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Italy
48 scams
Besides being home to the most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites globally, Italy also offers delicious cuisine, trendy fashion, stunning coasts, lakes, mountains and more!
Unfortunately, huge crowds of tourists have also attracted opportunists who rip tourists off with some well-polished petty crime and scams.
Note: vast majority of trips are trouble free and there is no need to be paranoid. That said, it always pays to be aware, careful, and prepared.
Emergency number
- Emergency number in Europe: 112
- Police: 113
- Fire: 115
- Ambulance: 118
Travel guide
Alcohol tout scam in Italy
2 1How it works: Opening: women (especially those alone) are targeted by men who try to chat you up for a while. Set-up: once the conversation gets going, he will then…
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Unlicensed taxis in Italy
1 0How it works: There are unofficial cabs which operate without license and without the appropriate insurance coverage. Some are also blatant rip-offs, where they charge a high flat fare. Some…
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Cattedrale di San Pietro catacomb scam in Italy
2 0How it works: You may encounter a tout at the entrance who will charge you €5 to enter the catacombs. Note: there are no catacombs here. Places to beware: Bologna:…
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Sob story scammers in Italy
2 2How it works: Opening: claiming to not have money or to have been robbed. Set-up: you may encounter them on the streets or at train stations who ask if you…
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Florence fake jewelry in Italy
2 0How it works: There are a number of shops around the Ponte Vecchio area which actually work together and sell fake jewelry at inflated prices. Places to beware: Florence: Ponte…
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Rental car scams in Italy
2 4How it works: Situation: there is no need to be paranoid as cases are usually isolated ones and not generalizable. However, you will need to know what to watch out…
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Money changer scams in Italy
2 2How it works: Situation: there are some rogue money changers which will advertise very favourable rates. Scam 1: the favourable rate is only if you exchange a certain minimum amount….
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Vesuvius fake stones in Italy
2 0How it works: At Vesuvius, there are shops which sell obsidian stones and minerals claimed to be from the volcano. These are largely fakes or lab grown. Places to beware:…
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Gas station scams in Italy
2 3How it works: Situation: in 2019, two gas stations were caught by the police for these scams: Version 1: rigged pump where the amount of petrol/total price is controlled by…
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Piazza Navona fake oil paintings in Italy
2 0How it works: You will see lots of artists here holding brushes who seem to be painting portraits. For some, this is an act to sell “oil paintings” which are…
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