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A map of ATMs designed to scam tourists in Europe

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Re: A map of ATMs designed to scam tourists in Europe

#81

Post by shortcake27 »

hgomersall wrote: post #53
crazygringo wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The world is not /primarily/ designed to rip off tourist. In my experiences with traveling to a great number of countries and cities... yes, it pretty much is. Taking any kind of "easiest path" tourism is basically full of rip-offs in every hotel, restaurant, and tour, no matter where you are. It takes effort to plan a genuinely enjoyable trip full of rich experiences that isn't ripping you off. Also, it doesn't se…

I've travelled extensively in Europe, it being where I live, using all different strategies. I've never been ripped off. I've been to a hostel from someone we met at the train station in Prague. It was fine and good value. Also similar story at lake Balaton. It turns out protectively selling something is not synonymous with being a scam artist.

Yeah, I’ve also travelled extensively around Europe, west, central, and east, to some of the most touristy cities in the world, and never been ripped off. OK, my current hostel is charging €8.50 for a continental breakfast, so I just go elsewhere. I don’t think it’s a rip if you’re informed of the price and choose to pay - that’s on you.

Unfortunately I have been ripped in SE Asia, and moreso in Central America, where prices were almost never displayed, and I was charged US prices for almost everything.

Re: A map of ATMs designed to scam tourists in Europe

#82

Post by [deleted] »

hgomersall wrote: post #53
crazygringo wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The world is not /primarily/ designed to rip off tourist. In my experiences with traveling to a great number of countries and cities... yes, it pretty much is. Taking any kind of "easiest path" tourism is basically full of rip-offs in every hotel, restaurant, and tour, no matter where you are. It takes effort to plan a genuinely enjoyable trip full of rich experiences that isn't ripping you off. Also, it doesn't se…

I've travelled extensively in Europe, it being where I live, using all different strategies. I've never been ripped off. I've been to a hostel from someone we met at the train station in Prague. It was fine and good value. Also similar story at lake Balaton. It turns out protectively selling something is not synonymous with being a scam artist.

[deleted]

Re: A map of ATMs designed to scam tourists in Europe

#83

Post by vbeeaz »

cat_plus_plus wrote: post #79

A bit elitist? "Ugly mass tourism places" are there because weather is good, location is convenient, one of a kind landmarks, it's easy to get food and supplies for the whole family and so on. Yes, it's going to be expensive and not super authentic. But not everyone can take a month off to live like a local. If I only have one day cruise ship stop in Mallorca and I have to pay 60 euro fee to get cash, it's still pref…

The subtext here is that some people hate it when the poor can enjoy things. I know it sounds like a joke and that it's hard to believe, but that's what's happening.

Re: A map of ATMs designed to scam tourists in Europe

#84

Post by as-j »

Freak_NL wrote: post #28

The mention of the presence of a Spar supermarket in Europe being a marker for overtouristed areas seems oddly area specific. In most European countries which have them these are bog-standard supermarkets.

I thought batter example would the presence of a Hard Rock Cafe. :)

Re: A map of ATMs designed to scam tourists in Europe

#85

Post by shortcake27 »

philwelch wrote: post #71
deanCommie wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funny I had the opposite perspective - Euronet ATMs being a scam is a very EUROcentric view. In America and Canada, ALL ATMs are scams with exorbitant fees except for the customers of the bank of that ATM. The whole "Sorry, we're cash only, but there's an ATM in the back" is ubiquitous. When I moved to Europe in the mid 2010s I was shocked that I could use my bank card to withdraw cash from any other bank without fee…

There are plenty of American banks that will reimburse ATM fees. It’s an essential feature IMO.

In Australia and the UK there are no fees for withdrawing from a bank ATM (independent ATMs can still charge fees).

IMHO this is superior to the bank refunding you. It doesn’t cost the bank $2+ to allow you to access your own money from a different ATM, it’s just rent seeking.

Re: A map of ATMs designed to scam tourists in Europe

#86

Post by FFP999 »

arp242 wrote: post #67
entropyie wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are absolutely everywhere in Ireland, from countryside to city centre, rich and poor areas.

And there are also tons of Irish pubs! Therefore, all of Ireland is a ugly mass tourist place. QED.

I don't think anyone is holding Ireland responsible for "Irish" pubs. It somehow just became a genre of bar on its own, and it's easy to do in a lazy caricatured way, suitable for someone whose chief aim in owning a bar is rooking tourists: shamrock-based logo, change the name to "O'Whoever's", and have Guinness on tap, good to go.

Then you have other places like my old hangout from 20 years ago, which had a few of the same visual signifiers of Irishness, but the owner being in fact an Irishman, he didn't feel the need to go overboard with that. Hope that place is still open and doing well.

Re: A map of ATMs designed to scam tourists in Europe

#87

Post by Symbiote »

lxgr wrote: post #80
evrimoztamur wrote: post #9

These ATMs are plenty useful for contributing to the local money laundering industry. More signals are unlisted prices, fading storefronts, fluorescent lights. Read more about what’s happening in London https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/oxford-street-candy-sho... It’s not about scamming tourists at its core, it’s about avoiding electronic banking networks and pulling cash back into the system. Disclaimer: Amsterda…

What exactly is the supposed connection between these specific ATMs and money laundering? Nothing in the referenced article mentions ATMs.

I think the method is the shopkeeper receives dodgy cash, and puts that cash in the ATM in their shop.

They get a clean €101 when someone makes a withdrawal, and the tourist has no problem spending the money.

Re: A map of ATMs designed to scam tourists in Europe

#88

Post by Tijdreiziger »

paganel wrote: post #68
izacus wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even as a European I can confidently say that Euronet ATMs are complete, utter scam and they have a tendency to show up in most scammy tourist areas to prey on foreigners. Even here across southern Europe they always start popping up in areas that usually have other seedy businesses preying on people. Lately they don't even show their brand and colors anymore... only showing foreign languaged "ATM" sign with no bank…

Same goes for Eastern Europe, and I have the same recommendation, avoid them like the plague. Also (and maybe this only applies for Bucharest, but good to know regardless), avoid changing currency (USD to local RON, in Romania's case) just as you get off the airplane, the exchange rates inside the airport are rip-offs pure and simple. The currency exchange shops inside Bucharest proper are more than decent, though, n…

I tend to use an ATM inside the train station/airport and decline any DCC (dynamic currency conversion), that way I get my debit card's exchange rate, which I know is reasonable.

Re: A map of ATMs designed to scam tourists in Europe

#90

Post by Leherenn »

fl7305 wrote: post #18
crazygringo wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The world is not /primarily/ designed to rip off tourist. In my experiences with traveling to a great number of countries and cities... yes, it pretty much is. Taking any kind of "easiest path" tourism is basically full of rip-offs in every hotel, restaurant, and tour, no matter where you are. It takes effort to plan a genuinely enjoyable trip full of rich experiences that isn't ripping you off. Also, it doesn't se…

If you do happen to end up in a tourist trap location and are looking for a good lunch restaurant, pick one where the local construction workers and police go to eat.

Does it actually work? My experience in Europe (well a few places at least) is that most blue collar workers don't eat lunch in a restaurant, it's way too expansive (and time consuming). They either pack it from home, go to the local grocery/convenience store or maybe hit a fast food place/cheap take away.

It might work better in cultures with a more developed eat-out culture like in Asia.

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