Petty crime
Theft can occur anywhere, including at your hotel room or vehicle.
Pickpockets operate:
in crowded market areas
on ferries
along tourist beaches
Tourists have been mugged at night while walking alone on beaches.
Scams and fraud
Be aware of young men known as ‘bumsters’. They approach tourists, particularly on beaches.
They might offer to:
help as a local guide
sell you things
simply have a conversation
Bumsters often use romance to get money or other help from you. They may also try to leave the country through marriage to a foreigner.
Politely decline offers, advances or attempts at conversation from bumsters. Take care not to offend.
To prevent crime:
avoid being outside alone at night, especially on beaches
keep car windows up and doors locked
lock your accommodation, even when you’re inside
keep your credit card in sight when buying things
Internet scams
Internet scams come in many forms, including romance, friendship, business and job offers. These scams often originate in West African countries.
In other cases, foreigners are lured to Africa to meet their prospective friend or marriage partner. Once in Africa, they may become victims of kidnapping, assault, robbery or extortion.
Scam victims often lose money.
To protect yourself from scams:
be wary of online contact from people you don’t know
don’t send money to anyone until you’ve checked who they are
If you suspect a scam, get legal advice.
Don’t travel to The Gambia to get your money back or to get revenge. You could be in danger.
If you’re travelling to The Gambia , your family and friends may receive bogus phone calls and emails from The Gambia. Scammers may claim that you’re in legal, financial or medical trouble and that you need money.
To protect your family and friends from scammers:
be careful about giving out personal information or disposing of personal documents while in The Gambia
tell friends and family to contact you directly if they receive any emails about you
If friends and family can’t contact you directly, they should contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre.
+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
1300 555 135 in Australia
Cyber security
You may be at risk of cyber-based threats during overseas travel to any country. Digital identity theft is a growing concern. Your devices and personal data can be compromised, especially if you’re connecting to Wi-Fi, using or connecting to shared or public computers, or to Bluetooth.
Social media can also be risky in destinations where there are social or political tensions or laws that may seem unreasonable by Australian standards. Travellers have been arrested for things they have said on social media. Don’t comment on local or political events on your social media.
More information:
Source link : https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/gambia
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Publish date : 2024-01-23 03:00:00
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