By Liz Webber–
Sure, we all know Paris is a big city with it’s fair share of petty crime – even the announcements in the Metro stations warn tourists to “faire attention aux pickpockets.”
But aside from just generally watching your wallet or purse, there are a number of scams typically used on tourists in Paris. They should know it’s not so easy to con a Cheapo!
Here are a few of the most typical scams to watch out for:
1. “Free” bracelets at Sacre Coeur
Most days, as tourists start to walk up the steps to reach Sacre Coeur, they face a veritable gauntlet of men trying to trick them out of a few euros. This scam involves someone tying a string bracelet onto your wrist and then refusing to let go until you “pay” for the souvenir.
While these men can be aggressive, they are fairly easy to avoid. Often if you speak French they just leave you alone – a simple “non, merci” should do the trick.
2. “Did you drop this gold ring I just found?”
I don’t really understand how this one works, but it must, because so many scammers still do it. It starts like this: as you’re walking along the street, someone approaches you and asks, “Excuse me, did you drop this gold ring?” When you say, no, that’s not mine, the person then tries to foist the ring on you, saying it must be worth a lot of money.
Since he or she is in the country illegally, the person can’t possible sell the ring, but you as a respectable tourist should have no problem. Can you just give him or a her a little money (not even the value of the ring)? Of course, in reality the ring is worthless. Be on the lookout for this scam in the Jardin des Tuileries and the Champs de Mars, near the Eiffel Tower.
3. “Do you speak English?”
As foreigners in a strange land, we’ve all needed to ask for assistance at some point. So when someone asks if you speak English, the logical response is: “Yes, I do! How can I help?” However, the next step on the part of the asker is to hold up a card with a poorly written sob story asking for money.
This isn’t so much a scam as a clever way to engage with tourists before begging for some spare change. It’s up to you whether or not to part with a few euro coins. These alms seekers can be found in pretty much all the major tourist districts, and are especially abundant in the square facing Notre Dame.
Don’t panic!
As the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy would tell you, don’t panic! Like in any big city, it is important to remain on one’s toes in Paris, but that shouldn’t prevent you from having a good time. Just keep on eye on your belongings and use common sense and you should be fine!
Tell us your scam story
Have you witnessed or been the victim of a scam in Paris, or in any other city while traveling? Tell us about your experience–and what you’ve learned from it!
Was in Paris this past May for a week. I read about all three of these scams before going and, sure enough, all three were attempted. That ring thing is very odd, how do they make any money on that one? I don’t get it. It is nice to be prepared for this before you go, so you aren’t taken unaware. Whenever someone pulled the “Do you speak English”, I shrugged and responded in gibberish. They retreated immediately. The string guys are VERY aggressive.
Ahh the post card trick. I was in France a few weeks ago and this one was pulled on me at Notre Dame and I thought it was pretty clever. It was used on me once again at the Eiffel Tower, and the card had the exact same text but from a different beggar. I reached into my pocket for some change and pulled out my hand doing the finger.
Watch out for cashiers doing the slow count. I was at a cafe once where the cashier took forever to count out the change. I grabbed the paper money and left the coin because I was rushing for a bus. When I got on the bus, I counted my bills and realized that I was short changed 5 euros. Color me red on that one. Now I make sure to carry small bills and pay in denominations as close to the total as possible.
I was in Paris last September and was walking by the Seine, right in front of the Louvre. A girl from one of the Eastern countries tried to pull the ring trick on me. I had no idea this was a trick but it just sounded way strange when she wanted to give me the ring even after I said it wasn’t mine. She just wouldn’t give up insisting. Be very careful! Thanks for letting people know about this!
Having just experienced this one here’s a thought, I think the rings are brass compression fittings polished up, definatley not gold and ‘punched’ with a mark on the inside. Even if they hand over the ring it’s pence to replace them?
Beware of any scam, ring or otherwise, that distracts your attention. That’s exactly how pickpockets work in pairs. While one of them distracts you, the other dips you. Also if anybody is counting out a large number of notes in change or exchange for you, and for some reason it disappears from view even for a second (e.g. loud noise behind you causes you to glance around to see what’s going on), insist that it’s counted again.
hello, this isn’t really a scam, but it was so frightening that i am posting it on all websites for tourists to Paris.
I witnessed an italian tourist almost beaten to death on the train by two young robbers from the airport to Paris around 8pm on the 22nd of October 2009. I got involved and was bashed around too by these kids. But unlike the italian tourist, i fought back (i know, i know…could have gotten killed).
I find this incident rather bizarre because i am 47 woman and there were at least 5 men on the train in good enough physical condition to help. But the French are very passive when it comes to things like this. So, for your own safety, never, ever take the RER B from CDG airport to Gard du Nord UNLESS it is the nonstop train. The other one i took stops in all the welfare project type towns with bunches of angry young men who make a fortune stealing cell phones and whatever from tourists. Thanks for posting this. Nani
Yes, French don’t get involved at all. You could be beaten to death on the metro or RER and they will just stare. They put much of their will power into social strikes and manifestations tho, unfortunately helping someone who needs help is beyond them it seems. My husband is French and he gets involved, but he is a rare case.
[...] This article comes from the helpful folks at EuroCheapo, and it outlines three ways people will try to help you part ways with your hard-earned travel money. One of them is really common, one of them seems so weird that it could never work (but it clearly does or they wouldn’t keep trying it), and one of them is so blunt you almost want to give them credit for being up front with you. [...]
Near the Eiffel Tower a man tried to hand me a rose and said “for the beautiful lady”, I said no thank you and kept walking, he insisted, I said I’m not buying and kept walking, he insisted, I said I’m not giving you any money and kept walking, he still insisted on giving me the rose so I took it. He then went around behind us to my husband and said “3 Euros.” I laughed and handed the rose back. The failed scammer gave us a very dirty look.
When getting money out of an ATM on the street, don’t let yourself get distracted. A few friends were caught off guard by some small children bum rushing them and one of the kids grabbed the money as it came out of the machine.
Watch out on escalators. One “accidentally” drops something like a coin just at the top and bends down to pick it up, and as you bump into them another pikey behind tries to pick your pocket.
I misread it and thought the one in front was trying to trip me; let’s just say I wouldn’t have got away with what I did to him if I’d done it to an opponent on a Rugby pitch…
[...] a shame that were the tourists hang out there are many scamming attempts. We encountered three of the most common ones: the gold ring scam, the “do you speak English” scam and the string men of [...]
I just witnessed the lost gold ring scam in Paris. Same method and I had not even read about this scam. I just walked away. Anything that is too good to be true is exactly that. I have also been approached with the do you speak English scam, again i shook head and walk away. I wonder what else is out there.
My boyfriend’s sister has just been victim of what looks like a scam, however we are not sure about this and would like to check if it has happened to anyone.
On Monday evening, in Paris, she was approached by an Australian man who claimed that he had come to Paris Eurodisney with his girlfriend and children.
He claimed he had only one cash card, that he had tried to get money out of a cash machine, however the girlfiend used her PIN code instead of his three times and the card had been blocked.
He needed 45 euros to go back to the girlfriend and children (not sure where these were, as 45 euros will definitely get you a lot farther than Eurodisney from Paris). He was insisting he was very ashamed and embarassed and that he could leave them his passport (???) or his watch (he probably had 50 worthless watches under his coat), that he was a businessman and had a secretary etc. etc. and please come with him to the girlfriend and children to check they were real.
She gave in and gave him 5 euros, and I was glad she did not follow him, however we thought this was a scam.
Has anyone else had the same experience?
Thank you for posting.
Gabriella,
This EXACT thing happened to me just last night, at the Nord station in Paris. Except he claimed to be a Jewish Canadian banker but the “girlfriend + children”, “messing up the card PIN”, “I am so ashamed to be asking this, so embarrassed (with tears in his eyes), “I can leave you my watch and even my spectacles and get it back later” etc, ALL HAPPENED.
I asked to see his passport but he said his gf had it with his jacket (it was an early December evening, why would you NOT have your jacket, or any kind of ID on you for that matter?) and that she was so stressed out that he did not want to make it worse by letting her find out he was asking strangers for money.
Yeah, I almost knew it was a scam but stupidly I gave him money. 80 euros, such a dumb move.
I wish I had done more study on these scammers before I left for my trip – I hope others will take note and give this guy a kick in the balls for me if he approaches you.
I have just returned from Paris today and have been scammed twice……………….. i wish I had read this first.
First night walking to montmarte got hooked by the string guys, actually thought they were quite sweet braceets and my better half had one too…………….. now the scam…………. he wanted 10 euros each…………….I laughed and stared in disbelief and said no you are joking, he said he wasn’t……Then because I am english and get too embarressed etc said 10 euros for both, so yes guys I paid £8.50 for 2 pieces of string. Daft thing is \i would of quite happily paid 2 euros for one so maybe if they were abit more honets they would make more money, instead of robbing us.
Secondly when walking along seine was asked by a lady did you drop this ring? No I reply, she says oh its gold are you sure? No I reply. She then said she was from bosnia looking for a job as a cleaner and her religion prevented her from having jewelry and thrust the ring on us. We were wary but also concerned as a coach had just unloaded and we were worried that if someone had jsut dropped it then they would be upset, so we about turned and went back towards the coach but no one there. Then the lady appeared again and told us that she was hungry and had no job and could we give her some money for food……………. That’s when my senses pricked up, I dug in my pocket and gave her my chang (about 3 or 4 euros), she then said it wasn’t enough and could i give her more. I told her I had no more money on me and she left.
So 4 days and 2 scams…………….. didn’t get scammed anywhewre else unless you count the ridiculous prices they charge for a brew!!!
Whilst holidaying in Paris with my family, we would often be approached be the “do you speak English?” women. It began to get very frustrating as we were approached many times a day. Eventually, I began saying “yes, I speak perfect English” and walking off. The silly gypsy women were visibly annoyed often responding with angry soundy French that was no doubt abuse. That’ll show ‘em.
I got scammed today on the Champ de Mars. I was just reading a book on bench when a Roma man came up to me and said “blah blah blah” and did the ring scam… He got very aggressive when I only gave him 2 euros 50 when he saw I had a 20 euro note in my wallet. Despite being in broad daylight I honestly thought he would hit me for “just ten more euros to buy lunch”. Got really angry afterwards and I look out for him now when I walk there to throw the ring back in his face.
My husband and I just got back from a day in Paris. We were aware of the scams before we went but we were still hit up by people. The first happened outside the Lourve, on the side where there is construction going on. They wanted us to sign a petition to help Zimbabwe. We signed the petition (in very illegible writing) but they they began to hound us for money. We just put the pens on the clipboards and walked away.
The next time was when we arrived at the Eiffel Tower. Two different times young girls approached us asking if we spoke English, which we told them “no”. Even though we do we both speak Spanish so it was easy enough to be able to talk with each other. Then we were bombarded by the trinkett salemen…it was so bad we walked straight through the opening under the tower and proceeded as far as we could away from the tower while still being able to take pictures. We knew there would be people there trying to approach us BUT it was worse than I ever imagined.
We will probably never go back to Paris because it was so off-putting.
Recent trip Oct 2010 to Paris for our Honeymoon and we almost got caught with the “gold ring” scam. Just ahead of the Louvre I saw a large gold wedding band lying on the ground in front of us, as I went to pick it up a middle aged lady appeared out of nowhere and got to it before me. She picked up the ring and laughed at the irony of us both seeing it at the exact same time … she then politely offered me the ring to claim an award and wished me “bon chance” in life. My husband and I became suspicious and tried to give her the ring back … she refused saying we must keep it as I had seen it first. Not realising this was a common scam at the time we pocketed the ring and decided to carry on walking. Then she started asking for food to “mange” .. pointing at her mouth. We then realised what she was upto and gave her the ring back. She became very upset and started to create a scene. We carried on walking, and ignored her shouts. She eventually gave up and disappeared back into the bushes from whence she came.
Two days later outside Notre Dam the exact same thing happened, only this time it was a young male. We immediately laughed and said “no way”.
Another observation from the roof of a tour bus was watching middle aged lady beggars practicing their “shaking starving hand”, “stooped walk” and “creaked neck look” round the back of the Opera house … then wrapping themselves up and putting it all into practice at the font of the Opera house for all to see. Oscar material.
I wasn’t aware of any of the scams prior to my travels in Europe. However, I did see all the scams mentioned in the original post. Thankfully, having some street smarts, I was not duped. What disconcerted me was the aggressiveness I saw with these folks towards tourists; it was down right obnoxious and rude, particularly in a country that prides itself with politeness and manners. I traveled alone and simply said, “no merci!” or ignored these charlatans altogether.
Walking down the Champs Elysee I did see the ring scam; it was a wife/husband team. I followed THEM as they saw I was watching and was nearing the police – they made a b-line out of my sight.
The bracelet scam was ridiculous and also disturbing as the men were very aggressive towards both men and women. Saw the “Do you speak English” all around the city and likewise around the Louis Vutton store, “I want to buy a bag, can you help me?!” I did laugh at that one and replied, “No Merci! I don’t even have a job myself. If you think I am going to buy YOU a bag, you’re out of your mind!”….
The only things I enjoyed about Paris were the food choices and the museums/cathedrals/historical sites…..I enjoyed Stuttgart, Germany a lot more!
I experienced a tourist trickery in Lisbon (October 2010) I thought it could never be a scam. On a Sunday evening, 10:30 p.m., I walked around the Avenida – Marques de Pombal area when a young woman (maybe 30 years old) with a backpack asked me for the time. I didn’t look like a tourist, but however, she got to know I was a tourist by asking me in Portuguese. Albeit I understood what she wanted, I said I could only communicate with her in English, and gave her the time.
Then she approached a little closer and said: “Oh that’s good that you understand English. I am in quite a hurry, I have to find a money exchange office. Do you know one around here? In my hotel, they aren’t very helpful.” I had a look at my handy maps, but my Nokia showed only ATMs. I said, No sorry, I can’t help you with this. With a panicking look in her face, she then told me her story: “I am from South Africa, I am a psychologist who attends a conference in Lisbon tomorrow. It’s the first time I am travelling alone, and almost everything is a chaos. I travelled with Air France and they lost my luggage, and I have to return to the Airport until 11:00 p.m. to get my luggage back. Unfortunately, I cannot change the South African Rand, I spent my last Euros for the taxis.”
Because one of my colleagues in company is from South Africa, I immediately compared their looks, but found no signs for a scam. After all, her English was just perfect, a lot better than mine. She had this panicking look, and really seemed to be in a hurry. She didn’t even asked me for money, but that was the trick, I then opened my wallet and gave her some money for the taxi to the airport (and for the return; btw, in Lisbon, there is no subway going for the airport). She immediately began to write my name and address down to a tourist map of Lisbon, and agreed to bring the money back to me the next day. She even promissed to call me on the mobile and have dinner with me
Okay, I just gave her 30 Euros and calculated with some risk of not getting it back, but after I returned from Lisbon without having heard of her again, a friend of mine told me the same story, that he experienced in Paris. But he gave 80 Euros!!! Well, because this girl was in a hurry, and gave me a perfect show, I didn’t want to have a look on her passport or even take the Rand. In the Paris case, Interpol knows about the man and his wrong identity, because the phone is always ringing by an innocent Berlin person and Paris tourists want money back from him.
Not really a scam but a common rip off : cafés serving larger and more expensive drinks to tourists than to locals : a tourist sitting on the side-walk tables and requesting a coffee will be served a very large coffee with milk for 7 € (that’s 9 US$) when a parisian will pay 2€ inside for his regular coffee … In a tourist area a request for “a beer” could bring a 1 liter beer for 13€! that’s 4 times the quantity usually served when a parisian asks for a beer…
When prices and quantities are not clearly listed, don’t hesitate to ask before ordering.
This one is not really a scam, just another one of this little annoying things that can make living as a foreigner in Paris at times seem very tiring. When ordering a beer in a bar, one would typically ask for a ‘demi’, this being the way to indicate a 25cl glass. However, especially in the more touristy areas, waiters will commonly attempt to sell more than you want, by asking that if meant ’50 cl?’, hence selling you twice the amount (for twice the price). Simply refuse this, and state ’25cl’. Or better yet, take your business somewhere else. I really fail to see why a ‘demi’ should be different for a foreigner than for a parisian.
Related to this, it is also worthwhile checking your bill. In France, it is illegal to omit costs from prices listed on the menu. In other words, when you notice that the price on your bill is higher than should be, due to VAT (at bottom), then demand this to be corrected. And, as before, take your business elsewhere next time…
There are plenty more little things like this, but for me this has been a recurring one. The simple solution to this problem is to go to bars in the neighbourhoods less frequented by tourists, where you will probably even get served by a friendly waiter.
Sacre Coeur is not worthed to visit considering bunch of African people down the entrance of Sacre Coeur, Paris. As you know, they are trying to hold your hand, suddenly tying colorful bracelets and force you to pay for it. I had have a bad experience with these, there was no much tourist at that time, and they were trying to split me with my wife. They forced me to pay with paper, I gave them 5€ and they ask for 10€. They threatened me, pushed me, surrounded me with all of their friends. It was really sucks for a tourism. I managed to avoid all other string men in Paris, but not in Sacre Coeur. It is likely a mugging down there. These Africans could be more forceful if there were tourists at all. No Armed Police’s were seen but in improper places. They should have guard down there at the entrance of Sacre Coeur.
After this incident, I scanned the scene thoroughly, they worked together, not always tend to use violent if there were so many tourists. Also, near the Anvers station, right on the street heading to Sacre Coeur, there you could have seen gambling scam right in the middle of the street. Using 3 black rubber and the player had to choose which one after they shuffled those rubber. You know, I figure it out, they worked with their friend who act to be the players. Giving them money to play, tell loudly that its free. They will make it easy for the first time, and give you money, then scam you rudely.
These scams ruined my vacation on Paris. Then I decided to just go to the other districts of Paris, which they said the rent is relative high and not so “multi-cultural”, The Louvre, Notre Dame area, Eiffel Tower, Lafayette areas.
One question, where the hell are police officers in Paris?????????
In Germany, police are everywhere (^^)
Woman tried the ring scam on us and when we walked away, acted as if to slap me. First day in Paris we were scammed in the Metro station.Trying to get train tickets to Versailles, nicely dressed man offered to help us.He said he would use his credit card to get our tickets from the vending machine (ticket windows were closed on Sun so no real person, only machines).He punched several buttons very quickly, asking if we wanted admission tickets, return tickets, etc – telling us it was cheaper to get an all inclusive ticket.Told us how much it was and we paid him our Euros. Got to Versailles and found that not only did our ticket not cover admission but it also was not a return train ticket so had to buy one of those to get back. People working at Versailles said it happens all the time.
Almost forgot – same day as ring scam tried, we got the post card scam while sitting on a bench on Champs Elysees.So total of 3 scams – 1 successful 2 failed
I just returned from Paris. We encountered these string men twice during our visit. Not only at the foot of the steps to Sacre Coeur, but also at a 50 meter distance of the Eiffel Tower. The guy at Eiffel Tower asked my boyfriend for his finger and put the string around it. I got pissed off at my boyfriend (I could not believe he was that gulleable) as well as the guy. I dragged him away and he got angry with me as well. This ruined our trip for no more than an hour or so, but still it was an experience I hope no other tourist fall for. I was afraid for our safety. When we we were both safe I bursted in tears. At sacre coeur we encountered them again. Thank got my boyfriend got the point and saw me getting upset again.
Another “scam” I encountered were childeren begging for autographs for supporting petitions. these childeren put a pen in your hand, do not speak and point to the line were you have to put your autograph. You will sign for a petition you probably do not support. These childeren are all foreign immigrants (Indian, Gypsy, North African). We saw them at Gare du Nord, Arc de défense and Notre Dame.
Here is another…there are some people on the Champ Elysees who play with cup caps that has a white sticker under it. However, no matter how sharply you look, you will never be able to discover the right one…and there will be some people who are winning, making it look like it is an easy game to win. You put your money and discover that you lost it. They play to win…just avoid these Roma people. I am no racist, and live in Paris, but most of the tricks, the fake beggars, the fake police men, the fake games, are all run by them.
Yesterday, I was approached by a rose scam. Near the shopping district I was walking and a young man was holding a bouquet of individual roses, just believing he was trying to sell them I didn’t look in his direction as I was passing by knowing how aggressive these people can be. My mom and I walked by and he quickly started walking next to us being extremely persistent on us taking a rose. We attempted to ignore him in hopes that he would just go away and he didn’t do so, so we just took the roses. He then demanded that we “donate” to a certain cause since he gave us the rose. We politely said no thank you and when he wouldn’t stop we returned the rose, as soon as we did so he practically vanished! We decided we would not accept anything off the street at this point. However,
The next day we were walking near the museums, suddenly a strange middle-aged woman rushed down to pick up a ring and went up to my dad asking if he had lost his wedding ring. My dad politely said no and attempted to move on. She stopped in front of us and was explaining to us that he needed to take it because if she had taken it then it would have given her bad luck and she would never get married. My dad told her to leave it on the ground instead of keeping it. She ignored what he had said and kept persisting that he have it. My dad took the ring for a second and she then reached out her hand to “wish him good luck”. Thinking this could be a pick-pocket scam my dad refused to shake her hand and tossed the ring at her. She then caused a scene crying that she would never get married and we walked away knowing she was acting suspiciously. I turned around and she took one disappointed look at me and darted out in the middle of the street and ran almost getting hit by a car. This happened by the Napoleon museum.
The final scam that we were approached by was the child petition scam. We were by the Louvre when this happened. Several foreign children bombarded us aggressively asking us to sign their petition we ignored and moved on. I wish I had read the comments before coming to Paris. Oddly enough, they must use the same scams over and over.
Another good way to avoid the bracelet people is to keep your hands in your pocket so they can’t get the string around your wrist. I’ve experienced the card trick in Berlin before, didn’t happen to me in Paris. Nor did I experience the ring trick, but many of the roma and pickpockets have incredibly elaborate ways to separate you from your money.
A girl got robbed right outside my hostel in Madrid. 2 guys came up behind her, one with ketchup on his hand. He put his hand on the girl’s head and says “you’re bleeding” as soon as the girl’s hands touch her head, the accomplice reached in her purse and took her wallet.
Always keep your wits up.
[...] From then on, I fended off each of these encounters by feigning Icelandic or occasionaly Welsh. Also, a little pre-trip internet search had also shown me the value of keeping your hands in your pockets. [...]
I was caught by the ring scam several years ago and kept the ring which cost me 10 Euros and I’ve used it to good effect in Paris.
A few months ago I was approached 3 times with the ring scam, I feigned interest, said it was amazing, and after 30 seconds of interest say, that is so amazing, you really found it on the ground, oh yes of course, I wonder if there are any more, hey look, I found one, wow it looks just the same as yours, we have one each now.
I was accosted by one angry woman accusing me of stealing her ring, she said it was hers, I said, no you have one already, this is mine.
Oh and for the “do you speak English one”, I do speak Russian and responding in Russian blows them away really fast.
got caught by the ring scam because I didn’t know about it. I gave the guy 10 E because I thought he was so nice. He haggled me for more and then I knew it was a scam and told him to get lost and enjoy the 10E i gave him. I plan to do the exact same scam with the ring to a tourist in the louvre when I go there. It will work better for me because I am also a tourist and can pretend I’m out of euro and really hungry and would appreciate 10 E for some lunch. I wonder if it will work?????? haha
I seem to be approached less frequently than many other tourists in Paris. I have tried to analyse why this is and I think its partly to do with the way I dress (clothing quite similar to the locals), not carrying a map and looking like I know where I am going (which is usually the case anyway). In other words I appear confident. I do get approached occasionally, but if I am with my partner it is a rare occurence. I am convinced that this is because she is of African appearance. We tested this at Sacre Couer recently where no African guys approached us with the bracelet scam while they were going for everyone else very aggressively. We seemed unable to get them interested in us. Maybe other tourists from ethnic minorities could comment on this. Maybe its just coincidence or they thought we were undercover police!
The police do act. I know that in Montmartre they patrol on bikes and lift people quite regularly. The difficulty is that many of the perpetrators are under the age of criminal responsibility (14 like a lot of european countries). The Roma operate here in the UK, but can’t do the deaf mute scam because our age of responsibility is 10 so they would not be prosecuted. The police in France have a tough job. They can’t run sting operations as they are prevented from anything that could be considered entrapment. Many of the locals look out for tourists and will intervene if they see someone being scammed.
The vast majority of people in Paris are very welcoming and friendly. Avoid the tourist parts of town and go where the locals go. I never pay more than 2e50 for a coffee and eat well for very little. However, learning some French gives you a huge increase in credibility with the locals.
As far as retaliation is concerned, the problem is numbers. I can look after myself in a fight, but not if I had four or five guys against me. I would not recommend getting involved physically. Avoid eye contact, block out what they say and move on.
Just got back from Paris … Had the ring scam tried on us by a dude around the Place de la Concorde. Sensed something off, but didn’t really get the point. Thankfully the scammer didn’t either. He was the world’s worst short con!
Now … Lest I seem like the world’s second most insensitive bastard … Has anyone had any experience with “the lady balling her frickin’ eyeballs out” at Pere Lachaise cemetery?
Not sure if it’s a scam … But this lady literally started wailing uncontrollably at a grave just as and only as we walked past her. (North West corner by the Holocost memorials).
Maybe she was legitimately bereft? But something didn’t seem 100%.
Last week me and my friend were in Paris and almost got pick-pocketed by the same girl twice! She used the same trick both times: the girl was in a group of ‘deaf’ people, trying to get people signing a petition. When we kept on walking one of the girls kept following us. Suddenly she reached out for my friends backpack. We managed to avoid the actual theft, but were stunned by the fact how fast it happened.
Also, if every offered ring was as valuable as they pretended them to be, I could open a museum myself with golden rings, not mentioning the amount of 10-euro bracelets!
Be aware of those scammers, Paris is a nice place, but people like that ruin it a bit…
This happened in Berlin, not Paris, and its actually more like a mugging than a scam, but anyway, what happened was, I was walking down the street (in a very wealthy part of the city, incidentally) and a guy walking in the opposite direction asked me for the time. Not being even slightly suspicious, I got out my iPhone to tell him, and in a split second he grabbed my phone and sprinted. So be careful if anyone asks you the time!!