The writer of this text shares their experiences and tips for tourists to avoid getting scammed or hustled in urban areas. They describe common tactics used by scammers, such as the "sob story sales pitch," where someone shares a fake story to elicit sympathy and money, and the "oopsie guy," who pretends to accidentally break something and then demands compensation. They also warn about people selling CDs or asking for money after taking a photo, and about pickpocketers and thieves. The writer advises tourists to be aware of their surroundings, not to look like a tourist, and not to accept anything that is aggressively handed to them. They also suggest being confident and assertive, and not being afraid to say no to people who are trying to scam them.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Tourists are often targeted by scammers and hustlers in urban areas.
2. Locals can usually tell who is a tourist by their clothing, behavior, and body language.
3. Wearing souvenir clothing with a city's name or logo can make a person stand out as a tourist.
4. Walking slowly and looking around in awe can also give away a person's tourist status.
5. Hustlers often use the "sob story sales pitch" to scam tourists.
6. This type of scam typically involves a person telling a fake story about being in a difficult situation, such as being homeless or having lost their job, in order to guilt trip the tourist into giving them money.
7. Another common scam is the "oopsie guy" scam, where a person bumps into a tourist and then demands money for allegedly damaging their property.
8. Scammers may also try to sell tourists overpriced or worthless items, such as CDs or mixtapes.
9. In crowded areas, tourists may be approached by people dressed in cheap costumes, such as Disney characters, who will ask for money in exchange for taking a photo.
10. Pickpocketing and theft are also common crimes that tourists need to be aware of in urban areas.
11. Scammers may work in teams, with one person distracting the tourist while another steals their belongings.
12. It's generally not a good idea to accept anything that is aggressively handed out on the street, as it may be a scam.