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Fresh off the plane in Barcelona, six vacationing Oklahomans gathered at a busy outdoor restaurant last October to order their first glass of Spanish wine.

It was the perfect evening that ended with a thump when Victoria Woods discovered that someone had stolen her purse from the back of her husband's chair.

"It just vanished in front of our eyes. We were sick, sick, sick. Six of us, sitting there, and not one of us saw it get taken in broad daylight,” said Woods, an investment adviser with ChappelWood Financial in Edmond.

The thieves made off with Woods' cell phone and racked up hundreds of dollars in charges. But that wasn't the worst part. Woods, a very selective handbag shopper, lost the Fossil fold-over bag of her dreams — and she hasn't found another since.

It happens every day. Tourists let their status slip. They get caught up in the moment.

Theft is the most common crime, travel experts unanimously agree. It's always been that way. In Europe and elsewhere, pickpocket schemes can be quite elaborate.

"When you're jetlagged and confused and you're feeling lost and trying to figure something out, you let your guard down,” said Lisa Byrne, a U.S. citizen living in Italy and founder of ItalyPerfect.com.

Byrne and others describe the typical scenario in a crowded area: One thief distracts you, either by bumping into you and apologizing or by asking for directions or even tossing you what appears to be a baby. Another then steals your purse or billfold, while a third thief acts as the handoff and runs.

So, what is your best defense? Stay aware of your surroundings. Dress like the locals. Men, keep your wallet in a front jacket pocket. Women, wear a pouch under your shirt or strap your bag across your shoulder.

Some scams start the minute you exit the airport. So-called "gypsy cabs” are abundant in taxi areas, where they tend to approach well ahead of the official, rule-bound taxis. These gypsy cabs offer an inflated price and away you go. Some may charge extra baggage fees and so forth. Your best defense: Only use taxis from official taxi stands or from major companies. Negotiate the price ahead of time. If there's a dispute upon arrival, get yourself and your bags out of the taxi and then argue with the driver.

Finally, be wary of "free tour guides” or overly friendly natives who approach you speaking perfect English. Their "help” may be nothing more than a scam.

Technology has also opened new doors for scam opportunities.

Consider this scenario near an ATM machine. As you remove your cash, someone nearby appears to be filming the area as a tourist. Instead, he's filming your bank card and transaction and now knows your PIN number. Your best defense: Use an ATM that provides privacy, such as one that you walk into and no one can see what you type as you make withdrawals.

Chris Simons, Chief Executive Officer of Safe Traveler, warns travelers not to use free wireless services provided at some airports. Unscrupulous providers have been caught hacking into the personal information on those systems. At least 20 such hotspots have been found recently at larger airports nationwide, Simons said.

Simons suggests using services that