A SECURITY expert reveals what extra steps you can take to avoid getting robbed abroad. Tourists are notoriously easy targets - particularly when it's obvious they're not locals but this expert advice will save you from being the next victim. 2 A security expert is urging tourists to not stand out or look like a target for thieves Credit: Getty Katalin Parti, a cybercrime expert at Virginia Tech told USA Today "Try to dress in a way that does not make you stand out as a tourist.
She continued: "Avoid flashy jewellery , expensive accessories, and clothes that are too different from the local style." While many opt to wear their Sunday best when away, flashy garb won't help as it's best to remain as inconspicuous as possible. But tourists can do this by forgoing splashes of colour and bringing more muted coloured clothes on their travels.
READ MORE in travel CHILD SNATCHERS Pickpocketing gang terrorise Brits in Majorca using kids to steal £11m POCKET THIS Britain's top 10 pickpocketing hotspots revealed - see where you're at risk Chris Pierson, the CEO of BlackCloak added: "Many criminals now target phones instead of wallets. He also said: "In most cases, the criminals will target someone after watching them enter their passcode on the phone, so they can access the device." Pierson urged holidaymakers to shield their hands when typing in their password and said to use Face ID instead if possible.
Others have even suggested limiting alcohol intake although this can be tricky for those travelling to let their hair down. Most read in News Travel BAD CASE Budget airline with UK flights is cracking down on hand luggage FLIGHTMARE Summer travel chaos warning over 23 days of strikes at major UK airport PLAY ON Mums rave about UK's biggest indoor play area with six-lane slides & drop tower JET SET Tiny UK airport to add new flights to much-loved beach destinations next year This is because opportunists are more likely to strike when victims are intoxicated and less aware of surroundings. He said if you do opt for a few beers, stay extra vigilant by keeping an eye on your valuables at all times.
'You'll get food poisoning and pickpocketed' I went to a Christmas market that was WORSE than Winter Wonderland Common sense advice also includes not using your smartphone and keeping your wallet out of sight when in a crowded tourist hotspot. Nowadays there are plenty of companies catering to the very real risk of pickpocketing. Jazzy fashion accessories doubling as antitheft gear include cross-body purses, money belts and pickpocket-proof bags.
Carrie Pasquarello, CEO of Global Secure Resources stressed that pickpocketers - opportunists and experienced thieves alike will take advantage of distracted tourists. Scenarios as innocent as clumsily spilling coffee or bumping into an old mate can cost travellers their most prized possessions. To avoid this, she instructed tourists to avoid busier spots and generally not looking clueless.
Read more on the Scottish Sun NAME SHAME 'I don't care' fumes Scots mum as she gets death threats over kids' unique names HELP MA BOABY Still Game returns in brand new format, fans are going to love it Speaking English is often a dead giveaway so it's best to give loud conversations a miss. 2 Brazen thieves won't hesitate to strike in busy tourist hotspots Credit: Getty.
