Scams targeting tourists are common during the summer months. Scammers take advantage of the ignorance of those who arrive with suitcases full of dreams of having the best holiday of their lives and turn their experience into a nightmare, which not only damages the tourist's pocket and confidence but also has an impact on the image we project as a tourist destination abroad.
The British press has echoed the recommendations of James Smith, a popular expatriate who arrived in Ibiza years ago and is now a renowned online Spanish teacher and creator of the ‘Learn Spanish With James’ platform. This British teacher has publicly denounced the practices of scammers and asks his compatriots to be on the lookout for signs so as not to fall into the trap. «Living in Ibiza opened my eyes to how sophisticated these scams have become,» said Smith. «Scammers know exactly which buttons to push with British tourists, so they promise VIP treatment, exclusive access, or once-in-a-lifetime experiences. But there are always signs if you know where to look,» he explained.
According to James Smith, the most common scams targeting British tourists are as follows:
Fake nightclub tickets
One of the oldest tricks involves sellers approaching tourists with ‘discounted’ tickets to popular clubs on the island. According to Smith, these scammers usually hang around outside hotels or beach bars at sunset.
‘They'll show you a ticket that looks real and say they can't use it,’ says James. ‘It's always the same story: they're leaving early, their friend can't go, or they have a double booking. But those tickets are fake or have already been used,’ he explained.
As warning signs, Smith pointed out that they won't let you check the ticket, they don't give you any contact details, or they pressure you to buy immediately using phrases like ‘last chance’ or ‘only three tickets left.’
Non-existent boat parties
According to Smith, this is one of the scams that has increased the most in recent years. Scammers create fake websites where they sell ‘unforgettable experiences’ and promise the presence of famous DJs, open bars and preferential treatment. The scammers use images of legitimate boat parties to confuse internet users. But when tourists arrive at the port where the boat is supposed to set sail, they find themselves alone staring out at the sea. ‘And with no refund,’ Smith points out.
According to the Spanish teacher, signs to look out for include vague pick-up locations, requests for full payment in advance by bank transfer and a lack of official confirmation from the shipping company.
Overpriced drink packages
James reports that fake street vendors offer drink packages for nightclubs on the island, promising open bars and preferential access. «Legitimate clubs don't operate like that,» he warns. ‘They sell their own.’
Scams during timeshare sales presentations
Also known as 'timeshare', this involves the sale of the right to use a property — typically a tourist property — for a set period each year. In addition to the right to use the property, the purchase price also legally includes annual maintenance and insurance costs. You can purchase the right to use the property during the same week every year, or a 'floating week', which can vary within the same annual period. This is an affordable option for those with a structured lifestyle and a fixed holiday destination. However, experts strongly recommend reading the contract carefully, as it may contain unfair terms.
In this case, the scam occurs when sales teams promise fancy dinners, boat trips or free nightclub tickets in exchange for attending a half-hour presentation of their timeshare products. These presentations often turn into hours-long meetings where tourists are pressured by sales teams trained to create a sense of urgency in potential customers. These customers then end up spending a fortune on holiday packages with exorbitant surcharges. «I've seen tourists lose thousands in timeshare deals signed under pressure,» says James.
Scams in tourist flat rentals
Since the emergence of holiday rental platforms in the property market, scammers have been taking advantage of the anonymity provided by being behind a screen to deceive tourists. Visitors arrive with their suitcases in hand after a long flight to the address of the property they have rented at an unusually affordable price, only to find that it is a vacant lot, a business or simply a family home.
‘Always verify the property through multiple sources,’ James recommends. ‘If someone insists on immediate payment or refuses to make a video call to show you the place, walk away.’
Transport surcharges
As we reported in this news item, illegal taxi drivers take advantage of tourists leaving nightclubs by charging them exorbitant prices for short journeys.
In addition to this common practice in unregulated transport services, many tourists hire airport transfer services, only to realise on landing that no one is coming to pick them up. In this case, scammers take advantage of tourists' lack of knowledge about the island's transport regulations, or of tourists leaving nightclubs.