspiciously and alert a guard if you see someone that looks like they are about to make off with your goods. If you have a laptop put it in a brightly coloured case, try and disguise your most valuable belongings under the not so valuable things. 2. The distractor An individual leads you away from your suitcase. Another person reaches into a pocket inside your luggage and your money or passport are gone. Don’t carry all your valuables in one place, and keep a photocopy of your passport somewhere safe. ‘The strip’ in Mallorca 3. “Free” WiFi If you connect to an un-secure WiFi hotspot it can give thieves access to your passwords and accounts. Never assume you have the official airport WiFi without checking. 4. The baggage carousel ‘bump’ You are standing waiting on your luggage and someone bumps into you, saying sorry, but you later realise you have no wallet. Make sure your valuables are safely secured and be vigilant. return it until you give them money for their help. To stop this happening you can pay an official porter to transport it to your taxi or airport. 6. Airport pickpockets After picking up your luggage, you can be distracted looking for the car rental desks, exit signs or somewhere to get a drink. While you’re distracted, pickpockets are waiting to grab the valuables which you have shoved in your pockets, like mobile phones or wallets. You won’t know anything about it until it is too late and you go to look for your belongings. Make sure everything is secure. Do your bags up, don’t put anything valuable in the pockets of your suitcase and keep anything of value in your inside jacket pocket or handbag. Make sure your travel insurance covers you. . 7. The mobile phone scam Vendors offer to rent you a mobile phone with the pretext you get your security deposit back when you return the phone, but they do not tell you about the extortionate call charges. Research companies before you leave and get your mobile calls much cheaper. 8. The false greeter If you’ve asked your hotel to send a taxi to collect you, there could be more than one person holding a sign with your name on it when you arrive. False greeters not only want your business, they may charge you a much higher rate. If you arrive and haven’t booked a transfer but someone is waiting for you with a name card, this could be an elaborate scam. Taxi drivers could drive you part way and then demand a hefty fee to take you any further. Make a point of getting the diver’s number for reassurance. 9. The bluetooth sting If your handset is on ‘discoverable’ mode an airport hacker can easily ‘pair’ with your device to steal information, or even install a virus. Remember to unselect the ‘discoverable’ option on your device and keep sensitive data protected with encryption software. 10. The broken taxi meter The taxi driver will tell you the meter is ‘broken’ after your ride and charges you more than the standard tariff. Another taxi scam is taking you the ‘scenic route’. There may be hold ups and road works that force a driver to take a different route, but there are occasions where drivers will know some holidaymakers may not be aware they are being taken for a ride. Book in advance with a reputable company and agree on a price upon booking.