Archive for the ‘Safety Tips & Guides’ Category

What is the "419" scam?

The term ‘419 scams’ has its origin in Nigeria, as the government of that country identified a need to put in place legislation prohibiting this practice, which is explained more in detail below. At the time these scams were mostly initiated in Nigeria but it has since become a worldwide criminal activity. The growth in the use of the Internet has led to a substantial increase in the number of emails offering various business opportunities aimed at encouraging the recipient to make large profits from a proposed scheme. Read the rest of this entry »

Safety tips for travellers and tourists

Airports

• Stay especially alert and watch your bags and valuables at all times. Don’t let anyone but uniformed airline personnel handle or watch your bags. Don’t allow clearly unemployed persons to assist you with your luggage.
• Watch out for staged mishaps, for example, someone bumping into you or spilling a drink, as it is often a ploy to divert your attention and steal your bag or passport.
• Carry your purse close to your body, or your wallet in an inside front pocket. Better yet, wear a money pouch under your clothes. When paying a porter be aware of snatching thieves.
• Keep a separate record of the content of checked luggage. Keep anything of value in a bag that stays with you at all times.
• Avoid displaying expensive cameras, jewellery and luggage that might draw attention.
• When seeking directions, proceed to marked information counters only.
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Please don’t be offended when I say forget what you learned at Karate. When I teach people self defence or street survival, they find it is not about being able to beat someone up. It is more about how to stop you getting beaten up, and escape with your life.

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