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Travel Advisory!  How to Avoid Thefts, Cons, and Street Scams While Traveling
 
 
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Travel Advisory! How to Avoid Thefts, Cons, and Street Scams While Traveling [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Bambi Vincent (Author), Bob Arno (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)


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Book Description

November 1, 2003
"This book is simply amazing in providing what many books on the subject do not and cannot, because most writers do not have the depth and breadth of personal knowledge required. Bambi Vincent & Bob Arno have done an extraordinary amount of research, covering many countries over many years. The wealth of details gives the reader what are possibly the best weapons against the many cons covered in this extensive advisory - education and awareness."--George H. Sutherland, Amazon.com

"Bob and Bambi masterfully lay out the world of professional cons, rip-off artists, and the pejorative and prolific street thief. In incident after incident they show the mind of you, the unsuspecting victim and more importantly, the mind of the thief. Read "Travel Advisory" and you will soon understand the techniques of thieves, their M.O. and why you, looking like a tourist, acting like a tourist, are like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming Peterbuilt."--Allan M. Gathercoal, Amazon.com

Don't become a victim! Next time you a plan a trip, arm yourself with the most comprehensive travel safety guide on the market. Renowned travel experts Bambi Vincent and Bob Arno give you the inside look at today's con games, credit card scams, distraction schemes, and identity thefts plaguing unaware travelers everywhere. Know what a thief looks like? This book has 60 photos of them, from grandfathers, to children, to men who look like your brother. Chapters focus on researching your trip, traveling there, hotel risks, opportunist thieves, strategist thieves, con artists, and identity thieves. Each ends with a bullet-list of hot tips and myth-busting advice.

In the places people love to visit most, the authors find, follow, film, and interview the thieves who target travelers. Why do the criminals spill their guts? What do they say? And how can we avoid their trickery? Based on ten years of trekking through paradise with hidden cameras, this book explores the risks, exposes the methods and motivations of the perpetrators, and teaches travelers how to avoid becoming a victim. 

"Each chapter of this book, standing alone, would be worth the price of the book. The photographs, alone, would be worth the price of the book. Where else could you find so many photographs of pickpockets and street scam artists in action? Do not let the word "Travel" in the title fool you. This is a must-read for anyone who goes out in crowds, even in their own home town. Pickpockets work at sporting events, concerts, shopping centers or anywhere they can blend in anonymously with the crowd. Help put pickpockets, hotel thieves and street scam artists out of business. Buy this book."--Carolyn Randall, Amazon.com

"The bad guys are very, very good. This book shows how to make sure that they practice their arts on some other poor sucker, and not you."--D. D. LeDu "Wanderer", Amazon.com

"This book is a must-read for anyone travelling further than their front door....Moreover, it's also highly entertaining, and in places, very funny indeed."--The Vampire Parrot, Amazon.com

"So, do yourself a favor before you travel: get a copy of Travel Advisory. When you consider the cost and stress and inconvenience of a stolen bag, it could easily be the best few bucks you spend."--terrycohones, Amazon.com


Editorial Reviews

Review

"full of stories of things that happened to real people, and real scams that are being pulled off. It's full of sensible things that you can do to protect yourself even at home. Five out of five bookmarks.  If you loved "Catch Me if You Can", you'll love this book just for the stories." --Terri Schlichenmeyer, WIZM Radio


"This book is worth your entire vacation expense. It can save you thousands of dollars both in grief and lost time when faced with someone taking all your money ID credit and phone cards. Five stars" --bioinformatics.vg/Books/tr/Travel_Advisory_How_to_Avoid_Thefts_Cons_and_Street_Scams_While_Traveling_1566251982.html


"This is a MUST READ for international travelers." --PassportInfo.com


"[contains] true stories of victims, thieves and the incidents involved.  Written with humor, you will find many popular destination from around the world highlighted and the techniques to avoid so you don't become a victim.  Before you take your next trip, read this book and don't end up being a statistic." --Rita Cook, LASplash Magazine


"This may be the most important book ever published for those who want protection, peace of mind and some sense of confidence their vacation won't be ruined by a thief." --Howard Schwartz, Gambler's Book Club

From the Inside Flap

Unsuspecting travelers face an obstacle course of scams, cons, and rip-offs. In the places people love to visit most, con games, credit card scams, distract heists, and identity theft have become real dangers.

Stalking the stalkers, Bambi Vincent and Bob Arno traipse the planet's top traveling destinations disguised as ordinary tourists. The authors recognize street thieves and con artists by their telltale behavior, shadow them with hidden cameras, and record their crimes on film.

Through years of investigation, Bambi and Bob have gathered true stories of victims, thieves, and incidents. In Travel Advisory! they share these amazing experiences to help readers avoid becoming victims themselves. They guide travelers through all stages of travel, from research and planning to transportation and accommodations.

With humor and sensitivity, Bambi and Bob reveal the latest scams an ordinary citizen is likely to encounter in popular travel destinations around the world, and techniques to avoid becoming a victim. Their insiders' perspective reveals the techniques of the most underhanded scoundrels, and turns travel concerns into travel confidence.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 250 pages
  • Publisher: Bonus Books (November 1, 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1566251982
  • ISBN-13: 978-1566251983
  • Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,038,528 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bambi Vincent's thiefhunting takes her all over the world. Married to a professional pickpocket, together they track down criminals and get them to talk. Her husband, Bob Arno, is a stage pickpocket, who has stealthy skills that convince criminals to give up their secrets. With face-to-face access, Bambi interrogates, social engineers, and evaluates thieves, thugs, gangsters, and their goons.

These up-close criminal investigations subject Bambi to unknown and dangerous situations. She is neither fearless, nor a daredevil, but a plucky knowledge-seeker. Despite the risk in consorting with mobsters, she packs a variety of video cameras, some ingeniously hidden, in order to film the thieves' activities and document her thiefhunting pursuits.

After years of practice, she has a fine-honed ability to spot crooks before they strike, move into position, and expertly shoot with specialized video cameras. She uses her film and accumulated knowledge to teach the public how to avoid becoming victims, and train law enforcement to spot thieves.

Bambi writes about pickpockets, con artists, and security issues from a back-door perspective. But close encounters with thieves presents her with an odd and uncomfortable conundrum. Her subjects are often likable on a human level. Having knowledge of their deplorable profession, she struggles to find a balance in her association with them.

She studied art at San Jose State University, law at Santa Clara University, and crime on the streets of the world's favorite cities. She and Bob Arno met in 1984 on a bus in Mexico. They married the next year while living in the Bahamas and spend most of each year roaming the world. Together they savor the natural and cultural differences that make each place unique. Bambi writes the travel and thievery blog called Thiefhunters in Paradise at www.thiefhunters.com.

Bob Arno, a criminologist and stage pickpocket, recently matched his thievery skills against his criminal cohorts in Naples, Italy. National Geographic was there to film it all, resulting in the documentary "Pickpocket King," broadcast in late 2011.

While not studying the behavior of thieves in the streets, Bob can be seen picking pockets on the world's finest stages. As a criminologist, he appears frequently on television news and magazine shows to share his expertise. He gives presentations to police departments in America and abroad, and lectures to security and law enforcement professionals as well as to the public.

 

Customer Reviews

14 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent. A Must-Read., April 10, 2004
By 
Carolyn Randall (Agua Dulce, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Travel Advisory! How to Avoid Thefts, Cons, and Street Scams While Traveling (Hardcover)
Each chapter of this book, standing alone, would be worth the price of the book. The photographs, alone, would be worth the price of the book. Where else could you find so many photographs of pickpockets and street scam artists in action?

Do not let the word "Travel" in the title fool you. This is a must-read for anyone who goes out in crowds, even in their own home town. Pickpockets work at sporting events, concerts, shopping centers or anywhere they can blend in anonymously with the crowd. Help put pickpockets, hotel thieves and street scam artists out of business. Buy this book.

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Highly Recommends this book, February 28, 2004
This review is from: Travel Advisory! How to Avoid Thefts, Cons, and Street Scams While Traveling (Hardcover)
As an RPCV who has lived for 2 years in a third world country, I thought I'd seen it all until I read this book. The information the authors share can make any American's vacation abroad safer and more interesting.
The last chapter on IDENTITY THEFT (it's not money you should worry about losing--it's your credit cards!) alone is worth the price of this book. Identity theft is growing at an alarming rate in America. Even if you never plan to travel abroad, we all need this information to protect ourselves at home.
Carolyn Proctor
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Travel Advisory: How to Avoid Thefts, Cons, and Street Scams, December 14, 2003
By 
Beni Masselli (New Port Richey FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Travel Advisory! How to Avoid Thefts, Cons, and Street Scams While Traveling (Hardcover)
This book is worth your entire vacation expense. It can save you thousands of dollars both in grief and lost time when faced with someone taking all your money, ID, credit and phone cards. It certainly pays to be aware and safe in unknown places. I felt much safer knowing that with the tips in this book, I not only had protected my valubles, but was aware of my surroundings and it helped me avoid all the pitfalls that novice tourists make. Five star
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
"Hey! Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
main credit reporting agencies, pigeon drop, street thieves, bag snatching, gentleman thief, bag snatcher, credit issuers
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Social Security, Las Vegas, South Africa, New York, Quartieri Spagnoli, United States, Theft Thwarters, Madam Zuanah, Lieutenant Sebby, Johnnie Downs, State Department, Theft First Aid, Plaid Shirt, American Express, Spanish Steps, Hong Kong, Singapore's Little India, Arnold Diaz, Consular Information Sheets, Charles Bridge, South American, Far East, The Horsts, Federal Trade Commission, Inspector Vincenzo
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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