Rick Steves' Convenient Payment Recommendation Can Help Avoid Potential Tourist Scams

Sometimes, travelers can get so swept up in the excitement of visiting a new place that they forget to pay attention to their surroundings. Unfortunately, savvy scammers are privy to this. From European taxi scammers to street-side distractions designed to separate you from your wallet, financial scams are among the most common headaches globetrotters face. Carrying large amounts of cash only heightens that risk, and leaves you with little recourse if something goes missing. But savvy travelers can avoid tourist traps and scams with a little preparation.

According to our favorite travel aficionado, Rick Steves, "One of the best tips may be to use a mobile payment app on your phone to tap and pay instead of digging for cash or a credit card." Using trusted platforms like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, PayPal, or Wise can dramatically reduce your exposure to these kinds of travel scams. By relying on secure digital transactions instead of cash, you're far less likely to fall victim to counterfeit currency schemes or shady short-change tricks. Most of these apps employ encrypted technology, meaning your personal financial details are never shared with vendors. Better yet, they allow you to track every purchase in real time, giving you the ability to quickly spot any suspicious charges. While cash is gone the moment it leaves your pocket, fraudulent digital payments are often reversible.

Many destinations around the world now accept tap-to-pay options. Not only does this save you from fumbling with unfamiliar coins or bills, but it also reduces the need to stand out as a tourist struggling with currency conversions in a crowded marketplace. In situations where you do need cash, pairing mobile payments with ATM withdrawals from reputable banks means you can carry smaller amounts and replenish only when necessary.

To get the most out of mobile payments while traveling, a few simple strategies go a long way. First, make sure your chosen app is linked to a travel-friendly credit card — ideally one with fraud protection and no foreign transaction fees. Second, set up two-factor authentication on your phone and payment accounts for an added layer of security. Finally, keep a small amount of local cash on hand for situations where mobile payments aren't accepted, such as rural shops or open-air markets. By striking this balance, you'll limit your risk of finding yourself stranded. 

If you're in a place where cash is still king, Steves mentions a few other money scams tourists should be wary of. He goes on to discuss the slow count, a situation in which cashiers will "count your change back with odd pauses in hopes that the tourist will gather up the money early and say "grazie." Or, the switcheroo as he calls it — wherein a server or cabbie might "pretend to drop a large bill and pick up a hidden small on in order to shortchange a tourist." Lastly, a situation where a cashier appears to be on the phone when you hand off your credit card, and they "surreptitiously take a picture of your card." All this to say, as a traveler, the most important thing you can do is be aware of your surroundings, including how much cash you hand over. However, by limiting your reliance on cash and harnessing secure technology, you can spend more time enjoying your travels and less time worrying about protecting your bank account.