Tourist scams in poorer countries? (page 2 of 3)

At the same time, since this kind of scam happens often in poor countries, the money I lose ultimately goes to those poor countries, so it’s like I’m donating to a humanitarian organization. In the end, it doesn’t bother me that much—when I get scammed, I just tell myself I’m doing a generous act to help the poor in that country.

🤪 Did you put a lot of thought into writing that nonsense?

Yeah, what’s so stupid about what I wrote?

Yeah, what’s so stupid about what I wrote?

Imagine the difference between a restaurant owner who makes kids work in the back and an organization trying to help those same kids escape that mess... for example.........😮

yes what’s so stupid about what I wrote?

Pretty much everything...

I’d really like to know which “poor countries” you’ve traveled to so far! And I’m absolutely shocked by your comments, especially considering your age (I initially thought I was dealing with some naive, uneducated kid).

the money I lose ultimately goes to poor countries, so it’s like donating to a humanitarian organization

I think humanitarian organizations would be thrilled to learn their work is pointless since a bunch of suckers are just fattening up shady local tourism operations—which then distribute their funds to the population!

when I get scammed, I tell myself I’m doing a generous act to help the poor in the country in question

First of all, a generous act requires giving voluntarily, which isn’t the case when you’re being scammed. And based on your other posts on this forum, that seems pretty far from your usual mindset. Plus, imagining that the money collected by a few scammers actually helps the poor is a seriously oversimplified idea. Sure, tourists *might* contribute to a country’s economic development (though even that’s debatable), but you’d still need to prove it benefits the poorest. As for theft and scams...

Anyway, I just have to read this fascinating conversation to feel reassured: your bursts of generosity and your contribution to eradicating poverty clearly have their limits...

Money discussions are often a "sensitive" topic on vf... the word SCAM is often mentioned... for nothing. I sometimes get the impression that many people don’t distinguish between a real scam—e.g., gullible Mr. X on vacation in Tataouine on the Ganges gets mixed up in a shady jewelry deal that’ll give him a heart attack when he realizes back in his "home sweet home" that his bank account is at -3000 €—and a simple "fee" charged to tourists or backpackers passing through (same difference), like paying 50 baht for a tuk-tuk ride that’s worth 30.

Paying a fair price is good... but how do you determine it? And what’s the "fair" price we think we’re paying in a country where currency and purchasing power are the complete opposite of what we experience daily at home?

Wanting to pay the "local" price is a bit pretentious... knowing how to negotiate to get as close as possible and then "letting go" with awareness and pleasure of a few extra cents or euros... that’s what makes the art and fun of haggling.

...Annoying, these money stories... in India (and elsewhere), farmers commit suicide over debts of 200 or 300 €... does that mean anything to you?

thanks for bringing this "fascinating conversation" to my attention.... I nearly swallowed my tongue reading it........................................................................................(I’d rather not finish that sentence....)

Good evening,

Thanks for the link, and I’ll keep this in mind: "Anyway, there are plenty of richer people who pay the sherpas more than the actual price, so in the end, it balances out."

In my opinion, it’s the people who try to exploit those in "poorer" countries who are the real issue—not the locals scamming them.

And it’s especially contradictory to what they wrote in their first message: "When I get scammed, I tell myself it’s a generous act to help the poor in the country in question."

How shameful!

+1, I had the same reaction as you when I read their opening line.

On the other hand, thinking that the money collected by a few scammers can help the poor is an overly simplistic idea: sure, tourists contribute to a country's economic development (maybe...), but you’d still need to prove that it benefits the poorest. As for theft and scams...

In many countries, the price fluctuates based on the real or perceived wealth of the buyer. The problem is that Westerners no longer know how to haggle and have no reference point for setting a price.

A kilo of tomatoes costs about 2 € at my local greengrocer. What’s the price for that kilo in Morocco, Indonesia, or the middle of nowhere in Mali???? You should try to find out the prices by visiting supermarkets. I always find checking out a supermarket in a foreign country interesting, even though I rarely set foot in one back in France. You really see the differences in food, the clientele, and most importantly, you get an idea of the prices! (Though in Mali, finding a supermarket might be a bit tricky—but otherwise, the *gangrène carrouf* is spreading to the most unexpected places :(

You just have to tell yourself that no matter what, the price you pay will always be a bargain compared to France, and if you don’t feel like haggling, you’re not obligated to buy ;)

Otherwise, there are also fixed prices that differ for foreigners and locals: monument visits, transportation, etc. If the sale involves a state-owned good, don’t haggle, but always demand your receipt so the money doesn’t end up in the cashier’s pocket :angry: If the sale is in the private sector, negotiation is always possible :cool:

The most annoying part is when a local pays, say, 50 rupees to enter the Taj Mahal, while a foreigner pays 500 rupees—even though that local earns 10 times more than the foreigner....

A thought-provoking example for all kinds of merchants:

I remember a shop in Aswan that decided to display its prices. The store was always packed with foreigners happy to skip the haggling! Plus, the prices were very fair for the country :)

hey, it’s worth pointing out that some people who go with certain orgs—especially for volunteering—end up getting scammed right from the start! Take the case of the association Grain d'espoir: they take money from volunteers, and not only do they not transfer it on time to their local contacts, but they only send part of it. Then the volunteers have to pay even more once they’re on the ground. Even worse, before the volunteers leave, they’re not put in touch with the people who’ll be hosting them! That means you can’t communicate your needs properly or get details about the stay—like the welcome, accommodation, food, transport, etc. More often than not, you end up facing realities you weren’t prepared for: tensions, and so on. You’ve got to talk directly with the people waiting for you on the ground. Better to deal with God than his saints… let’s avoid the worst!

not so clever in the end? http://voyageforum.com/...ost=3473351;#3473351

Meh... I don’t buy it for a second. That’s the lamest justification attempt I’ve ever read... No doubt, we’re dealing with a total idiot! :)

"Weird!" He’s so "off"! 😮.

point final pas finaud ? http://voyageforum.com/...ost=3473351;#3473351

Shockingly stupid

Meh... I don’t believe a word of it. That’s the lamest justification attempt I’ve ever read... No doubt, we’re dealing with a total idiot! 🙂

haha! Long time no see, Lucette—I hadn’t run into you here before... those two chats were a blast! 😉

Lilie

Aren't you a bit obsessed with money?????? Because no matter how much you say it's just provocation to test us (reminds me of kindergarten, but whatever)... it always comes back to the same topic.

This subject has already been discussed at length on VF, and if it *is* provocation, it's lame!!! Do you take us for "idiots"???? 🤪

Hi there,

As often happens on VF, the discussion goes off track. In some countries, prices vary widely depending on whether you're a "local" or a "foreigner," especially at markets. Having lived nearly 40 years in West Equatorial Africa, I got used to bargaining, all while knowing full well that the price I ended up paying was still much higher than what a "local" would be charged. This became even clearer when I had an African partner who’d ask me to stay out of sight while she negotiated the price of fish or a bunch of plantains: the sight of a white person is synonymous with a potential good deal—it’s obvious. Can we call this theft or a scam in this particular case? I don’t think so. It’s certain that this practice in a restaurant in France would be fraud, but I’ve never seen anything like that. The closest thing in my experience was what happened to me at a roadside restaurant in Lunel, where after asking if service was included, the owner replied that it was, but I could leave something extra for the waitress! That was a long time ago... before tourism really took off in the South of France!

Sorry, I don’t have any photos, but the most recent example was in Cuba in March, at a museum.

Cuba is a bit of a special case because tourists and locals don’t use the same currency...

By the way, in France, national museums are free for those under 26 from the European Union. It’s pretty much the same thing.

Taj Mahal fare in Agra (India)

Indian: 15 rupees

Foreigner: 550 rupees

In some countries, the price charged to tourists is often more expensive than the one for locals

A lot has already been said about this here, no need to go over it again. After reading your other post mentioned by someone, a very simple question comes to mind...

Have you ever wondered if sometimes YOU might be charged a lot more because you were being rude or disrespectful to people?

Okay, I’m out...