England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — lands of famous landmarks and busy streets attracts a steady stream of tourists throughout the year. But just below this well-maintained veneer, a hidden network of cons lies in wait for the unprepared traveller. Extensive resources on protecting yourself from online scams can be found at the online resource.

Across the territory between the hectic London Underground and the old closes of Edinburgh Knowing the methods used in these frauds and how to deflect them is as fundamental to your trip as your official travel documents. To the observant visitor, safeguarding your assets is not an expression of distrust — it is proactive readiness.

The "fallen" scam is a classic example of London's street-level fraud: A person you do not recognise will let a purse or handset fall to the ground beside you; an associate will then claim you stole it and will demand you hand over cash. The course of action is uncomplicated — do not go near the object and withdraw to a public area at once. False fundraising agents will come up to holidaymakers carrying plastic-coated identity tags and writing boards. Typically they put on pressure so that you give to a charity that is entirely made up. Bona fide charity collectors will always produce photo identification and never accept cash donations.

All your giving should be routed through the legitimate online pages of the charity. Another pervasive scheme involves "free" roses or friendship bracelets handed to you by seemingly kind strangers. These people will then set about demanding money with some force. With your hands safely inside your pockets, make a refusal that is strong and unmistakable.

When you are using a cash machine, be careful that there are no card readers on the slot that can take your details, and also watch out for hidden cameras that can get your PIN. You should avoid using external cash machines and instead use only those that are inside the bank, and you should put your hand over the keypad for protection. When in pubs and restaurants, be sure to watch for complications associated with the shared bill. Where a server returns with an inflated total, hoping you will pay without checking. Always make sure you have counted the change accurately, and use a contactless card where available, or a card that will send you alerts about any transaction as soon as it happens. Fake taxi drivers at airports or train stations overcharge, take circuitous routes, or even drive off with luggage.

The safest course is to use only black cabs that are licensed, or services that have been booked ahead, like Uber. You must not get into a car with any driver who approaches you while you are inside the station building.

Prior to your travel, you should be sure to update your bank about your trip. This is a step to stop the card from being frozen. Carry one card that you will use first and another as a replacement if needed. You would be best advised to choose cards that belong to different systems or which are held in two different currencies. Hold a separate amount of currency for unexpected needs, around £100 in small bills, placed in a money belt or a safe at the hotel. Public Wi-Fi should never be used for any activity that involves your bank or for making purchases. You should deploy a VPN and, whenever possible, use the data on your own device.

For all banking and financial applications, you should set up two-factor authentication. Also make sure you have transaction alerts enabled, so you are aware instantly of any unauthorised payments.