Dubai, UAE, has positioned itself as one of the premier tourist destinations in the world in recent years. But an increased number of tourists arriving in this beautiful city also has led to an increased number of scams that visitors might face while there. Continue reading to find out the most common tourist scams in Dubai and how to avoid them.
Cheap Phones and Gold
You might come across small shops that sell pricey items, like smartphones or gold, for a surprisingly low price. Don’t fall for this, as the phones are usually cheap copies while the gold is fake. It isn’t uncommon for strangers to approach you on the street and try to sell something to you as well.
Taxi Scams
Just like anywhere in the world, taxis are a source of scams in Dubai as well. The biggest issue is unofficial taxis, which offer rides to unsuspecting tourists and then charge them double the ride actually costs. Even some official taxis have been known to tamper with their meter, so be very careful when taking a ride.
Wi-Fi Traps
Connecting to Wi-Fi networks in Dubai is a risky business. Don’t be desperate in your Wi-Fi search, as you could fall into one of the Wi-Fi traps, which dub as a Wi-Fi network but is actually programmed to steal your personal info and data. Instead, make sure you always use either public networks provided by the city or ones provided by the hotel or bar you find yourself in.
Spilled Drinks
One of the popular pickpocketing tactics in Dubai is for a pickpocketer to “accidentally” bump into you and spill their drink on your clothes. They will apologize and proceed to “clean” the clothes, but they are actually trying to get to your valuables. If this happens to you, simply stop them from touching you and walk away.