Vacationing is supposed to be a fun and relaxing experience. However, unexpected bumps in the road can create more of a headache than wonderful memories. The truth is that people often put themselves at risk by unknowingly compromising their security.
For example, an act as innocent as asking someone to take a picture of you using your camera can give crooks an easy way to run off with one of your valuables. To prevent yourself from being the victim of this crime and others that are similar, read over the do's and don't's below:
♦ Don't: Let fake police officers fool you. If you are in a country that you've never visited before, you may not have any clue of what the police uniforms and badges look like. As a result, when a thief asks to see your passport or other important travel documents, you could be willingly handing over personal information to a criminal.
♦ Do: If you are asked for any form of identification, ask that a cop look it over at a police station.
♦ Don't: Forget to keep your guard up. Did you know that one of the most common ways that you can end up a victim of theft is by trying to help someone out? Many times, a dishonest person will drop his or her wallet and when you go to pick it up, they'll grab your bag or other valuable belonging you're holding.
♦ Do: Make sure that you are aware of your surroundings. Keep your valuables close to you at all times and remember that any important items like your wallet or phone should be kept in your coat pocket.
♦ Don't: Hand over your camera to strangers as a bandit may run off with it. You may be in front of the Eiffel Tower, but asking someone you don't know to snap a photo of you and your partner could mean you're left without a picture-snapping device the rest of your trip.
♦ Do: The answer is simple: take the photos yourself.
Another thing that you should keep in mind is that taxi drivers will quite often rip off unsuspecting patrons, mainly tourists. To avoid this use a reputable and honest worldwide limousine service like Hermes Worldwide.
