6 Common Tourist Scams to Avoid in Poland

Poland, a Central European city, is the ultimate tourist's paradise for exploring the magnificent Tatra Mountains and the majestic Baltic Sea. Moreover, the country is filled with exquisite food, a vibrant culture, and a high-end fashion label, which serves as a major factor behind its popularity. 

Despite being one of the joyous places to visit, tourists must be aware of the scams in Poland to safeguard themselves from these cunning scammers.

Every year, thousands of tourists visit Poland to experience its authentic European culture, music, and food. However, tourists must be aware of the fraudsters and here are some common tourist scams in Poland that you should know beforehand: 

1. Pickpocketing

Pickpocketing is one of the popular tourist scams in Poland, as reported by various numbers of tourists across the country. To combat this problem, refrain from carrying any valuables to tourist or public places.

Common around: Across the country

2. Overcharging Scams by Taxi Drivers

Taxi drivers tend to overcharge the tourists and often take the longest route to reach the destination. This can be avoided by booking a cab from Uber or any other car hire application instead of hiring a taxi. 

Common around: Across the country

3. Tampering Credit Card Security

Many tourists in different parts are falling into the trap of this stolen credit card scam, which has been growing tremendously in the black market. In this scenario, scammers disguised as the receptionist of the hotel will call you to confirm the credit card number. 

Once confirmed, they will make authorised transactions from your card and will eventually block it. Hence, to counter such a scenario, physically verify with the receptionist about such a call. 

Common around: Warsaw

4. Good Samaritan Con Artists

If you notice someone who is trying to be extra good for unexplained reasons, chances are that person is a con artist. For example, some scammers will voluntarily find you a parking spot, and once done, they will ask for money for their services. 

Common around: Across the country

5. Overpriced Drinks & Food

Being a widely popular Poland scam, different restaurants and pubs tend to overcharge tourists who have ordered without taking a look at the menu card. Moreover, if you are going out with friends, carefully analyse the bill before paying as they try to add food or drinks that you have not ordered. 

Common around: Warsaw

6. Fake Police

The Government of Poland and local authorities have been going the extra hand to demolish the frauds done by scammers disguised as police. Hence, if you are approached by any policemen who ask you to show your travel documents or money, immediately call the national emergency helpline numbers or visit the nearest police station to inform the authorities. 

Common around: Krakow

Avoiding tourist scams in Poland becomes easier if you are obtaining any Travel insurance for Poland that offers an extensive range of coverage. Here are some of the tips to follow in order to avoid any scams while travelling to Poland: 

• Check the authenticity of the hotel website and travel agency before paying or making an advance. For assurance, you can go through the customer reviews and check their experience on the site. 
• Keep a close eye on your valuables, like jewellery, camera, cash, etc., when strolling around the crowded area of any tourist place. For this purpose, it is quintessential to obtain travel insurance, which offers financial emergency cash to safeguard monetarily during any crisis. 
• Ensure to ask and check the menu of food and drinks before making an order. Moreover, try to avoid any over-friendly group asking to join for a drink with them. 
• If you are booking a taxi, ask the driver to turn on the metre so that the fare is calculated based on that. Moreover, turn on Google Maps on your phone to assess the shortest distance to reach your destination. 
• Keep your baggage, important documents, cash, etc., safely, as it can get misplaced. If in case you lose your passport, immediately inform the matter to the Indian Embassy in Warsaw, Poland, without delay. 

The police authorities and government are one step ahead in dealing with any problems that hinder the journey of tourists. Here are some of the important emergency helpline numbers that tourists must keep in handy to profoundly combat any scams in Poland: 

• Indian Embassy in Warsaw, Poland and Lithuania: +48 22 540 00 00
• National Emergency Number: 112 
• Fire Brigade: 998
• Ambulance: 999
• Municipal Police: 986 
• Police: 997
• Road Assistance: 981 
• Hospital Emergency Services (Hotline): 800 777 770 
• Foreign Tourist’s Safety (Hotline): 800 200 300
• Emergency Gas Service: 991
• Safety Number: 988

As you can note, the above-mentioned tourist scams in Poland can be dangerous if not taken seriously. Scammers are everywhere, and hence, tourists must stay safe and keep a close eye on their essentials and valuables. Moreover, obtaining travel insurance will ensure that your journey will be safeguarded while you can experience the scenic beauty of this central European country.