cigalechanta

http://www.expatica.com/fr/insider-v...cbdb3-55772040

Christina

That article is about very old stuff that has been around forever in many cities, and you'd have to be pretty much of a dope to fall for any of them IMO, or to even be targeted. Because you have to engage with people to even be a target for some of them, like the "bracelet scam." People who are going to be scammed by them aren't reading that article.

PalenQ

disagree with Christina - these things do happen and are happening to naive tourists - like my Korean friend who had his I phone stolen in a McDonalds by the fake petition ruse with two young gals - when they put the petition or paper in his face to read one took his I phone.

Thanks for posting and it may help others avoid becoming easy targets.

the recent strike at the Eiffel Tower protested rampant pickpockets operating there shows that the tourist must be very careful today - yes today in Paris.

Never hurts to alert to the problems and that said if you know the problem exists then it ceases to be a problem.

Agains thanks cigalechanta!

anyegr

Unfortunately, there are still lots of people who do fall for those scams. Yes, it's old stuff. But as long as it "works" the scammers will continue.

cigalechanta

thanks Pal and anyegr.
I almost signed a petition presented by three wholesome girls til I caught the eye of a French man indicating with his head, no, no

annhig

When I was with my italian teacher in a fairly obscure italian town I was amused to be approached by the petition wavers, and she was shocked when I told them to go away. She was even more shocked when they swore at me - which I pointed out showed that they were not charity workers - she had never come across them before.

Even the most alert of us can be distracted momentarily or be unfamiliar with these scams, which is what they exploit - so we shouldn't blame the victims.

pariswat

Yup
However the gambling and the dropped ring are not really scams. No normal person would fall for these, however naive, if they were not interested in making easy money.

I was however surprised at the bracelet sacm, some people are really aggressive.
I had a version of it in other countries, but especially around Montmartre, they can be real tough.

PalenQ

Yup if it's too good to be true it ain't - same with those games of three balls and a cup - you never win big - shills of the operator do win big - seen these many places and wonder how anyone can fall for that - but obviously many do.

artsnletters

I saw the bracelet, petition, and gambling scams all in action during my recent visit to Paris. The only one who approached me was a petition scammer, but even though I didn't know about the scam in advance, I couldn't think of any petition a tourist would have any business signing, so I just kept on walking. The other two I was not approached myself but saw others being reeled in. These are very common, and some people fall for them or they wouldn't still be being used.

kerouac

I didn't even click on the link, but I know exactly what it mentions. It just creates the usual divide between first time tourists and old hand travelers. Everybody needs to see the list at least once, but after that, if there is still a problem, it is not with the scammers but with the readers.

cigalechanta

Thanks Kerouac, well said. Some posters who can afford to go often are so jaded that they are nasty to beginners.

muskoka

Everyone is a "dope" to Christina.

PalenQ

Yes that dope comment will offend many who have been targeted and knew what was up and those who knew what was up and still got scammed - these things can happen so suddenly sometimes even the most savvy of travelers can be momentarily startled.

RobertaL

After years of traveling to Paris, I know these scams exist. The reason why I'm aware of them is because of Fodors. Enjoying a picnic by the Eiffel Tower and being approached by the petition scam, it was great to know who they were ahead of time.

For the first time traveler, it's not "old news". Like Kerouac said, it's good to see the list once. You tuck the info in your brain, be a smart (not paranoid) tourist and enjoy your vacation.

Tibor08

Very well said...RobertaL

nytraveler

Well I suppose that being a New Yorker I am inured to these things (my father explained 3 card monte to me when I went to work with him one day - when I was about 7).

(For anyone who doesn;t know, 3 card monte is the game with the pea and the 3 cups - or the 3 cards - where the clueless bet on which one will be the winner. This is NOT gambling - it;s just handing over your money. The group consists of a dealer, a shill (the only one who ever wins and talks about it loudly) and at least 2 lookouts (1 in each direction watching for the police - so the others can just pick up the box they're working on and run.)

But there are two simple things to remember.

No one is going to give you anything - if they try to it's a scam and get away.

Also anyone asking for help - or offering help - isn't - again, get away.

I blame a lot of the victimization on parents who teach children to be nice to everyone (madness in this day and age). Being able to walk down the street and just look straight through strangers approaching you for something is a skill every traveler should have. This is NOT rude! It;s simple self-preservation.

As is being aware of your surroundings at all times.

wunderbar2

Having been to Paris often and aware of these (and other) scams, it's always good to be reminded. While we've been fortunate there's always the possibility that it can happen to us. Thanks for the heads up and reminder to always be aware.

Robert2533

Yes, Christina tends to be a bit harsh at times.

The lost ring bit is a laugh, it's been tried on us at least twice in Paris the last 10 years.

The petition thing is prevelent in Madrid, where there seems to be a flood of Romani at times, especially in the spring.

You have to "grin a bear it".

cigalechanta

christina has a constipated personality, hard for her to be nice, kind, generous.

nanabee

Just consider the source mimi. Thank you for posting, not everyone is aware and even those who've been to Paris aren't always aware or could use a reminder.