Aussie traveller Wesley Taylor who got ripped off when he was in Italy.
WHEN Australian traveller Wesley Taylor books a trip to Italy he hope to spend it relaxing and taking in the sites.
However his dream holiday took a rather unexpected turn when he became the target of scammers.
Like many Australians who like to help where they can, when Wesley was approached by a man in the street he didn’t suspect anything was up. The man claimed to be a tourist who was looking for a piano bar. Eventually the pair ended up finding the bar together, which turned out to be a very expensive experience for Wesley.
“He asked if I knew where a particular piano bar was and I said I was also a tourist and had no idea,” Wesley told news.com.au.
“He said he was pretty sure the bar was further down the street and asked if I would like to go with him for a drink. After a long day of walking around it sounded like a good idea.
“The place was not too far away. It was in a basement area down some stairs, however it was very up-market with plenty of security, like a nightclub.”
When Wesley ordered a bottle of wine, he made the mistake of not asking the price.
“The waiter poured a couple of glasses and asked if he should get another bottle. I then asked the price of the bottle.
“He came back with a price list and pointed to the most expensive wine, at the bottom of the menu. It was equivalent to $A420.”
“The waiter came back with a bill for $A485, which included $A65 for the nuts sitting on the table.”
Wesley’s new ‘friend’ said he’d only pay for the nuts but he still had to pay for rest.
“It was obviously a setup and with the heavy security I didn’t want to make trouble, so I decided to put it on my credit card and get out of there.”
Since this event, Wesley says he hasn’t been so trusting.
“I have heard the advice that you should always ask for the price first, but I never imagined I’d be taken for such a huge ride.”
With sites like this, it’s no wonder Aussies love Rome. Picture: EPASource:Supplied
Travel safety expert Phil Sylvester from TID says travel scams such as the wine bar scenario are common right around the world.
“It’s particularly sad because the crooks not only robbed the traveller of almost $500 but they stole his trust in people, and meeting people is the greatest reward of travel,” said Sylvester.
“The only way to protect yourself against this scam is to always have a smidgen of cynicism when making new ‘friends’.
“If your new acquaintance is leading you down a dark alley to an underground bar, it’s OK to say you’re not comfortable with the situation. If he’s genuine he’ll understand and may suggest a different, more open venue. If not, just walk away.”
Bar scams are not the greatest threat to Aussie travellers in Rome, he said.
“Like other tourist-dense locations it’s pickpockets and bag snatchers you really need to be on the look out for.”
This skyline of Rome and St Peter's Basilica would cheer anyone up. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied
For more information on safety and security while travelling visit smarttraveller.gov.au.
Have you ever been scammed while on holiday? Email leah.mclennan@news.com.au
Continue the conversation on Twitter @newscomauHQ | @LeahMcLennan
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