8 Common Tourist Scams to Avoid in Spain

Spain is a stunning country located in Southwestern Europe, known for its exquisite art museums, stunning architecture and natural beauty. Millions of tourists visit this country every year to get closer to European culture. However, it is important to know about the possible scams in Spain to avoid the hassles of a tourist.

For the perfect holiday, you should be aware of all the common scams you are likely to face. This will help you avoid wasting money or losing valuable belongings. Here are some of the common tourist scams in Spain that you should know of:

1. Menu Scam

Legally, every restaurant is supposed to have comprehensive menus with prices printed out for the customers in Spain. However, you might come across certain small restaurants that offer flyers for menus or the day's specials written on a board. These are usually devoid of prices. You might choose to try out the dishes without knowing the price, but then the bill demands a fortune. 

Common around: Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia  

2. Street Game Scam

source: a.cdn-hotels

This is a common tourist scam in Spain that catches travellers off-guard on the street. You will find people playing the pea and cup street game, where a person tries to hide a small pea or ball under three cups. Then, the audience is asked to guess which cup has the ball or pea. If you participate, you will notice that the person will use distractions to change the cups, causing you to lose money on losing the game. 

Common around: Madrid and Barcelona 

3. The Taxi Fare Scam

Usually, the taxi service in Spain is safe and reliable. They come with meters to ensure fair charges. However, in rare cases, the driver might ask you to pay the charge upfront or give excuses like their meter is not working. This means the driver is scamming you, asking for more charge than the accurate one for the trip. 

Common around: Madrid and Barcelona

4. Fake Police

In this kind of scam, you will be approached by a friendly stranger trying to make a conversation. Later, one or two others will approach you, claiming that they are undercover agents of the police, stating that the stranger you spoke to earlier is a criminal and that they have seen you talking. While you speak to them, they will try to steal your belongings by keeping you engaged.

Common around: Madrid and Barcelona 

5. Lucky Rosemary Scam

Around some streets across Spain, you will find slightly aged women standing with small pieces of rosemary. They claim that these are for good luck and hand them to the tourists. Then, they start asking for money. Even if you intend to pay them a few cents, they will create a commotion and force you to pay more. 

Common around: Across the country 

6. Pickpocket

Spanish marketplaces are filled with people waiting to pick your pocket. You might bump into someone in crowded places and later find your belongings missing. In some cases, they might come in other forms, such as young children, football players and random locals. They might try to engage you in friendly conversations, and their companions might pick up your wallet when you are distracted. 

Common around: Madrid and Barcelona 

7. Beggars and Sob Stories

You will find fake beggars on the streets of Spain who naturally ask for money. However, as you take out your wallet to pay, they notice where you keep it and can attack you later to steal it. In some cases, you may come across strangers who describe elaborate stories of how they have lost their belongings and desperately need financial help. They will start yelling and create a scene if you refuse to pay them. 

Common around: Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona 

8. Restaurant Voucher Scam

You may find strangers handing out restaurant vouchers with attractive deals and discounts. However, these are mostly invalid or expired deals. When you take these to the restaurants and try to redeem them while paying your bill, the authorities will refuse to accept them. You will have to pay the entire amount instead. 

Common around: Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona 

As you can see, there can be various types of tourist scams in Spain. Knowing about these and learning a few tips to avoid them is important before visiting this country. Getting a policy for Travel Insurance to Spain should be the first step in this process to ensure your safety. Apart from that, here are some more tips and recommendations to follow in Spain to ensure a safe holiday free of scams:

• Whenever you go to a restaurant in Spain, make sure to ask for a menu with prices. If they do not give you one, leave the place immediately without ordering anything. 

• Try to avoid carrying your valuable belongings while sightseeing across Spain. You can use a cross-body zipper instead of keeping them in the pocket. Travel Insurance that provides financial emergency can be useful here if you ever experience theft or pickpocketing in Spain. 

• Avoid accepting anything from strangers on the roads, be it discount vouchers or good luck charms. Try to walk away anytime they try to sell or give you anything. 

• Offer to visit the police station instead of communicating on the road anytime the police officials approach you. Fake police will avoid this situation.

• Try to book Uber instead of taking taxis when going out. If you still need to take a taxi, make sure that the driver has turned on the meter. Avoid paying upfront before the trip, and keep your Google Maps handy to follow the route so that the driver does not take longer routes.

• Even though street games look interesting and tempting, avoid stopping to take a look at them. If the locals still hassle you for money, try to get help from those working in the shops and stores around you. 

• Choose reliable hotels and guesthouses where you can keep your important documents and belongings safely. If you still end up losing your passport, you can seek help from the Indian Embassy offices in Spain. 

Spanish Police are usually quite effective and are supportive of tourists and visitors in Spain who face problems in this country. Moreover, the Indian Embassy offices in Spain can also help you out with any emergency requirements. Here are some emergency resources that will come in handy when visiting Spain:

• Emergency Support: 112
• National Police: 091
• Local Police: 092
• Ambulance: 061
• Fire brigade: 080
• Support for Crime Victims: 900 150 909
• Indian Embassy Office in Madrid: +34 91 309 88 82

Hopefully, that gives you a detailed insight regarding travel scams in Spain. Knowing about these scams is essential if you plan a healthy and safe vacation to Spain. You must follow the tips mentioned in this article to avoid facing hassles or losing your belongings to scammers. This will help you plan a hassle-free holiday in the beautiful sceneries of Spain.