Holidaymakers are being warned to be on the lookout for a scam which is circulating in Spain. Spanish police have told how people are being hit by the two euro coin trick.
According to the Guardia Civil scammers are switching the two euro coin for a Turkish lira. This looks similar in both its size and shape and can easily be missed by unsuspecting tourists.
Both have a gold centre and a silver coloured outer ring. But with a value of just 32 cents – or 30p – it is worth a fraction of the two euro coin which is worth around £1.74 in sterling, reports The Express.
People are being advised to check the coins carefully as there are some clear differences between them. The Turkish coin has the face of Turkey’s first president, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, on the back and a half moon and a star on the front above the value.
The two euro coin has its vaue clearly stated on the front. There is a picture of a Spanish figure on the back.
This is the latest scam hitting tourists in Spain involving coins. Earlier this year, Spain’s Guardia Civil issued a warning about one-euro coins being swapped with a coin of lesser value.
British tourists are advised to check their change before leaving the business to make sure they haven’t fallen victim to the scam. Although many tourists now use currency cards while abroad, cash is still one of the most common ways to pay on holiday.
Unfortunately tourists are often the targets of scams as scammers believe they may not be aware of their tricks. A popular scam in some tourist destinations is to claim that a top attraction is closed and then push the tourist to pay for an expensive tour.
Tourists can avoid this scam by checking information for top tourist attractions online before setting off. This can also help travellers save money as some attractions offer discounts if people book tickets online.
Some tourists were recently targeted with a ‘bird poo’ scam while they were on holiday in Spain. Scammers working as a pair will spray the tourist with a liquid and then claim a bird has pooped on them. While the conman pretends to help the tourist clean up, they will try to steal items from their pockets.
It’s a good idea to purchase a flat money belt which can be easily concealed under clothing while on holiday. Tourists can also leave any valuables in their hotel room safe to avoid being targeted by pickpockets.
