Common scams to avoid during your working holiday abroad

From false housing advertisements to dodgy job offers, it’s important to be able to spot the red flags of scams and other forms of deception that regularly target working holiday makers. We don’t want you to stress, so we have put together this crucial guide to teach you how to avoid any scammers that may come your way during your working holiday adventure.

If in doubt, don’t forget to run an online search by typing in the name of the organisation or person who contacted you along with the word “scam” to see if anything obvious pops up.

Read on to learn more about the following scams:

Common scams that can happen to any traveller

There are many scams that can happen to tourists, whether you’re on a WHV or a vacation, solo travelling or travelling as a group. Scammers do not care who their victim is, but typically go for people who look like easy targets, so learn these common scams and you’ll be prepared to spot the warning signs:

• Offering to take your photo, only to demand payment for their service or simply run away with your expensive phone/camera. If you want somebody to take a photo for you, approach someone who looks trustworthy, e.g. another group of tourists, and offer to take one of them in return for a photo of you. That way, nobody is expecting any money for the favour!
• In many countries, especially across Europe, somebody will try to give you something nice, such as flowers or jewellery, and then demand payment once you have touched the item. They will make a scene, hoping you would rather pay than be embarrassed in public. Do not accept any gifts from strangers, no matter how kind they may seem, and do not let anybody put any items of clothing or jewellery on your body.
• Sadly, in many countries, it is common for babies and children to be used as part of the scam, often as a distraction or as nimble pickpockets. Do not engage with any groups of children if they approach you, and certainly do not give them any money.
• Rental scams: You rent a car or motorbike and return it in perfect condition, only to be charged high fees for “damaging” the vehicle. Cover yourself by taking photos/videos of the vehicle when you pick it up and when you return it, so you can easily disprove that you were the cause of any damage.
• Love traps: Female staff push customers to drink by dangling a potential relationship interest, only to hit them with a string of hidden surcharges when they try and pay the bill. Things can quickly get out of hand if you refuse to pay—these women are often managed by pimps or even the local mafia…

This is just a handful of the common scams and there are many more out there, including some that will be specific to the destination you are visiting. Do your research before travelling so that you are prepared for any country-specific scams.

Working Holiday Visa application scams

Over the past few years, we’ve noticed an increase in the number of people being swindled by organisations claiming to offer their services for obtaining visas, in particular Working Holiday Visas.

For your WHV application, we recommend reading all our content containing step-by-step instructions for each country, which always link you to the official websites!

Some WHVs do not charge an application fee (e.g. Colombia). Other countries might charge some nationalities a fee but not others (e.g. French citizens do not have to pay for an Ecuador WHV but Australian citizens do). Make sure you have checked on the official website before paying any fees to confirm if you are supposed to pay a fee or not.

In fact, you should always make sure you’re on the official website for any type of immigration application.

Scammy websites mostly target people by showing up at the top of the search page as sponsored links on Google. They typically promise a speedy immigration or visa application process if you’re prepared to pay several thousands of dollars.

These “immigration professionals” can get your contact info from:

• Their website contact form if you complete it “to get more info”
• Various websites (e.g. a public message on a forum), by using a bot or buying data from other companies

Once they have secured your contact details, you will be contacted by phone or email for a sales pitch. These “immigration professionals” may lead you to believe that they are government employees or immigration law experts (eluding questions about their credentials, of course).

After a well-crafted pitch, you’ll be asked to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for a “speedy” process. If you don’t pay or stop paying, you may be threatened or told that you won’t be able to reapply for a visa if you don’t complete the process with their service (which is obviously not true).

There are also genuine immigration consultants affiliated with recognised professional bodies and accredited to act as representatives. You are entirely free to decide whether or not to use them. Just be aware that they have no decision-making power over your application. They can’t guarantee fast-track processing or that your application will be successful, but they can guide you through the process.

Sometimes, it is a legitimate or even required method of securing a visa. For example some countries (e.g. the US) can only take part in IEC Canada by applying through a Recognised Organisation (RO).

Online application scams

Travel authorisations, driver’s licences, police certificates and more—many application processes are now online.

However, make sure you’re using the official website. Unofficial websites may charge higher fees or even charge you when the application process is free.

For example, your electronic travel authorisation (eTA) for Canada should only cost CA$7 and the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) for the US should only cost US$21. If the website you are on is charging way more than the official cost, you know it’s a scam!

Housing scams

Be very careful when looking for housing—finding a place is stressful and difficult when rent and competition is high, and scammers love to take advantage of this situation. You will likely be looking at rental ads online. Let’s learn how to spot rental fraud!

Here are a few warning signs that usually lead to scams, and some tips to avoid them:

• The landlord can’t show you the property, but they can send you the keys (with DHL or UPS) and/or have a relative show you the property. For some reason, you are still expected to send money beforehand.
• Tip: Never send money to strangers if you or a trusted friend have not viewed the property. The place may look very different from the pictures in the online ad, or the location can be really bad. The place might not even exist at all.
• You’re asked to send money through Western Union/Moneygram/PCS codes, tickets and coupons/Transcash /NeoSurf or Toneo. These money-transfer solutions should never be used if you don’t know the person who is receiving the money.
• Tip: If you are told to use an unfamiliar method of payment, do some research online first to make sure it’s legit (type “scam” + the organisation’s name, for example).
• Note that in Canada, being asked to pay via an Interac transfer isn’t an issue, per se. Interac is a perfectly secure way of transferring money. However, be very careful about any confirmation emails or SMS messages you receive from Interac during this period, as they could be phishing scams. To find out more, check out the Interac website.
• Tip: Avoid giving out too much private information when you first contact a landlord or agency. Your personal data may be stolen. Cease all communication if you begin to think it’s a scam, even if they threaten to sue you.

To avoid unpleasant surprises, it’s best to look for housing once you’ve arrived. You might consider signing a lease from abroad only if you have a trusted contact on-site who can check the place out before you commit to anything.

Fake taxis

Fresh-off-the-plane travellers are often an easy target. After a long flight, all you want to do is get to your accommodation and freshen up. But you still have to make the journey from the airport to the place you booked…

Don’t just get into a random unmarked car. These fake taxis can charge a lot more than regular ones, not to mention more serious safety concerns. The driver may pretend the meter is broken or argue with you if you ask them to turn it on. Get out of the vehicle as soon as possible if you realise the driver is trying to scam you.

They might also try and take you to a different location where you will be forced to pay more money, claiming your original destination is closed/unavailable (e.g. your hostel is “fully booked”). Insist they take you to the destination you have requested at the original price you agreed.

The best way to avoid fake taxi scams is to research how to get from the airport to your place before you leave. Check the airport website—most airports offer useful information on how to get to the city (public transport, cabs, shuttles, etc.). Choose an “official” transportation mode based on your needs and budget—if you don’t want to take a taxi, find out the common rideshare service (Uber, Lyft, Grab, etc.) that is well-known in your destination country.

Phone scams

Once in your destination country, be wary if you receive a call from someone claiming to be a government agent. These people could be calling “on behalf” of the immigration office or the tax office, asking you to make a payment for X or Y reason. You may also receive an automated message telling you that a warrant has been issued for your arrest, or that you owe money. Beware, these are all scams.

In some cases, scammers can be very convincing. When you’re new to a country, you may be frightened when someone posing as a government representative threatens to have you deported for not paying a certain fee. Don’t give in—it’s almost certainly a scam, as most government officials will not communicate with you via phone call.

To find out more, check out some tips from various governments:

• Scam and fraud prevention (Canada)
• Beware of phone and internet scams impersonating Home Affairs (Australia)
• Scams (New Zealand)
• Avoid and report internet scams and phishing (UK)

Don’t trust “local” telephone numbers

Don’t be fooled into thinking that just because the number calling you is located in the correct country, it won’t be a scam. It’s quite simple nowadays to look legit by getting a phone number from a different country to the one you’re in. You might see a local phone number appear, but the person is actually thousands of kilometres away.

Job scams

Looking for work during your WHV? Watch out for time-wasting (and sometimes even money-wasting) misleading offers and deceptive employers.

Here are a few examples of scams, and tips to help you avoid getting into tricky situations:

• Your “employer” requires a small upfront investment. Then, you will have to convince others to invest as well, without selling a product or service, or by using dishonest sales tactics. You’re being tricked into joining a pyramid scheme, and this is illegal in most countries.
• Beware of “Mystery Shopper” jobs for organisations like Western Union or Moneygram. Sometimes the “job” involves sending you a stolen cheque that will be temporarily credited to your account. Meanwhile, you’ll be tricked into sending money with Western Union or Moneygram.
• Tip: Never spend your money to get a job. Skip all fee-based job listings and never trust anybody requiring a payment to secure you a role.
• Tip: Avoid vague ads that don’t describe the position and give you no idea of the work you’ll be doing. Also, beware of any job ads that say you will be paid by cheque, instead of normal means like pay slips and deposits into bank accounts.
• In some countries (e.g. Canada or New Zealand), employers may not make you sign a contract for short-term or temporary jobs. This is not necessarily a sign of a scam, but when you get your first paycheck (after one or two weeks, depending on the country), make sure you get paid. If in doubt, keep proof of your work (photos, videos, etc.) so you can report your employer if they try to rip you off and avoid paying you! Do not continue to work for a company that is not paying you.
• Tip: Never start working before signing (and thoroughly reading) your employment contract, if one is provided.
• In some countries (e.g. Australia or New Zealand), it’s not uncommon to be asked to complete a trial period before landing the job. Make sure it’s a genuine trial, not unreported work. If you are asked to work for several hours or days without pay, this is not normal. The trial period should generally not exceed 2-3 hours, and should focus on a very specific task, such as washing dishes quickly or frothing milk in a café. Many people are fooled into thinking they’re doing the right thing by staying for a long “trial”, but it’s really just unscrupulous employers (particularly in the hotel and restaurant industries) taking advantage of free labour!
• Some employers (e.g. farming or resort work) will offer you accommodation on-site, either in your own tent/campervan or in a sharehouse. Make sure you find out about the rent and the living situation upfront to avoid unpleasant surprises. Ask whether the rent will be deducted directly from your salary or whether you’ll have to pay extra. Finally, make sure that the accommodation is clean, safe and practical—most of the time, these are not registered accommodation options and they could be substandard.

Whatever your WHV destination, job scams exist—just look for red flags. Remember that you can report employers who don’t pay you. You still have rights as a temporary foreign worker; make sure you know your rights.

Vehicle scams

Buying or selling a vehicle? Here are some tips on what to look out for:

• When buying a vehicle, beware of people who tell you they are abroad/away but still ask for a deposit to make sure you’ll show up… They say, “Don’t worry, you’ll get it back if you decide not to buy!” Guess what—you’ll never see the money again and there’s probably no car to be sold. This is a scam; stop the conversation before any deposit is sent.
• Always test-drive a potential vehicle. Don’t commit to the purchase before you have seen and tested the vehicle.
• Don’t let your guard down if buying from a dealership—some employees can be dishonest and try to sell wrecks to backpackers. Get a second opinion and have your vehicle’s mechanical condition inspected at an approved garage.
• Check that the vehicle you wish to buy is not stolen or written off and that it’s free of debt. You should also check the vehicle history, if it’s properly registered and taxed, etc.
• You can also get scammed when selling your own vehicle. You may be contacted by someone who claims to be very interested but is unable to come and view the vehicle. After several conversations and for various reasons, you’ll be asked to send money yourself, which is a big no-no if you don’t know the person personally (and if you’re the seller!)
• Again in New Zealand, avoid buying your vehicle from garages or individuals who sell a lot of vehicles. These people generally have connections with mechanics who can make vehicles in very poor condition pass the WOF test! If you still decide to buy a vehicle from this type of person, you should definitely have a pre-purchase mechanical inspection carried out by an AA or VTNZ approved garage of your choice.

Don’t waste your time dealing with scammers. If the buyer or seller claims to be abroad, forget it—even if you’re desperate and the offer sounds good.

Social media scams

Travellers and expats tend to make the most of social networks, especially Facebook groups, to ask questions and chat with like-minded people.

One trick to be aware of is that scammers can use social media to impersonate you. This is a form of identity theft—they can either hack your account or create a replica Facebook account using your profile photo and cover photo. The goal is to contact your friends and family to ask them for help and money, supposedly because you’re in trouble somewhere far, far away.

The best way to protect yourself from this is to safeguard your Facebook data—hide your friends list and personal information. Make your profile accessible only to your friends. You can also tell your friends and family that if you have a problem on the road, you won’t contact them via social networks, but by email or on WhatsApp. That way, they’ll know that if they’re contacted by Messenger, it’s probably a scam, and they can warn you something dodgy is going on. You might want to consider a codeword to let your family know if it is really you reaching out for help.

Another common social media trick is that you could be responding to a fake profile that has been set up with stolen or stock website photos. The scammer will pose as a fake person to phish for your personal information, or to trap you into sending money. Always check the other person’s profile to see if it looks legitimate or not. Anybody advertising a room for rent or a car for sale, for example, should be willing to meet you to show you the item in person. As mentioned earlier in the article, do not send money without meeting them first, and do not give out personal information that could lead to identity theft.

Bank card fraud

Bank card fraud is the unauthorised use of your bank details. This happens when scammers manage to obtain your bank details despite your vigilance. For example:

• your bank card was stolen
• your bank details were photographed
• you give your bank details over the phone or by e-mail and they are misused
• breach of your data following an online purchase.

What should you do if you notice fraudulent activity on your bank account?

• Block your card immediately and go to your bank as soon as possible.
• If a transaction is pending, block your card and wait. The bank cannot do anything until the transaction has gone through. In some cases, you will have blocked your card in time and the transaction will not go through. In other cases, the transaction will unfortunately be approved (see next point). Then go to your bank to change your card.
• If a transaction is approved, block your card immediately and go to your bank as soon as possible. Some fraudsters create a digital copy, called a token, of your data, which must be deleted by your bank. You will then have to get a new bank card.

When you go to your bank, make sure you have:

• your passport
• your access codes/customer number/banking ID: often found on the back of your bank card or on your banking application
• your bank card.

Depending on the country you are in, it may be easier or harder to get your money back. Don’t hesitate to contact your bank if you haven’t heard any news.