Travellers tempted by the year-round sun of the Canary Islands have been urged to watch out for falling victim to a scam that could leave their holiday in ruins
The cold winter months ahead in the UK mean lots of Brits will be looking for a holiday abroad in the sun, and Tenerife is seen by many as an ideal choice.
With average temperatures of around 20C in the winter, the Canary Island’s most visited tourist destination has plenty of sandy beaches and crystal blue seas to enjoy during the day. While Tenerife’s nightlife is packed with enough bars, music and restaurants to keep everyone happy. But one Brit who moved there to enjoy the delights of the Spanish island has issued an urgent warning concerning an ongoing threat for holidaymakers keen for a touch of winter sun, reports Manchester Evening News. A TikTok user called seb_tenerife posted a clip entitled ‘Be CAREFUL in Tenerife!!!’ that has so far amassed more than 18,000 views.
In the worrying post, the ‘Northerner on tour’ (as Seb describes himself on his profile) explains a scam that involves a person asking you to use your mobile phone under the pretext that they have either lost their friends or need directions. After unlocking your phone ready to help them, the opportunist then grabs your phone from you and runs away.
Seb also advises to watch out for “pickpockets”, adding that, “I would just again be very careful.” He compares the thieving to a similar scam that reportedly happens in Benidorm, saying: “Benidorm is a lot like Tenerife – both great holiday destinations, great weather, booze is flying, everyone’s here for a good time, very similar sorts of destinations.”
On a positive note, however, he finishes: “Just be careful, watch your belongings and you’ll be absolutely sounds.” One user replied: “We met a guy today who on his first day got his phone robbed off him and it had all his cards in. He had no money all holiday,” while another added: “I was robbed twice in a week, but I was in a [drunken] state.”
In a separate holiday warning, people travelling to Tenerife this winter have been urged to watch out for a “dark underbelly” that that permeates the tourist hotspot. Those heading to Playa de las Americas in particular, where the Veronicas Strip is home to dozens of late-night bars and clubs, are advised against its “serious drug underworld”.
Ciara O’Loughlin spent two summers working in Tenerife as a bartender and claims the island is not all it seems. She says: “There is a serious drug underworld operating on the island. It’s not hard to see how some Irish and Brits abroad can get caught up in trouble by innocently stepping on the wrong toes.”
