Many of you may know that I have a penchant for travel and I am always learning about new scams.

I have only ever fallen for one and it was pretty minor i.e. when I was about 21 when a shopkeeper in Tangier appeared to package up an article of clothing I had purchased whereas I ended up with something else after a sleight of hand under the counter for a split second.

My 'favourites' are:

1. The fake Cambodian passport/immigration office in no-man's land at a Thailand-Cambodia border crossing (and in amongst a myriad of pan-handlers who seemed to be allowed to operate in that area). I was aware about it in advance thanks to other travellers who had shared the info.

2. The official Cambodia passport/immigration office pointing to a large sign in their office that an addition US $10 is due for some reason or other. As above, I was aware of this bogus demand and was sent to sit down until I paid - but was waved through when they knew I wasn't going to pay and/or to leave a seat for the next possible victim.

3. 'Helpful' locals seeing you looking at a map of some description, offering to lead you through the streets to where you will be lost and possibly intimidated - and requesting money to get you to safety. (I didn't play ball with that one when I was in Marrakesh as I knew which direction to head in as the sun was shining, which helped to navigate where GPS was restricted due to the narrow streets).

4. People standing outside accommodation you may have booked and saying that they are the manager and that the property has closed due to a problem of some description (plumbing, construction etc) - and directing you to their alleged partner accommodation. That hasn't happened to me it's not uncommon, it seems.

For my part, I rarely put total trust in people approaching me when travelling and put more store in people I choose to approach.

What scams have you come across?