11 Common Tourist Scams to Avoid in the UK

A historical and cultural destination, the United Kingdom is famous for its picturesque Scottish landscapes, Beatles, castles and forts and British royalty. As per recent data, the number of overseas visits to the UK scrolled above 31 million in 2022.

Although a welcoming and well-mannered destination for tourists, one must be aware of scammers and fraudsters when visiting this country or any place abroad. 

Any and every travel purchase is an act of faith. Given below is a list of 11 scams you must know about to keep guard when visiting the UK:

1. Bottleneck Scam

This scam includes a team of pickpockets who will block your passageway when exiting a train carriage or at the bottom of an escalator. Purposefully, they create a crowd of passengers and use it as an advantage to grab things. 

More than 4000 passengers and tourists have been victims of such pickpocketing every year. On such ocassions, travel insurance with delayed or baggage loss cover can help.

Common Around: The London Underground, or the Tube, Victoria, Liverpool Street, Stratford, King’s Cross St Pancras, Oxford Circus, Trafalgar Square, and Leicester Square.

2. Snatchers/Mopped Muggers

source: crimestoppers

One of the dangerous Tourist scams in the UK, snatchers or mopped muggers are common in the UK streets. Snatchers and mopped muggers patrol the streets and will snatch away your phone, wallet or any valuable when you are busy browsing on your phone while waiting for a bus.

Common Around: Highgate Hill, Holloway Road, Tottenham Court Road, Russel Square and Mallow Street.

3. Cutting Your Bags

source: corporatetravelsafety

Like pickpockets several bag-cutting thieves operate within the United Kingdom's busiest cities. They work by stealing your belongings, not out of the top of a handbag, but by cutting open its bottom section from below. 

They do it with a knife and then place another bag below it to grab the valuables that will fall out.

Common Around: Westminster and the Tube in London.

4. Distraction Scam

It is perhaps the oldest trick in the UK scam list to grab your valuables by simply distracting you. In this scam, fraudsters generally work in a group where one partner gets your attention while the other works to get your valuables. 

Some other common forms of this scam (small and big groups) include:

• An individual asking for directions
• A person persuading you to take their photo
• A person suddenly spilling food or drink on you
• Street performers might approach you or your child with their act of play
• You witness a sudden brawl or disturbance on the roads
• Suddenly, you will find a group of children playing around you

Common Around: Tower of London, London Eye, Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Borough Market, Camden Market, Soho, Shoreditch and Camden.

5. Fake Luxury and Branded Products

Another biggest scam prevalent in the United Kingdom is the display of fake luxury and branded products. You will find several designer stores across famous streets during your visit to this country. 

You might come across a brand-new luxury item at a surprisingly low price, compelling you to purchase it. Street sellers often display fake goods that look similar to their luxury counterparts.

Common Around: London’s boutiques and designer stores on Bond Street and Regent Street, Old Spitalfields and Portobello Road, Oxford Street, Camden Market, and Westfield Shopping Centre.

6. Fake Ticket Scam

This scam involves the sale of counterfeit tickets for popular musicals, tourist attractions, and theatre shows. The scammers often set up stalls in popular tourist hotspots and sell tickets for popular events at a much-discounted rate. 

They will also claim to have access to tickets for sold-out events, performances and shows.

Common Around: Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street and Camden.

7. Gifting Scam

Meeting and greeting new people are common approaches when you travel to a new place. In this scam, a stranger will approach you and urge you to take a flower from them. The stranger will seem too friendly and emotional. 

As soon as you accept the gift, they refuse to leave you alone until you pay for it! This scam is common and can appear in several variations.

Common Around: Oxford Street, London Eye and Trafalgar Square.

8. Fake Police

The Fake Police Scam is another popular tourist scam in the UK that target several tourists suddenly on the road. Suppose you are walking along a road, and a group of policemen approach you, asking to see your passport, Visa, and wallet. 

A police officer claims a problem with your Visa, passport or identification. As you oblige, they return your wallet with empty cash. Before you can protest, they disappear down the street. They may ask to see your passport, then switch it to a fake one.

Common Around: Thames, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Warrington and Birmingham.

9. Fake Charity Collectors/Beggars

In this fraudery, you will find individuals posing as homeless or beggars approaching you to seek money. They will use props which include fake signs, to appear more convincing. These fake charities will be in places where there are actual legitimate charities. 

Fake beggars are typically well-dressed and convey a sad story to ask for money for food or shelter. They might even pretend to be injured or disabled to evoke sympathy.

Common Around: Manchester, London, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Dublin and Berlin.

10. Taxi Scam

A taxi driver approaches you and explains that taxi services are suspended for that day. As he is returning home, he can drop you off. It is to panic you and compel you to take an expensive taxi ride to your destination. 

While on board, if you suspect or question the price, drivers will get aggressive, threatening to contact the police and making you panic more. In other instances, these scammers drive you to a secluded place to snatch away your belongings.

Common Around: These scammers target people walking towards Paddington station to head to Heathrow Airport.

11. Card Skimming Scam

Card skimming is a common financial fraud prevalent in most cities in the UK. It involves the use of a skimmer to steal sensitive and personal information from a credit or debit card. A skimmer is attached to a gas pump station, ATM, or other card reader. It captures the magnetic stripe details from a card as you insert it. 

This information will help to produce a duplicate card to withdraw cash or make fraudulent purchases from the victim’s account.

Common Around: London, Manchester and Birmingham.

Before travelling, it is important to avail of travel insurance to the UK, before you begin your journey. This will help you know your finances will be safe if there is an unexpected event arising.

It is crucial to take precautions when visiting a foreign country. Some things you can do to avoid getting scammed in the UK are as follows.

• Keep your debit/credit card in a secure place to prevent pickpocketing or snatching. Getting travel insurance with financial emergency cash cover comes to your rescue in such extreme situations.

• Cover the keypad when entering your PIN in an ATM to prevent hidden cameras from capturing the data.

• When you are in crowded areas or on public transport, sling your bag on the front of your body to keep a closer eye.

• Invest in anti-theft bags and wallets with special locking mechanisms and compartments that make it difficult for bag cutters to access your belongings.

• Purchase tickets from official sources, such as the venue’s box office.

• If you lose your passport, you can get it replaced from the Indian embassy in the UK.

• Be wary of over-friendly strangers, especially when in a new place.

• Always purchase products from a reputed shop or store. If you are unsure about a particular product or brand, avoid purchasing.

• Remember that genuine police officers in the United Kingdom never ask for money or demand to see your valuables on a street.

• Use licenced taxis or transportation services from reputable companies. Verify driver and vehicle details, standard fares and prices before entering the car.

If you face any difficulties when in the UK, you can always reach out to the UK tourist police by dialling 999.

Here are some more contacts which are useful to have in case of any emergencies:

• In case of medical treatment and ambulance assistance – 999 or 112
• For fire brigade – 999
• Police contacts – 999
• High Commission of India in London, UK- 00-44 (0) 20-78369147
• Consulate General of India, Edinburgh, UK - 0131 229 2144

These are some common Tourist scams in the UK that are also prevalent in other places in the country, in different forms and approaches. However, if you are aware and use a few clever strategies, you can avoid them. 

In addition, it is necessary to know about a particular area before visiting it and try to keep the contact details of the local police station if you need their help during any emergency. Sometimes, prompt actions save you from causing further damage.