Travel is booming, and unfortunately, so is travel fraud. The travel industry is one of the sectors most susceptible to fraud, with scams rising 18% during the summer peak season and 28% in the winter peak season in 2024, according to a report from the Mastercard Economics Institute. The problem isn’t confined to a few sketchy back alleys in obscure places either. Europe’s most beloved cities are experiencing a massive surge in tourist scams, with over 700 million people exploring the continent in 2024 alone, giving scammers an ever-larger pool of potential victims. Knowing which destinations are seeing the sharpest increases – and exactly what tricks to watch for – is now an essential part of pre-trip planning.
1. Bangkok, Thailand – The Global Fraud Capital
Bangkok has been officially recognized as the most significant global hotspot for pickpocketing and tourist scams according to a comprehensive study conducted by travel insurance experts at Compare the Market, shedding light on the increasing risks faced by travelers in one of the world’s most visited cities. With a total score of 83.45 in the study, Bangkok topped the list, far outpacing other tourist-heavy cities in terms of reported theft and fraud, placing it at the forefront of global risks for unsuspecting tourists. The Grand Palace, one of Bangkok’s most iconic landmarks, was flagged as the worst tourist attraction in the world for pickpocketing and scams, with the number of scam and theft mentions in visitor reviews being the highest of any global destination. Wat Pho and the Chatuchak Weekend Market also emerged as major areas for reported scams.
In Bangkok specifically, the Mastercard Economics Institute report pinpoints taxi and car rental services as the primary areas where tourists encounter the most fraudulent activity, with problems in this sector accounting for a significant 48% of reported fraud cases in the city. Taxi-related scams have become particularly sophisticated, with some drivers working with accomplices to rob passengers, especially those traveling from Suvarnabhumi Airport late at night, according to investigations by the Bangkok Post. Khao San Road, the backpacker hub, has also seen a spike in drink spiking incidents followed by theft, with several cases documented by international embassies throughout 2024. Thai authorities launched the “Safe Tourism Thailand” app in early 2025 to help visitors report crimes in real-time, but the sheer volume of incidents suggests the problem runs deeper than any single solution can address.
2. Barcelona, Spain – Europe’s Theft and Scam Hotspot
Spain welcomed 94 million visitors in 2024, and the scam statistics are sobering – in a country with that volume of tourists, one in every 61 visitors was caught in swindlers’ traps, according to Israel Hayom. According to the 2024 Tourist Crime Index, the Balearics recorded over 5,000 crimes per 100,000 residents, while Barcelona and Girona also scored above 4,500. The La Barceloneta Beach Metro Station in particular has experienced a concerning 47% jump in theft reports, underscoring a worrying trend of rising crime in the city.
Travel-agency related frauds are among the most likely in Barcelona, accounting for 64% of all reported tourist fraud in the city, according to the Mastercard Economics Institute report. Scams by tour operators and travel agencies account for more than 60% of tourist scams in bustling cities like Hong Kong, Delhi, and Barcelona. Barcelona consistently ranks very high in the list of cities where the most thefts and scams against tourists occur, with the highest-risk areas being the surroundings of the Sagrada Familia, Las Ramblas, El Raval, and Barceloneta beach.
3. Rome, Italy – Ancient City, Modern Cons
Millions of people visit Italian cities like Rome, Milan, and Pisa yearly to experience its incredible history, luxury fashion, and exquisite cuisine. Unfortunately, Italy’s popularity means visitors must be vigilant about potential scams, including unofficial fashion dupes sold at lavish prices and fake charity petitions. As a result, Italy has seen more scam-related searches than any other country in Europe, totaling 344 Google searches per 100,000 people. Rome’s ancient beauty hasn’t protected it from modern crime waves, with the Italian capital experiencing a sharp uptick in both elaborate scams and brazen thefts targeting tourists.
According to a study regarding British citizens scammed during a trip to continental Europe, Spain leads with over one million tourists scammed in the last five years, followed by France with over 212,000, and Italy with over 102,000. In Rome, special care should be taken in areas such as the Fontana di Trevi, the surroundings of the Colosseum, the steps of Plaza de España, and Termini station – and public transport remains a prime spot for pickpockets throughout the city. The “bracelet scam,” where someone forces a bracelet onto a tourist’s wrist before demanding payment, surged in popularity across Europe in the summer of 2024.
4. Cancun, Mexico – Resort Zone Risks on the Rise
In general, tourists reported the highest rates of travel-related fraud in Cancun, Hanoi, Dhaka, and Bangkok, according to the Mastercard Economics Institute’s comparative analysis of around twenty global cities. The U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory for Quintana Roo in October 2024, noting increased violent crime, including armed robbery and assault, in areas frequented by tourists. While hotel zones remain relatively safer than downtown areas, the Mexican government deployed additional National Guard troops to tourist corridors in December 2024, a clear acknowledgment that the situation had deteriorated beyond what local police could handle.
Travel hubs like Cancun, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Delhi, and Barcelona have a relatively high proportion of payment scams, according to Mastercard data. Cities like Phuket, Singapore, Antalya, and Cancun see a particularly large share of accommodation scams. In general, higher tourist volumes lead to an increase in scams, with high tourist season numbers exacerbating the issue by up to 28%, the Mastercard report found.
5. Paris, France – The Scammer’s Stage
Paris is the most visited city on Earth, which makes it the perfect environment for scammers who are slick, theatrical, and operate in teams, relying on props and distraction. French police statistics from late 2024 show that armed robberies targeting tourists near the Eiffel Tower and Champs-Élysées increased by roughly one-third compared to 2022 figures. These are not just bag snatchings – travelers have reported being threatened with weapons, particularly in the metro stations serving major tourist destinations. The Prefecture of Police Paris confirmed in a January 2025 statement that they’ve assigned additional plainclothes officers to tourist zones, but many visitors still report feeling unsafe, especially after dark.
Extra vigilance was advised during and after the 2024 Olympics, with the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and the metro lines serving them flagged as key risk points. France surpassed the barrier of 100 million visits in 2024, making it one of the most targeted nations for tourist-oriented fraud in all of Europe. Fake booking websites mirror legitimate ones so closely that nearly half of respondents in a National Police study with Airbnb admitted they couldn’t distinguish fake sites from real ones.
6. Egypt – The World’s Most Persistent Scam Destination
From viral social media warnings to veteran traveler forums, the consensus throughout 2025 has been unanimous: Egypt is the undisputed number one destination on the planet for scamming tourists. The U.S. State Department explicitly warns that tourists should beware of overcharging and scams in tourist areas throughout the country. Internet romance and financial scams are also common in Egypt, prompting the U.S. Department of State to issue specific guidelines to protect travelers from these schemes.
One of the most common scams happens near popular attractions, such as the Giza Pyramids, where men offer to “take your photo” with a tourist’s phone – after snapping a quick picture, they demand a tip, sometimes aggressively. These are classic Egypt pyramid scams, and many first-time travelers fall victim. A handler at a camel or horse ride might quote a very low price, only to increase it tenfold once the ride is over, while other scams target unsuspecting travelers with “free gifts” – vendors place a scarf or papyrus scroll into a tourist’s hands, insisting it is free, but the moment it is accepted, they demand payment. Travel agencies represent the places most at risk, with scam rates “four times higher than the global average” – fraudsters often establish fake tourism companies, attracting customers with unusually low prices for excursions and guided tours, and once the transaction is processed, these tours either never take place or differ entirely from expectations.