Cheapflights.com Says Watch Your Back

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - Feb 5, 2013) - A vacation is a time to relax and enjoy time away from home. The last thing anyone needs or wants is to fall prey to one of the many travel scams out there. So the travel experts at Cheapflights.com, the online leader in finding and publishing travel deals, are here to give you the upper hand with our Top 10 Travel Scams to Watch Out For. Unfortunately, there are many people who like to take advantage of the trusting tourist. The best way to beat these cons at their game is to be aware, don't let your guard down and let them be the fool.

Here are the first five travel scams from our list to watch out for the next time you travel:

• Fake Police - If, as a traveler, you find yourself being accused of a crime you didn't commit, chances are you're dealing with a counterfeit cop. For example, fake police might charge an over-the-top, on-the-spot fine for putting out a cigarette in public. Always check the officer's ID and contact the real police if you have any doubts.
  
  
• Faux Gems - En route to their official destination, dodgy tuk-tuk or taxi drivers take travelers to stores where they are offered deals that are literally too good to be true. The so-called 'Gem Scam' can actually involve any high-priced or desirable item such as leather goods or "authentic" carpets. Victims soon discover their "jewels" may be nothing more than polished glass and those larger items, well, they never make it back home.
  
  
• Distraction - This can be anything from a child waving a newspaper in your face to an old woman needing assistance or a local helping you wipe a mess off your shirt. While you are distracted, a second crook comes in and swipes your stuff. The key to making it out with all your valuables intact is to pay careful attention to your belongings and others around you.
  
  
• Bar Scams - These can take a variety of forms, but the basics involve a traveler, usually male, being approached by local women (sometimes a group of seemingly friendly men) who invite him for a round of drinks at a local bar. After a few beverages the locals are gone and the traveler is left with a ridiculously large bill!
  
  
• Tricky taxi drivers - Unfortunately for all the good ones, cab drivers have a bad rep for ripping off travelers, but they do have a lot of tricks associated with their profession. Some of the most common cons are inflating fares or telling passengers their selected hotel/bar/restaurant is closed, but never fear, they know a better one just down the road. Always travel in licensed cabs and, if possible, agree on a fixed fare. Also, insist on going to your original destination and see if it is actually closed for yourself.
  
  

And, unfortunately, the list continues... The next five travel scams to be wary of when traveling include: the struggling musician; photo ops; packed trains; "where are you from?" and the bracelet scheme. To read Cheapflights.com's complete list of Top 10 Travel Scams to Watch Out For, visit http://news.cheapflights.com/top-10-travel-scams-to-watch-out-for.

About momondo Group
momondo Group is an online travel media and technology company that is driven by the belief that an open world is a better world. The group now serves travel search and inspiration to over 13 million visitors a month -- plus 6 million travel newsletter subscribers -- via its Cheapflights (www.cheapflights.com) and momondo (www.momondo.com) brands.

Skygate began the sourcing of complex air-travel data in 1992, while Cheapflights pioneered the online comparison of flight deals for users in 1996 and momondo launched meta-search in the Nordic countries in 2006. 

The Group has offices in London, Copenhagen, Boston and Toronto, with a consumer base across 16 core international markets but users all over the world.

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