Even though I am not directly responsible, I would still like to apologize to the people who have been scammed during our conference in Budapest.

We will look into how we can be of assistance to prevent such negative things from happening in the future (may be by sending out a newsletter right before the event with some basic "does and don'ts" of the city in question - or not return to a city at all).

Sorry again!
Andreas

yeah - let's go back to Prague ;)

@ MaDalton

See my sig ;)

This is actually going on everywhere now, the US included. The Russian mob was setting up fake bars all over Miami and using hot Eastern Eurpoean girls to lure men into them...

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2011-04...-in-sobe-scam/

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/ripti...illy_weath.php

Thanks Andreas, I agree that sending out a little newsletters of 'do's and don't's' before the show would be helpful and probably would have helped me avoid the situation. I have lived in everywhere from Thailand to Cambodia, so like I said I thought I knew every tourist scam in the book, but these girls seemed really sincere and weren't dressed like 'hookers' or anything, so it just caught me really off guard.

Unfortunately I was so drunk after those drinks (and think I may have been drugged) I barely remember how I made it home and never did catch the name of the place. I left the next morning, otherwise I would have tried to report the incident to the police.

I couldnt make it to the summit this year, but my two colleagues did, I am very careful and I read all over the internet about the city/country I am going to, I told them about budapest and strip clubs and not to go by taxi to any strip clib, still they got drunk, went to one by taxi had 5 beers and got a bill for 1800$ and the bouncers did not allow them to leave, they even went with them to ATM..but this is classic, many people experienced this in budapest this is very common and to call police is very uselles, they work with them... everyone should inform themselves before visiting foreign country, but as you wrote - some basics "does and don'ts" in the future may prevent some of this stuff :-), maybe even some list of best and safe 'clubs' and 'bars' to go...
similar story from budapest worth reading :-) http://www.thebackpacker.net/travel-...es/hungary/36/

What was the deal with those iPhone 5s anyway? Does the guy show you a a real one and then see you a fake or broken one?

Mitch

a group of us heard about this scam at dinner the last night in Amsterdam. we tried to warn as many people as we could but heard the stories of guys being ripped off throughout the show. on the trip home a friend told me he was ripped off for 900 euro. there is a variation on this scam involving strip clubs and one of our friends fell for that one too. its unfortunate that this info wasn't passed along in threads dealing with the show to warn everyone in advance. all that said, it was a great show for business

Was i the only one that was suspicious when Hungarian Woman asked me the way while they had a map in their hand? Woman coming at you in Brazil ask a drink or just ask to have sex (for free) happens without any problems, but in Europe .... never .....

Ps, if you go to Thailand, don't rent a jetski!

now im curious, what scam happens with a Jetski in Thailand?

Good show by the way. Lots of old faces and some great new contacts. Szimpla was the place to be....

I found Szimpla the extra days i was in Budapest, great place for a drink. And the show in Budapest was very good. I liked the city with the old building, small cafes and a lot of restaurants. Also the rivercruise in the evening was great.

Jetski scam in Thailand, you rent a jetski. It is damaged all ready underneath the waterline.
You come back and thet say it was not damaged before.
You have to pay and sometimes police comes (also involved) and say you have to pay.
Happens sometimes also with scooters.
http://www.bangkok-travel-ideas.com/...-ski-scam.html

Lol at that hot dog scam,same happened to me,gave 200 czk and instead 150 i got 50 czk back,was so confused i didnt know what to say.

Lucky she came back with a hammer only.

In Bulgaria my parents had taxi cabs and our drivers would shuttle hookers around whether they wanted to or not. If the tricks stiffed the girls 1-5 dudes go in and collect what's owed and take whatever they want. Or worse.

If you are stupid enough to talk to random people on the street asking for help in a foreign country. You deserved to get scammed.