Con-Artist Compass

Top 10 Travel Scams and How to Dodge Them

De: Barnaby Sorrens

Narrado por: Awais Syed

Every trip should change your life—just not your bank balance.

You're standing in a sunlit square in a foreign city, mesmerised by the sounds, scents, and colours. And then it happens: someone hands you a bracelet “for free,” a taxi driver tells you the meter’s broken, or a police officer flashes a badge and asks to check your wallet. Moments later, you're lighter—either in cash or confidence.

Con-Artist Compass: Top 10 Travel Scams and How to Dodge Them is your essential companion for avoiding the darker side of travel. Written by seasoned globetrotter Barnaby Sorrens, this practical and witty guide reveals the world’s most common travel scams—from slick street cons to digital deception—and shows you how to sidestep them with ease and confidence.

Inside, you’ll uncover:

• The “Broken Meter” Taxi Scam: Why “no meter today” might cost you five times the fare.
• The “Free Gift” Trap: That bracelet or rose isn’t a gift—it’s bait.
• The “Helpful Stranger” at the ATM: How fake kindness empties real bank accounts.
• The “Fake Police” Ruse: What to do when an officer isn’t what they seem.
• The Wi-Fi Wreckers: When free internet costs you everything.

This guide is packed with firsthand accounts, real-world tips, and just enough humour to keep things light—even when the topic isn’t. Sorrens doesn’t aim to make you paranoid—he aims to make you prepared.

Whether you’re backpacking through Southeast Asia, road-tripping through Europe, or booking a luxury stay in Dubai, the same golden rule applies: if it feels off, it probably is. But recognising the red flags isn’t always easy when you’re navigating new cultures, languages, and currencies. That’s where the Con-Artist Compass comes in—to help you read the signs, trust your gut, and travel smarter.

©2025 Deep Vision Media t/a Zentara UK (P)2025 Deep Vision Media t/a Zentara UK

Entertaining and Invaluable

Who knew reading about scams could be so entertaining? This book is filled with personality and packed with useful tips. I’ll never look at ATMs or “friendly strangers” the same way again.

The Travel Guide Nobody Talks About—But Everyone N

This book covers what guidebooks leave out: how to protect yourself in unfamiliar places. It’s smart, funny, and full of clever ways to outsmart scammers. I’ll never travel without this knowledge again.

Every Traveler Needs This Book

I’ve been scammed abroad before, and I wish I had read this first! This book is practical, funny, and packed with real-world advice. It made me feel more confident and prepared for my next trip. Highly recommended!

I Avoided a Scam in Rome Thanks to This

A man tried the “free bracelet” trick on me in Rome, and because of this book, I saw it coming. That alone made it worth every penny. Can’t recommend this enough.

Easy to Read, Hard to Forget

Barnaby Sorrens writes with such clarity and humor that the advice really sticks. The scenarios feel real because they are. I now recognize red flags I would’ve missed before. Fantastic guide.

Prevention Is Better Than Pickpocketing

This guide opened my eyes to how common and clever travel scams can be. The advice is realistic and actionable. It’s made me a much more alert and responsible traveler without making me paranoid.

I Wish I Read This Sooner

I was once conned by a fake taxi in Bangkok. Reading this book brought it all back—but now I feel prepared. The “Broken Meter” explanation was spot on. Great insight and guidance.

Barnaby Sorrens Knows His Stuff

This book isn’t written by an armchair traveler—it’s filled with real experiences and practical advice. Barnaby's insights feel trustworthy and time-tested. If you travel, read this book. Period.

The Real Travel Insurance Is Knowledge

Forget overpriced insurance plans—this book is the best form of protection. It doesn’t scare you, it empowers you. Now I know how to spot trouble before it happens, and that peace of mind is priceless.

Think of It as Street-Smarts 101

Travel can be wonderful, but it also makes you vulnerable. This guide is like a crash course in street smarts for the international stage. Perfect for backpackers, honeymooners, or anyone stepping outside their comfort zone.