On The Road,Choose Your ‘Friends’ With Caution : Travelers can be victimized by many scams. A little wariness can pay big dividends.

One of the joys of travel is the people you meet. The genuine offer of help from a stranger can turn a rainy day in Paris into a warm experience, and make the world seem a little smaller.

Unfortunately, you can also encounter people who may seem friendly but who actually have a hidden agenda, which usually has something to do with your money or possessions.

Your greatest defense is to be aware of the scams so you can avoid falling victim.

For example, I remember that in the market in Nadi, Fiji, seemingly friendly woodcarvers would ask visitors their names and where they were from. Those who answered had their names immediately carved onto a mask. If they refused to buy the mask, they were in for an unpleasant scene, which is especially intimidating for solo travelers.

A similarly irritating situation is being set up by an independent “tour guide.” I’ve experienced this in the Middle East, and have heard of it happening in the Caribbean and South America as well.

A local resident will strike up a conversation about something that you’re looking at. As you move along, he continues with his explanation and points out other things of interest. It’s done in such a way that you feel as if you’ve just made a friend.

However, the “friend” subsequently announces that you owe a fee, which can range from reasonable to outrageous. Once again, you pay up or have a huge scene.

It can be annoying and embarrassing to be caught in either kind of scheme, but fortunately, neither should set you back a great deal of money. Other scams can really hurt you in the wallet.

One of the more common cons in India and Southeast Asia, for instance, involves convincing travelers that they should buy gems that can be resold at home for a high profit. Sometimes travelers are even supplied with the names of shops in their country that will buy the gems from them.

Later, the travelers discover that not only have they overpaid, but the shopkeepers back home are not interested in buying and don’t know the people who are handing out their names.

How do you avoid getting caught up in a scam? Your best defense is to be informed. Well-researched guidebooks and fellow travelers are both good sources of what to watch out for. Here are some other points to keep in mind:

* When hiring a taxi or carriage, always make sure that the fare is established before you depart. You should be able to get advice on fair rates from the staff at your hotel or hostel.

* When you are shopping in a market where prices are not fixed, shopkeepers can pressure you. For example, if a shopkeeper tells you that if you buy right away, he’ll sell you the item you want for $20, rest assured that if you take your time, look around, compare quality and prices and go back a day later with $20, it’s doubtful that he’ll refuse your money.

* Always take time to check quality before you get into a discussion about purchasing an item. Markets and shops in Third World countries often have bad lighting, so you have to look very carefully at the items you are considering buying before getting caught up in the heat of bargaining.

* Be wary of “black market” currency transactions. Not only are they illegal, but if you are not familiar with the currency, you could be passed counterfeit bills.

* Be wary of guides who push you to shop in certain stores. They may be receiving a commission for everything you buy in specific shops, so their primary concern is to get you to spend as much as possible there.

Remain aware, but don’t be so cautious that you throw up barriers and lose perspective.