expat

A British expat living in the holiday hotspot has issued a warning to tourists visiting the popular destination, after he said his ‘eyes were opened’ to how sophisticated the scams can be

An expat living in Ibiza has issued a warning to Brits about common scams that target tourists and the key phrases holidaymakers should be wary of.

The Spanish island is a favourite holiday destination, renowned not only for its vibrant nightlife and party scene, but also for its stunning beaches. Each season, it draws a massive influx of tourists, and James Smith, a Spanish teacher and founder of Learn Spanish with James, warns that visitors are easy pickings for local fraudsters.

These con artists employ everything from sham boat parties to counterfeit holiday rental adverts in an attempt to swindle money from tourists.

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“Living in Ibiza opened my eyes to how sophisticated these scams have become,” reveals James.

“The scammers know exactly what buttons to push with British tourists, promising VIP treatment, exclusive access, or once-in-a-lifetime experiences. But there are always telltale signs if you know what to look for.” According to James, these are the six most prevalent scams in Ibiza, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Fake club tickets

One of the oldest tricks in the book involves fraudsters approaching tourists with “discounted” tickets to top clubs like Amnesia or Pacha. These tricksters often lurk around popular hotels or loiter at beach bars during sunset.

“They’ll show you what looks like a genuine ticket and claim they can’t use it,” warns James. “The story is always the same: they’re leaving the island early, their mate cancelled, or they double-booked. But these tickets are either completely fake or already used.”

Warning signs include sellers who won’t let you examine the ticket closely, refuse to provide contact details, or pressure you to buy immediately with phrases like “last chance” or “someone else is interested”.

Bogus boat parties

Boat party scams have surged in recent years, with fraudsters setting up fake social media pages and websites advertising non-existent events. They’ll post professional-looking photos and promise celebrity DJs, unlimited drinks, and VIP treatment.

“These scammers are getting smarter with their online presence,” cautions James. “They’ll steal photos from legitimate boat parties and create convincing websites. But when you turn up at the supposed departure point, there’s no boat – and no refund.”

Watch for vague meeting locations, requests for full payment upfront via bank transfer, and reluctance to provide official booking confirmations or company registration details.

Overpriced drinks packages

Street sellers often approach tourists with laminated cards advertising drinks packages for popular venues. They’ll claim you can skip queues and get unlimited drinks for a fraction of the normal cost.

“The legitimate venues don’t work this way,” James points out. “Real clubs sell their own packages through official channels. These street sellers are either selling fake vouchers or massively overcharging for basic entry.”

Timeshare presentation traps

Ruthless sales teams prey on holidaymakers with promises of complimentary dinners, boat excursions or club access in return for attending a “brief” presentation. What begins as a half-hour discussion can escalate into hours of relentless sales pressure.

“I’ve seen tourists lose thousands on timeshare deals they signed under duress,” says James. “The salespeople are trained to create urgency and make you feel like you’re missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Accommodation bait and switch

Fraudulent holiday rental adverts have become increasingly clever, utilising pilfered photographs and fabricated reviews to trick tourists into handing over deposits for properties that are non-existent or bear no resemblance to the description.

“Always verify the property through multiple sources,” advises James. “If someone is pushing for immediate payment or won’t video call to show you the property, walk away.”

Transport overcharging

Rogue taxi drivers and bogus airport transfer operators routinely fleece tourists, particularly those arriving during the early hours or whilst intoxicated.

James has also cautioned holidaymakers about specific phrases employed by fraudsters to manipulate tourists. This includes: James advised: “Living in Ibiza taught me that scammers specifically target British tourists because they know they’re often unfamiliar with local customs, and language barriers can make visitors more vulnerable.

“The key is preparation: know the Spanish phrases for ‘no thank you’ and ‘I’m not interested’, and don’t be afraid to use them firmly.

“Before you hand over any money, always ask for official documentation, a receipt, and contact details. Legitimate businesses will happily provide these. If someone starts getting aggressive or evasive when you ask basic questions, that tells you everything you need to know.

“The simplest check you can do is ask them to write down exactly what you’re buying, when and where it’s happening, and their contact information. Watch how they react – genuine sellers will do this without hesitation, while scammers will usually make excuses or try to rush you into paying immediately.”

Stéphane Jouin, who moved to the UK nine years ago, shared the revelation in a video for his YouTube channel, ‘A French guy in England’, which showcases the two nations’ “cultural quirks”

A French expat living in the UK has named a particular aspect of British culture that’s left him “amazed”. Stéphane Jouin, who swapped France for the UK nine years ago, divulged his findings on his YouTube channel ‘A French guy in England‘, which delves into the “cultural quirks” of both countries.

In his video, ‘6 Things I Really Appreciate as a French Guy in England’, Stéphane shared his observations from nearly a decade in Britain, touching on aspects such as our politeness and tendency to be “merciful”.

Among these UK insights, he highlighted his admiration for the British propensity for kindness, a trait he finds “amazing” and notes is even promoted by companies and organisations here. Stéphane expressed: “Number two is that people tend to be kind.”

He elaborated: “I’m actually amazed that people are generally ready to help. For example, if you’re stranded with your car on the road, and your bonnet is open – they call it ‘hood’ in the USA – they will come to ask you if you are okay, if you need any help. I find this amazing.”

Stéphane added that acts of kindness are “part of everyday life here.” He also pointed out that the UK is home to many charities that support people suffering from health issues.

He pointed out that British firms and groups are known for rallying people to join events they organise to raise money for charitable causes.

On the flip side, in May, a Brit living in France took to TikTok to share five reasons why life across the Channel is “better.” The expat, known as Alex or “It’s moi” on the platform, presented her “household edition” of insights.

First up was the revelation that people in France tend not to have their washing machines in the kitchen, instead opting for the bathroom or elsewhere, meaning you “don’t have the eyesore or the noise” in the kitchen.

But there’s more; Alex also highlighted the convenience of having plug sockets in the bathroom, “square-shaped” pillows for extra headroom, and shutters on every window.

Alex said: “You don’t have to worry about blackout blinds or blackout curtains if you want to make the room dark. You just close the shutters, which is absolutely fantastic when you have children.”

Finally, Alex claimed that a “lot of the houses around here” tended to be detached rather than semi-detached. She said they didn’t have to worry about any “potential noise problems” from neighbours.

However, not everyone saw things the same way, with one commenting: “I’d hate to have a washing machine in my bathroom.”

Another said: “How is square pillows better? Isn’t plugs in the bathroom dangerous?”

Some did agree with the TikToker, with one claiming that once you try using a square pillow, there’s “no going back”.

A British expat has revealed the biggest problem with living in Spain – and it’s something that’s shared by both locals and those who move to the country

For countless Brits, swapping the dreary, overcast weather of the UK for Spain’s glorious sunshine represents the ultimate fantasy. It’s easy to understand why this Mediterranean nation has captured the hearts of so many expats seeking a new life abroad.

Boasting roughly 3,000 hours of annual sunshine – nearly twice what Britain offers – alongside stunning coastlines, mouth-watering cuisine and a more relaxed lifestyle, the appeal is undeniable. Yet beneath this seemingly perfect exterior, relocating to Spain isn’t without its challenges, as one British resident has candidly revealed.

Georgia, who runs the TikTok account Geo in Spain, has opened up about the less glamorous realities of her life in Malaga, confessing that despite adoring her Spanish home, “there are some things I don’t like”.

The coastal city’s magnetic pull for holidaymakers has become a significant source of frustration – particularly throughout the sweltering summer months. Local pubs and eateries become absolutely “super busy” with visitors during peak season, leaving residents battling for tables.

“You’re probably going to have to make reservations for the places you would normally go without any trouble,” the expat cautioned.

Georgia elaborated: “It’s the same with the beaches and pools. Obviously, everything gets super busy, so it’s good if you can plan your day out.”

She suggested hitting popular venues first thing in the morning, before the tourist hordes arrive.

“Or if you have a pool at home, just try to find solutions to get away from those problems,” she advised.

Another gripe during the peak holiday season is the nightmare of finding a parking spot: “Parking in summer is horrendous – and I am just trying to go to work.

“I can never find parking because people come on holiday, leave their car there and don’t move it for a week.”

Georgia also disclosed that securing a parking space to rent is both challenging and costly.

It’s not only expatriates who are feeling the pinch. Spanish locals have been expressing their dismay at overtourism within the country, often through public demonstrations.

Earlier this year, saw tens of thousands march through 40 cities throughout Spain.

Rallying behind the banner “Let’s end the housing business”, the protests are set to kick off in Madrid before spreading to other major cities including Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga, as well as the Balearic and Canary Islands.

Influencer Harry Poulton, who lives full-time in the Spanish holiday hotspot of Benidorm, said conmen are targeting tourists at the side of main roads and his issued a call to action

A British expat has warned that tourists are getting robbed in Benidorm.

Happily, there is one thing holidaymakers can do to avoid the same fate. Harry Poulton, known on TikTok as @harrytokky, claims that the robberies are going underreported and should be taken more seriously.

The influencer, who lives full-time in the Spanish holiday hotspot, said conmen are targeting tourists at the side of main roads.

“If you’re renting a car, if you’re driving to Spain on the motorways — do not pull over,” Harry said in a video.

“Not for someone that is on the side of the motorway with their hazards on, trying to flag you down. There are signposts in Spain at the moment, all the way from Barcelona up to Valencia and Alicante, saying ‘Be warned: highway robberies.’

Have you been targetted by highway robbers while on holiday? Email [email protected]

“People are being flagged down — there are normally two people in these cars. One will try to ask for help while the other distracts you. They then rob all of your valuables out of your car.

“This scam is happening all the time in Spain and in parts of France. But no one seems to be speaking about it. Has anything like this ever happened to you before? This is a warning. It is not worth it. Do not pull over.

“You might be doing a good favour, you might think you’re helping someone out. But next thing you know, you could have all of your valuables stolen.”

The British Embassy in Madrid has previously issued a similar warning, urging holidaymakers to “watch out for ruthless gangs of modern-day highway robbers who are preying on people driving foreign-registered vehicles and hire cars.”

In a two-year period, police in the Catalonia region of Spain dealt with 126 British victims of robbery on the AP-7 motorway between the French border and the Valencia region.

British consulates across mainland Spain said they receive regular reports of roadside robberies occurring along the coast between Barcelona and Alicante, across Andalucía in the south, and in the Madrid region. Consular staff estimate that one in 20 of all emergency passports issued last year due to theft were following motorway robberies.

Earlier this year, Moggy McIntyre told The Times how she and her husband Greg were victims of ‘highway pirates’. They stopped on a motorway on the outskirts of Barcelona after being flagged down by a driver who spoke to them in fast Spanish they couldn’t understand.

“After a few minutes, he gestured for us to wait and walked back to his car as if he was going to get something. Then he suddenly drove off,” Moggy explained.

“We were like, ‘What was that?’ It was so weird, because we couldn’t see anything wrong with the car. So we got back in, and only then did we realise that my handbag was gone.

“It had been in the footwell of the passenger seat, so the person I saw in the back of their car must have sneaked out and taken whatever they could. We didn’t see or hear a thing.

“Thank God I had picked up our phones and credit cards. But they got our passports — both my British and Australian ones — and also lots of inconvenient things like my Australian medical card, make-up, and glasses.”