Being away from familiar territory puts you at an increased risk of having your money swindled from you. The scammers know that it won’t be easy for you to get back to them, and you’re unlikely to notice you’ve been ripped off until you get back home.

Here’s what to do if you are unfortunate to get caught up in a scam and have your money stolen. Specifically if you end up buying crap defective goods.

• Make Sure That The Goods Are Infact Defective, or False Advertising – Before you do anything, verify the cost of what you’ve bought vs. the actual price and brand. Do a Google of the serial number to see if it’s stolen and check if there is a manufacturer’s warranty (most likely not). Contact any “former” owners and contact the local police (this may not work in many countries), or the manufacturer to report the defect and see if you can get a replacement.
• Call The Credit Card Company– The only thing you should pay with in cash while you’re on the road are restaurant tabs. Otherwise, make sure you use your credit card so you can refute charges later. Explain the situation clearly and most of the time the scammer won’t put up a fight and you’ll be credited the money back.
  • If you happened to have used cash, there isn’t much you can do.
• Change Your Credit Card Number – During the phone call to the credit card company, make sure you cancel and request for a new credit card and number. The scammers may not put up a fight if you refute the changes, but may have kept a copy of your Visa and are buying anything they want.

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