The February 2015 issue samples the sorts of cons and scams experienced by travelers - their quest to travel safely, securely, and relatively comfortably, without falling victim to the innumerable schemes, scams, shams, and rip-offs perpetrated upon them at just about every turn in their travels (as well as, all too often, even in their own home countries).

Unfortunately travel today for anyone, and particularly for relatively naive, younger, and inexperienced travelers, has increasing challenges, what with the growing numbers of people relegated to begging, scheming, thieving, and having to do whatever they need to do to survive and get by.

All too often it has just about become almost the norm for people of all persuasions and varieties to try to somehow dispossess unknowing and unsuspecting foreign travelers of their money, passports, personal possessions and effects, and travel accouterments, simply because it's the easiest way for them to get by. It's often easier to steal than to work. And work overseas is not always easy to come by for those who want or need it.

And not only are there the usual local legions of pickpockets, thieves, and muggers on the prowl to contend with who are looking for victims; there are plenty of other fellow travelers guilty of doing such things as well.

Often travelers find themselves in difficult and sometimes dire situations, such as running out of money, getting into trouble, contending with being far away from home, maybe even strung out on drugs, or just having difficulty surviving. Some of these travelers, as a result, find themselves succumbing to and joining the ranks of con artists and scammers who prey upon other travelers and sometimes even the locals.