europe

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Europe is a wonder of diverse cultures across both East and West Europe, many historical and modern sites to visit. You have to be vigilant  in tourist areas as you will be in the sights of scammers and petty thieves if you . 

Tourists are often distracted, caught up and in awe of the destination they are visiting, often not noticing other things or people around them. Here we share common tactics and travel scams that travellers should be aware of, so hopefully you will read the scams and recognise them if approached by a scammer so you can avoid them. You may not encounter any of them or you may encounter some of them, this list helps prepare you should a scammer target you.

Some of the most common travel scams are seen throughout many countries around the world in similar or various forms. Most are fairly harmless besides putting a dent in your wallet and your pride from being scammed! Some scams are more serious and quite dangerous, know how to recognise the signs to help avoid them.

Visit your government’s travel warning website for more information.

The good people of our world far outweigh those scammers, so be aware, stay safe, but most of all ENJOY!

Emergency - 112 (Pan-European emergency number) #15 SAMU (ambulance )  #17 Police  #18 Fire 

Be Cautious in – All major tourist attractions,  Paris, Sacre Coeur, The Louvre, Paris Metro, Gare du Nord, Pigalle,  Palais Royal areas, the Les Halles district, and the Latin Quarter,  Champs-Elysées, the Latin quarter, around the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de  Triomphe, and Versailles, Calais, Marseilles and Nice. 

Pick-Pockets – You are at greater risk of  pick-pocketing and bag snatching in crowded areas, public transport,  cafes, markets and in resort areas.

Pick-pocketing – You  are at greater risk of pick-pocketing and bag snatching in crowded  areas, public transport, cafes, markets and in resort areas. Active on  all Metro and RER (regional trains), but especially Charles de Gaulle  Airport to central Paris Line 1. Tactics include asking bumping into  you, bumping and questions in French, distraction and asked to take a  survey or sign a partition.

Pickpockets – Be aware of groups of youths (mostly young girls 12-16) who work together to distract people and then rob them.

Pickpockets –  Large crowds often gather and bustle into position to get a photo which is when the  scammers join the push and relieve tourists of their belongings. The Louvre staff actually went on strike in protest the practice was so rife.  

Directions – A person or group may approach you to  ask directions. The Person may lay a map on the restaurant, bar or  picnic table seeking directions when the remove the map they will remove  any valuables on the tables. The groups will surround you and while one  ask directions the others will pick your pockets.

Street Vendors – These vendors are nothing but  persistent, they will hound you to buy something and if you do buy  something if only to get rid of them they will hound you to buy more.

 Taxi – Taxi drivers may pretend to be lost to run up  the meter, not so common now given everyone has GPS. Just make the Taxi  driver aware that you are following the route on your phone.

Taxi – Only use licensed Taxis which will have meters. In Paris, licenced  taxis have the sign 'Taxi Parisien' located at the top of the car.  Private car companies are legal, but must be pre-booked. The  following is not a scam however, can cost those unaware lots of money;  if you call a taxi, the meter starts when the driver begins travelling  to your pickup location, not when he arrives and you get in the cab.

Taxi – At Metro train/subway stations avoid anyone trying to get you a cab.  They will take you to an unregistered vehicle that will overcharge you  and want to be paid for finding the cab for you.

Subway/Train – 'Helpful' people will approach you to assist you with purchasing  tickets. Do not accept the assistance, if you need help you choose the  person and do not hand them money nor the ticket. Scammers will 'help'  you buy tickets of lesser value and pocket the difference. For example  buy a single ticket instead of an all day pass.

Subway/Train – You may be approached to purchase subway tickets from someone trying to  sell them claiming that they bought them by mistake or any other  reason. Many of these turn out to be old and out of date, best not to  engage with these people at all. 

 Booking Accommodation – People using third party  booking sites such as Airbnb have been caught out. You will be asked to  communicate outside the site and then asked to pay outside of the site,  usually wiring payment. The first golden rule is not to book or PAY  outside their platform.  If a deal is too good to be true it usually is!  Sometimes owners want to book outside of the system because they are  charged high commission, if so they may have their own website. If you  pay by Visa or direct deposit bank to bank then the risk is lower.  You  could also ask for a phone number and call. 

 ATMs - Use ATMs only in well lit, populated ares. Thieves may try to distract you when your are just about to reach for your cash.

ATMs - Your card may get 'eaten up' by an ATM, if the bank is not open call  your bank while you stand by the ATM to cancel your card. Gangs use this  tactic to collect cards after patrons walk away, they would have  captured your pin number then retrieve your card and the spend up big on  your card.  

 Excessive Bills - Pigalle's strip bars, sex shops,  theatre and adult shows men may be approached by young women who invite  them to a ‘special private bar’ for drinks.  You don’t asked the prices  and you only had a few drinks but the bill you receive is massive, you  query the bill, security gets heavy with you and demand payment. They  may say they will call the police, if they do say this tell them okay  get the police. At this point however they may get nastier and force you  to pay at gunpoint even escorting you to an ATM to get the money out.  Men may also be approached by a local man with nice young women in toe  tow and asked to join them with the same outcome. 

  Snatch and Run – In cafes and restaurants especially  those outdoors don’t place your phone or wallet on the table or your bag  beside, under or hanging on the side of your chair because of the risk  of  thieves running and past and snatching them. You should place them  on your lap. Turn on your phones GPS tracker and have  an access password.

Mona Lisa - Large crowds  often gather and bustle into position to get a photo which is when the  scammers join the push and releive tourists of their belongings. The  Louvre staff actually went on strike in protest the practice was so  rife. 

Partitions - Restaurant patrons must  prevent anyone asking to sign partitions that try to  place clipboards  on your table, as they will lift your valuables when they remove the  clipboard.

Donations – Adults, children, teens,  monks and grannies (anyone) may approach you with a sign explaining  about a charity that they are raising funds for such as land mines, or a  sick or dead relative, any number of terrible tales. They are  collecting donations for themselves and sometimes for a street gang that  sends them out. While they distract you, they may even have an  accomplice to pick your pockets. Do not give money to people on the  streets; if you want to donate take the time to find a local charity  where the money will help the whole community. They prey on good-natured  tourists for their own gain.

Item found –  Someone will drop something and you stop to help pick it up, or try and  give it back to them. While you are helping, thieves are helping  themselves to your valuables while you are distracted. If you see  someone drop something, call out to attract that persons attention for  them to came and pick it up.

Joggers – Avoid  contact with joggers when they are running towards you. Some  intentionally bump into you and then steal your wallet while distracted  during an apology or picking you up from the ground (if knocked over).

Street Games - Often  in prime tourist areas, there are a number of variations of the 'cup  game', you are asked to choose which cup (of three) the item is under.  You will be asked if you want to make a bet, sometimes you ‘win’ making  it look easy, and then you are asked to raise the stakes, in the end you  will lose, and lose all you money. They may have a stooge that keeps  losing making it look easy to you or will distract you.  If by standing  by and only watching them you think you have beaten them, you may just  get pick pocketed in the bustle to get a closer look.
 

Partitions - You  may be asked to sign a partition, you could be pick pocketed or asked  for money because you signed and note (in French) saying you would.

Donations - A  person may approach you seeking money for orphanages, land mine  victims, accidents, family illness or any other a hard luck story to  extract money from you or distract you while and accomplice pickpockets  you.  These scammers are all types, gypsies, children, Africans, well  dressed, anyone.

Beggars - Often working in/for  gangs they will look as pitiful as they can and sometimes use props such  as signs, 'sleeping' babies or animals which are usually drugged to  keep them still or pretend to be a deaf mute. Ignore them and keep  walking do not stop, this will give the opportunity for them or their  friends that gather to thieve from you.

Beggars -  Beggars may approach tourists while dining outdoors, having coffee,  meals or at bars etc. They will come right up next to the table and ask  for money or food. A shake of the head or a no usually moves them on.

Bracelet – Kids/women may offer and then tie a tapestry ‘friendship’ bracelet  around your wrist, once it is firmly tied they will promptly ask for  money for it. If payment is not forthcoming then they may create a scene  demanding money. Avoid getting into this situation by not allowing them  to tie the bracelet in the first instance. If they do tie a bracelet  demand they take it off and don’t give them any money, indicate you will  find someone with scissors to cut it off if they persist. If you refuse  to pay they may yell out that you have stolen it, do not get  embarrassed or be intimidated by them, counter it with, "scammer, get it  off you are trying to cheat me". If you do want a bracelet agree a  price before they tie it on. There are several variations, some ask you  if you want to see a magic trick, some say that it is free for the woman  then place one on the man asking big money for it, and one will tie the  bracelet and demand money while another picks your pockets. Some try to  intimidate you and take you to the ATM to withdraw money just walk  away. 

 If you have current information with regard to a scam or any content on this site please contact us to review and revise or add information. 

Emergency -  112 (Pan-European emergency number)

Be Cautious in – Madrid and Barcelona’s tourist  areas and major attractions such as museums, monuments, restaurants,  outdoor cafes, hotel lobbies, beach resorts, city buses, subways/metro,  trains, train stations, airports, and ATMs. Madrid; Prado Museum, near  Atocha train station, in Retiro Park, El Rastro (flea market), old  Madrid, the Royal Palace, in Plaza Mayor and Barajas Airport. passport  and bag thefts reported at local hotels, as well as in and in the Metro.  Barcelona; on Las Ramblas, Sants train station, Metro stations, the  Sagrada Familia area, the Gothic Quarter, Park Güell, Plaza Reial, Port  Olimpic Area, Barcelona’s beaches and El Prat Airport.

Pick-Pockets – You are at  greater risk of pick-pocketing and bag snatching in crowded areas,  public transport, cafes, markets and in resort areas. 

Item found – Someone will drop something and you  stop to help pick it up, or try and give it back to them. While you are  helping, thieves are helping themselves to your valuables while you are  distracted. If you see someone drop something, call out to attract that  persons attention for them to came and pick it up.

Directions – Someone will wave a map in your face to distract you while their accomplice picks your pockets.

Scooters/Moto taxis/etc. –  Valuables are snatched from travellers walking on the street by thieves  on Moto taxis/Scooters. Do not resist, people have been killed from  falling and being dragged along. Do not wrap your straps around your arm  etc. when walking on the streets, try to position the bag/purse on your  body where it is difficult to grab it if passed by and walk away from  the pavements edge. 

Scooters/Moto taxis/etc. – Valuables are snatched  from travellers riding on Scooters/Moto taxis/etc.  by thieves on Moto  taxis/Scooters. Make sure your valuables and bag are held in a secure  place unable to be grabbed. Even if your bag/day pack has no valuables,  keep it secure, thieves don’t know that there are no valuables and you  may be hurt, injured or killed in an attempted robbery if you fall from a  moving Scooters/Moto taxis/etc.

Unmarked Police Cars – On roadway’s someone may  attempt to pull you over in an unmarked police car, Spanish police do  not do this. Only pull over for marked police vehicles. If you are  approached ask for a marked police are to attend. Do not pay ‘on the  spot fines’ tell them to arrange for a marked police car for you to  follow back to the police station.

Flat tyre/problem – Be cautious when accepting help  from anyone other than uniformed Spanish police officer or Civil Guard  especially in isolate locations and at night. Someone may alert you to a  ‘problem’ and/or stop to help then steal from you.

Room inspection – Dressed in  hotel uniform a knock on the door from ‘hotel staff’ advising a room  inspection is required. One will talk to you to distract you while the  other one attempts to steal your belongings while inspecting the room.  

Counterfeit Goods – Fake  designer goods and pirated material may be illegal to carry back to your  home country and you may be breaking local laws purchasing fake goods. 

Cafes – In cafes and restaurants  especially those outdoors don’t place your phone or wallet on the table  or your bag beside, under or hanging on the side of your chair because  of the risk of  thieves running and past and snatching them. You should  place them on your lap. Turn on your Mobile phone GPS tracker and have  an access password.

Spiked Drinks – Be wary at bars, clubs, restaurants, and  parties, do not leave food or drinks unattended, do not ask a stranger  to mind your drink, do not accept a drink from a stranger (no matter how  friendly they are) and do not accept a drink from a barman/woman or  waitress that is not opened in front of you because these are all  methods used to spike/taint/drug your drink. You should also look for  ‘unopened’ bottles. Travellers are targeted and taken to the streets or  hotels etc. where valuables are stolen and can lead to sexual assault  and death. 

Gift – A (usually) older woman  will offer you a sprig of rosemary or flower etc. then take your hand  and ‘read your fortune’ and then demand payment for it. Just say no,  when anyone offers you anything, refuse and walk away. Return/place the  ‘gift’ down and refuse to pay money no matter what fuss they make. 

Dirty Clothes/shoes/bird crap – Something gets on  your jacket/shoe, (food, drink, dog poo) which locals may try and ‘help’  you remove/clean and while you are distracted with the fuss getting  clean they are picking your pockets and/or walking off with the camera  they offered to ‘hold for you’. If something happens say you do not need  help and walk off quickly and if they persist yell at them drawing  attention to the situation and they will soon leave not wanting any  attention drawn to them.

Fake police – ‘Plain clothed police’ ask to check  your documents or cash, they will either steal your passport or tell you  that your money is counterfeit and take it from your for ‘evidence’. If  someone does stop you, just walk away. If they persist ask for ID, and  if they do show ID to you (which could also be fake) tell them to have a  uniformed officer attend. They should back off, if not, just walk away.

Virtual Kidnapping – A traveller journeys to a  remote area with no mobile coverage, someone will contact their family  telling them their loved one has been kidnapped, in an accident, found  with drugs and in jail, or any other dramatic scenario, and ask for  money to be sent by Western Union and/or demand a ransom. If you receive  such an Email or phone call try to contact the person or their friends  and family to find out first hand where they are and what their  movements were. When calls are made the unrecognisable voice is  explained away as a cold/flu/etc. and the friend/family members are told  not to tell other members of the family. Often grandparents are  targeted and information is gleaned from social media such a facebook or  blogs. Try to substantiate the call by contacting other family members,  friends, or the persons travelling partners before agreeing to send any  money. If you cannot gain contact, or clearly substantiate the  situation contact your government’s foreign affairs department in your  country. Often referred to as the ‘Grandparent scam’.

 If you have current information with regard to a scam or any content on this site please contact us to review and revise or add information.   

Emergency -  112 (Pan-European emergency number) 

Be Cautious in – Rome, Florence and Naples. Railway  stations: Rome’s Termini; Milan’s Centrale; Florence’s Santa Maria  Novella; and Naples’s Centrale at Piazza Garibaldi. crowded tourist  sites, on public buses and trains, Milan’s Malpensa Airport, Internet  cafes, train from Naples to Pompeii and Sorrento.

Pick-Pockets – You are at  greater risk of pick-pocketing and bag snatching in crowded areas,  public transport, cafes, markets and in resort areas. 

Pick-Pockets – Pick-pockets come in all forms,  little old lady/man, mother with child, children, the well-dressed  businessman and everyone in between so just make sure you have all your  valuables and documents secured and preferably in a wallet/pouch under  your clothes.

Purse Snatching – When walking on the streets, try  to position the bag/purse on your body where it is difficult to grab it  if people pass/brush by, and walk away from the pavements edge.  Distractions methods such as an argument, a fight, or someone bumping  into you may be used to perpetrate the crime.

Luggage – At airports, train/bus  stations and even hotels official and unofficial porters may try to  pick up your luggage and start carrying it for you with the expectation  you will pay for it. Tell them no (Thank you) and if they persist tell  them you are not going to give them any money, repeat it several times  if you have to. If they carry it and demand money tell them you told  them “no”, and you were not going to give them any money. Don’t hand  over any money, some have attempted to pay and these ‘porters’ are known  to grab whatever they want from it. 

Bus/Train – Protect your bag/purse on crowded public  transportation, thieves slit the bottoms of purses or bags with a razor  blade or sharp knives, removing the contents.

Bus/Train – Buses and Trains are also targeted by  thieves, helping themselves to your valuables. Keep valuables on your  lap, do not place on the floor or in the storage rack above.

Taxi – Some drivers having taken passengers to their  hotel/hostel for an agreed price, then say the taxis’ return to the  airport has to be paid for. Taxi drivers then threaten passengers who  refuse with calling the police. If your taxi driver threatens you, tell  them to call the police and you will wait. The drivers will usually  quickly take the agreed fare and unhappily leave.

Scooters/Moto Taxis/etc. – Valuables are snatched  from travellers walking on the street by thieves on moto taxis/scooters.  Do not resist, people have been killed from falling and being dragged  along. Do not wrap your straps around your arm etc. when walking on the  streets, try to position the bag/purse on your body where it is  difficult to grab it if passed by and walk away from the pavements edge.

Scooters/Moto Taxis/etc. – Valuables are snatched  from travellers riding on Scooters/Moto taxis/etc.  by thieves on Moto  taxis/Scooters. Make sure your valuables and bag are held in a secure  place unable to be grabbed. Even if your bag/day pack has no valuables,  keep it secure, thieves don’t know that there are no valuables and you  may be hurt, injured or killed in an attempted robbery if you fall from a  moving Scooters/Moto taxi/etc.

Smash and Grab – The targets of smash and grab  robberies are motorists who are stuck in traffic or stopped at a light  especially Catania, Sicily.  Keep widows up and valuables out of sight  as thieves will smash windows to access valuables.

Vehicles – Do not leave any valuables (including  coins/change) in sight in any parked vehicle, even for the shortest  time, it will tempt any petty thief.

Vehicles – Valuables are often stolen from vehicles  parked near beaches during the summer. Do not leave any valuables  (including coins/change) in sight in any parked vehicle, even for the  shortest time, it will tempt any petty thief.

Driving – Take care driving at night on highways,  and especially at highway service areas where thieves break-in or smash  car windows to steal everything inside. Keep valuables out of sight.

Car Rental – While travellers are pre-occupied with  the hiring their vehicle at the Car Rental Agency thieves are helping  themselves to their possessions.

Contact us if you know of an accommodation scam travellers should be aware of. 

ATM – ATM tampering include fake  covers that swallow or jamb your card in the machine or. If your card  is swallowed and the bank is open have someone go into the bank and get a  bank staff member to report it to, do not leave the ATM. If the bank is  closed and it is not possible to retrieve your card call your credit  card company/ debit card provider immediately. 

ATM skimming – Devices can be attached to legitimate  bank ATMs that capture account information by scan/skimming your card  cloning it. They are becoming more sophisticated and more difficult to  recognise, try and use ATMs located inside banks and shopping centres.

ATM – Robberies can occur when using ATMs in the  street. Increasingly ‘cash out’ is available when making purchases, a  cash withdrawal when purchasing from your debit card. Take cash out  using this method if available.

Cheques/Checks – Do not accept payment for anything by cheque. These cheques are often fake or stolen.

Street Performances – When  watching street performers make sure you have a good hold of your  valuables, this is a perfect workplace for the pickpocket when someone  else is distracting you for them. 

Snatch and Run – In cafes and restaurants especially  those outdoors don’t place your phone or wallet on the table or your  bag beside, under or hanging on the side of your chair because of the  risk of  thieves running and past and snatching them. You should place  them on your lap. Turn on your Mobile phone GPS tracker and have  an access password.

Spiked Drinks/Food – Be wary at bars, clubs,  restaurants, and parties, do not leave food or drinks unattended, do not  ask a stranger to mind your drink, do not accept a drink/food from a  stranger (no matter how friendly they are) and do not accept a drink  from a barman/woman or waitress that is not opened in front of you  because these are all methods used to spike/taint/drug your drink.  Travellers are targeted and taken to the streets or hotels etc. where  valuables are stolen and can lead to sexual assault and at the extreme,  death. Prevalent in Rome, Termini train station; at bars and cafes near  the Colosseum, Colle Oppio, Campo de Fiori, and Piazza Navona; and bars  and cafes in the centre Florence and Naples.

Dirty Clothes/Shoes/Bird crap – Something  gets on your jacket/shoe, (food, drink, dog poo) which locals may try  and ‘help’ you remove/clean and while you are distracted with the fuss  getting clean they are picking your pockets and/or walking off with the  camera they offered to ‘hold for you’. If something happens say you do  not need help and walk off quickly and if they persist yell at them  drawing attention to the situation and they will soon leave not wanting  any attention drawn to them. 

Begging – Children are used by organised crime gangs  and put on the streets to beg, even those with disabilities. Some  children have been purposely disfigured to invoke more sympathy. You  should never give children money. Give to local recognised charities  instead. Some gypsy children are expert criminals even from a young age.

Fake Police – The ‘police’ shows you a circular  plastic sign with the words “police” or “international police” and then  asks to see your identification and your money (their English is usually  very good). Plain clothed police would rarely pull over a vehicle  without a marked police car accompanying them. If an unmarked car  attempts to pull you over only in well-lit insist on seeing the  officer’s identification card (documento).

Flowers – Men, women and children may hand you  flowers (like they are handing you a gift) then ask for payment for  them, just hand them back. If you read this you shouldn’t get caught, if  you do and they do not take them from you simply place them on a table  or the ground and walk away.
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Bird seed – Men, women and children may hand you bird  seed to feed to pigeons (like they are handing you a gift) then ask  payment for the seed, sometimes outrageous amounts. ​Pigeons should be  avoided anyway as they can carry disease.

 If you have current information with regard to a scam or any content on this site please contact us to review and revise or add information.