MORE holiday scams

Going shopping and looking for bargains is normal tourist behaviour. Just remember that watches, camcorders, DVDs, cameras, memory cards, games and much more are easily counterfeited. There's a huge global network shipping the stuff all over the world. The hawker in Lanzarote is selling the same stuff that's up for grabs on Times Square in New York. Expect the sales pitch: "These are made in the same factory where they make the real thing. They're just seconds." Watch out as well for fake sun-tan lotion - it may not offer any skin protection at all, while a cheap pair of sun-glasses will always have the sticker claiming it to have UV protection. The real designer glasses don't have those stickers. If you insist on buying the counterfeit stuff then pay cash - your credit card will almost certainly be skimmed before you get home. Relax and enjoy the holiday but don't leave your common-sense at the airport.