Traveling on vacation can be stressful and there are people out there ready to scam you when you are overwhelmed and your guard is down. A few of the most popular travel scams are good ones to be on the lookout for.

NEW YORK, NY – JULY 11: A free Wi-Fi hotspot beams broadband internet from atop a public phone booth on July 11, 2012 in Manhattan, New York City. New York City launched a pilot program Wednesday to provide free public Wi-Fi at public phone booths around the five boroughs. The first ten booths were lit up with Wi-Fi routers attached to the top of existing phone booths, with six booths in Manhattan, two in Brooklyn, and one in Queens. Additional locations, including ones in the Bronx and Staten Island, are to be added soon. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Suspicious Wi-Fi Hotspots – Wireless hotspots are an increasingly popular way for crooks to get your information. Identity thieves know how to hack into unsecured connections and get important information. Many experts say that direct hookups such as DSL have much less risk. So next time you are on vacation and want to wireless connect in a business lounge or at a coffee shop, think twice because if could turn your vacation into a disaster.

Don’t Advertise Plans – With social media, many travelers make the mistake to lay out their plans to friends, family, and strangers on their personal accounts. Don’t make the mistake of letting everyone know exactly where you are and when you are going to be there. When you allow others to plan around your location, you have opened yourself up to potential problems.

Taxi Wannabes – This is a good time to judge a book by its cover. Just because a car is black and has dark tinted windows does not mean you should hop in for a ride. Get a taxi from the official areas at the airport or outside your hotel. If the cab and driver do not appear to be legitimate, wait around for another cab. It is always a good idea to negotiate a rate before entering the cab because of false meters. Make sure your driver knows exactly where he is going before you venture off on a journey in an unknown city.

Keep Cards Close – When you travel, there are several things you should always know the exact location of. If your credit cards are not on that list, add them. Keep your debit card close to you all the time and don’t settle for having it in your back pocket or an easily accessible backpack. Front pockets are good spots for these items and it would not hurt to separate your cards if you can. In the event something gets stolen, you should be sure to have a backup. Don’t let poor planning get you in a bad situation. Also, when you return home, it is important to verify all charges that were made on credit and debit cards.