Swindled while sightseeing: 2 million Australian travellers robbed
Aussie holidaymakers are being victimised at an alarming rate, according to new research by Finder.
A Finder survey of 1,041 respondents revealed 1 in 10 (10%) Australians – equivalent to 2.1 million people – have been robbed whilst on holiday.
A further 14% of Australians say they nearly had something stolen from them while on vacation.
Of those who have been robbed, 1 in 3 (34%) were pickpocketed, while 1 in 4 (24%) had their luggage stolen.
A further 15% had their credit or debit card skimmed, and the same number (15%) were scammed.
Tim Bennett, insurance expert at Finder, said being robbed while overseas can be a nightmare.
"The last thing you want on holiday is to have something stolen from you.
"There are some ways to minimise the risk – steer clear of known trouble spots, avoid displaying valuable items, and stay alert in crowded areas.
"Some Aussies are even physically tethering their phone or wallet to their person to avoid being pickpocketed."
Bennett said travel insurance can be a lifesaver.
"Some policies exclude lost or stolen cards and associated fraud, so it's essential to read the fine print.
"If the worst does happen, contact your insurer immediately. Ask them exactly what information they'll require from you to make a claim."
To help Australians make better financial decisions while enjoying an overseas or domestic trip, Finder has today announced the winners of its Travel Insurance Awards 2024.
Bennett said the award winners were a great place to start for those who are planning to travel.
"Tick Travel insurance took the top spot in two award categories Best Travel Insurance – Comprehensive and Best Travel Insurance – Domestic.
"That's because it goes further than the majority of insurers."
Bennett said those looking for value could also consider Wise and Silent Travel insurance.
"Wise and Silent Travel insurance was awarded top gong for Best Travel Insurance – Value.
"That's because it's cheaper on average than the other international policies we analysed, yet it covers you for more."
Bennett said you can reduce the impact of things going wrong on your trip by organising your travel insurance as soon as you've booked your trip.
| Have you ever been robbed whilst on holiday (e.g. having a wallet, phone or purse stolen, getting a card skimmed, etc)? | |
|---|---|
| Yes, I have been robbed on holiday | 10% |
| No, but I was nearly robbed on holiday | 14% |
| No | 76% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,041 respondents, August 2024 |
| How were you robbed? | |
|---|---|
| I was pickpocketed | 34% |
| I had my luggage stolen | 24% |
| My credit/debit card was skimmed | 15% |
| I was scammed | 15% |
| Other | 13% |
| Source: Finder survey of 103 respondents who have been robbed while on holiday, August 2024 |
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 1,041 respondents from August 2024.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics, an SAP company.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
Click here for more information on Finder's Travel Insurance Awards 2024.