Every good thing has a downside. Call it the law of nature. The tourism industry of every country brings in lots of money and glory. If a place is popular, it usually attracts a large number of people and tourists. Such places are goldmines for con-artists and scammers.
Paris, the city of love, is a beautiful place. People around the globe fly there and visit to create good memories.
But amid your vacay, intelligent crooks are trying to hijack your belongings. Hold on though! It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go there. It just means that you should be aware of tricks and dodging them.
Know the common tactics used by these random strangers and wisely evade them.
Do not worry – here is a list of methods they use to trap you. Read more:
The Petition Scam
This is the most famous trick used on visitors. What happens is a random person may approach you and ask what languages you speak. Next, they urge you to sign up for different petitions like save the earth, global warming, drug abuse, women and child protection law, no nuclear wars, etc. The list goes on. Do not sign up or start a discussion. Say ‘No, thank you’ and leave.
What happens is – if you strike a conversation, they distract you so that another crewmate can steal your wallet, personal belongings, bag, or water bottle without your notice. The simple solution is to walk away. Even if you sign it, there is no use as you are not a citizen of France so it is not valid.
Gold Ring scam
As you walk along the banks of France’s beautiful Seine river, a lady may call out to you. She will say she found a gold/brass type ring and insist it’s yours. It obviously won’t be your ring, so she may highlight it as a stroke of good luck. Later he/she will beg you for some bucks or insist you buy the product that they are selling. In any case involving a ring, ignore them and wave goodbye.
Free Bracelet/ Ribbon/ Friendship band
Friendship is one of the best bonds but often taken advantage of, right? Now you must be wondering where this is coming from so let’s get to the point.
Suppose you visit Sacre Coeur in Montmartre, and a guy walks up to you and shakes your hand. In a matter of a few minutes, he gives you a friendship band/ring that you cannot deny as a token of your relation. Then they will aggressively demand money from you. All you need to do is not shake hands with a random passerby and, if forced to do so with a ribbon, remove it immediately and go!
Organized Beggars
This group is well-versed in human emotion. A random lady may approach you and ask for money, stating that she has not eaten anything for a couple of days. Some people even fake as beggars or beggars who act with a handicap to gain sympathy and dollars.
It’s not about being cold or heartless but being aware whether your help is doing good. As a tourist, you may be in a hurry to visit different places but be careful. Do not get involved with beggars who are ready to trick you and turn your trip upside down.
Pickpockets on Metros
Metros are the best way to commute from one place to another. Since it’s the best , most sought-out option, hordes of people use this means of transportation. With more people moving in and out of each station, it becomes a cakewalk for people to steal your wallet. In the hustle and bustle surrounding the station, it is impossible to catch pickpockets.
So be very careful with your personal belongings and handbags. Suppose a situation arises where your wallet gets stolen; retrace your steps. Next, look for boxes or garbage bins, and benches as sometimes these people put them under these to collect later.
Pickpockets always take your cash and are not interested in your identity cards. So be careful or you may end up losing personal cards.
Washroom Stealing
Don’t leave your bag or prized possession on the counter in restrooms. Take your belongings with you in the stall. If you have a lot of stuff, then hand it over to your family before going to the washroom.
If you leave it on the counter, there’s a chance it may be missing when you come out.
There are cases where tourists get robbed this way in restroom areas.
Map Help/Bird Poop/Bait Scam
If someone approaches you for directions with a map, beware. The first red flag is that they aren’t using their phones.
While you are distracted, an accomplice might swoop in and steal your wallet or any belonging.
The rule you should remember to avoid such scenarios is don’t engage in conversations you don’t initiate. Remember to hold on to your bag and not leave it unattended during such scenarios.
At times, while you walk through a street, someone might notice that your shirt has a spot, like bird poop, and they stop you. Well, this is a very calculated trick; you are distracted by clearing off the dirt and, in the meantime, the organized group takes your bags and sprints away at jet speed.
Conclusion
The above list might tone down the allure of Paris for you, but our intention wasn’t to do that. It’s just to make you aware of such fraudulent activities so that your trip may go on smoothly.
Such illicit activities shouldn’t dampen your mood for traveling. Precaution is necessary.
Being proactive is better. Every tourist place is filled with beautiful sites so go travel as often you can. Take care of your belongings and your journey will be memorable.
