More than 80 million tourists visit Paris every year. Paris is the subject of movies and dreams. Your trip to Paris will be a trip of a lifetime, especially if you get ripped off.
Signing petitions as a type of scamming tourists in Paris
This method of fraud is common in places with medium and large attendance, such as Parisian museums – the Louvre, Orsay, Pompidou and others.
The essence of the fraud is as follows: a girl approaches you, usually accompanied by a group, and asks you to sign a petition. The reasons may be different: help children, animals, protection of Parisian sights, etc. While you listen to her explanation or decide to sign, her accomplices pick your pockets. If this fails, they will persistently ask you for money.
Beggars in Paris
In Paris, you will find many beggars who live not only in crowded places, but also on ordinary streets. They are especially common in narrow streets where they are hard to avoid. If you accidentally knock over their coin cup, they will demand compensation. Even if they don’t extort money directly, it may make you feel sorry for them and encourage you to add a few coins to their earnings.
Pocket thefts
Pocket theft remains one of the most common methods of fraud. Tourists rarely call the police, so these crimes pose less of a problem for thieves.
To protect yourself in Paris, especially in crowded areas (museum queues, public transportation, Eiffel Tower, etc.), keep your belongings in front of you. It is best not to carry a lot of cash with you. Keep valuable items in zippered pockets or, better yet, in the inside pockets of your clothes. Don’t carry bags and backpacks behind or to the side, and don’t put your phone in your back pocket.
Gambling on the streets of Paris
You can still find thimbles games on the streets of Paris. This is a game of chance where the host hides a ball under one of three thimbles and moves them around, and the player has to guess which thimble the ball is under. Sometimes you may think someone is winning in front of you, but it will be an accomplice cheater.
Cheating Paris visitors with cab fares
Traveling long distances, such as from the airport to Paris, or around the city in a cab taken off the street, can cost you 2-3 times more than expected. Cab drivers often choose the longest routes to increase the cost of the trip on the meter.
To avoid overpayments, order a cab through Uber, Bolt or local G7 service. For trips from the airport, it’s best to book a shuttle service in advance.
Buying tickets and accommodation in Paris
Offers to buy tickets to attractions or accommodation at significantly low prices are found on the vastness of the internet, especially on social media. However, don’t believe in miracles – Paris is known as an expensive city.
The natural desire to save money is understandable for everyone, but you should do it wisely and weigh the pros and cons. Do not trust those who offer to buy something much cheaper than the market price, as in 90% of cases it is a scam.
The best place to buy tickets is official websites. The second option is to use aggregators such as tigets or getyourguide. Their prices may be higher on some items, but you will get the product you are buying.
Found jewelry
In one common scam trick, scammers offer you a ring or other piece of jewelry claiming that you dropped it. The trick is there for any of your answers.
If the item turns out to be yours, they will demand payment for its return. If it does not belong to you, however, they may try to sell you this “find”. However, keep in mind that such jewelry is usually cheap costume jewelry that is not worth your attention.
Getting help with buying tickets on the Paris Metro
Getting help with buying tickets on the Paris Metro can be tempting, but you should be careful. Often the suggested method is to buy tickets from middlemen “off hand”.
At best, you will pay an inflated price for the tickets, and at worst, you risk getting “discount tickets” intended for certain categories of citizens, which can later lead to a fine when you check your fare.
Gifts from strangers
Walking along the streets of Paris you may meet “generous” strangers offering “free” gifts: flowers, bracelets, souvenirs. Do not be tempted. Behind the apparent kindness hides a cunning plan: the “gift” will only be an excuse to impose unnecessary services and extortion of money.
How to protect your vacation in Paris?
Now that you are aware of the most common methods used by scammers in Paris, let’s look at some simple ways to protect yourself:
- Avoid interacting with suspicious individuals. By simply walking by, you can avoid potential problems.
- Keep your belongings safe. Do not leave valuables in your backpack, purse or back pocket. Wear valuables under your clothes and keep your bag in front of you, especially on the subway. In restaurants or cafes, don’t leave money or cell phones on the table.
In Paris, as in any other major city, there are certain risks associated with fraud. However, by knowing the basic methods of deception and taking appropriate precautions, you can protect yourself and your valuables. Be vigilant, keep an eye on your belongings, avoid suspicious situations and dangerous neighborhoods. And remember that common sense and discretion are your best allies when traveling. Good luck and enjoyment in all your adventures.
