PAY ATTENTION AT TERMINI TRAIN STATION
Jun 25th, 2015, 04:21 AM
#1
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PAY ATTENTION AT TERMINI TRAIN STATION
this is an advice for all people that will pass for rome termini train station.
there are groups of people that wear a blue t-shirt where is written ITALIA ( similar to italian football team t-shirt ). THEY ARE CROOKS!. they seem to help foreignt tourists to buy their train ticket at automatic machines or to find their train or to have information but crooks take your tickets or documents and force you to pay money for getting them back!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3mwY-6OFYs here there is a video about this.
please be careful and avoid them!
sorry for my imperfect english. i hope you have a wonderful journey and bring home a beautiful experience.
there are groups of people that wear a blue t-shirt where is written ITALIA ( similar to italian football team t-shirt ). THEY ARE CROOKS!. they seem to help foreignt tourists to buy their train ticket at automatic machines or to find their train or to have information but crooks take your tickets or documents and force you to pay money for getting them back!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3mwY-6OFYs here there is a video about this.
please be careful and avoid them!
sorry for my imperfect english. i hope you have a wonderful journey and bring home a beautiful experience.
Jun 28th, 2015, 11:14 PM
#4
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Thanks for your advice! I actually had a similar experience. One of those guys were helping me with buying my ticket and then later they demanded money from me. Thank god it was a lot and I was safe as I was alone.
Jun 29th, 2015, 12:02 PM
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It isn't just Termini - we had this happen with a little elderly lady at the San Giovanni in Laterano metro station. We didn't realize she was looking for money until she held her hand out after we bought our tickets, but we gave her some small coins. 
Lee Ann
Lee Ann
Jun 29th, 2015, 12:29 PM
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I was just in Termini today and woud like to add some observations:
Male or female young people (under 30) in the train station who are not hauling luggage or toting the typical commuter stuff like a messenger bag or a briefcase should ring an "alert" bell. Watch them and stay away from them. There is a fair chance they are thieves. Most travelers and commuters carry stuff with them -- more than a cell phone -- and people hanging out in the station and platforms empty handed should make you wonder what they are doing there. This literally goes "double" of you see them in pairs.
Watch out for thieves who may ride the trains between Termini and wherever the first stop on the train line is. If you see people without luggage wandering back and forth in the aisles with a ticket in their hand, ostentously looking at seat numbers, they may be pretending to be hunting for their seat, but may actually be looking for an opportunity to snitch an unattended bag. If you are traveling alone, take everything valuable with you if you need to use the loo, and ask neighboring seat mates to watch your other luggage when you are absent from your seat.
By and large, if you take all the "silly" precautions of keeping your valubles very close to your person, you will not be an easy target for any thief. The vast majority of Italians traveling through Termini are utterly blase about leaving their purses half open, slinging backpacks over one shoulder, being distracted by cell phones, etc -- so any half-intelligent thief is going to rifle in those purses and pockets rather than take an interest in your stuff if you are obviously guarding it. But don't let your guard drop, inside and outside the station, and on the train itself. There are definitely people who work the trains and the stations looking for easy pickings.
Male or female young people (under 30) in the train station who are not hauling luggage or toting the typical commuter stuff like a messenger bag or a briefcase should ring an "alert" bell. Watch them and stay away from them. There is a fair chance they are thieves. Most travelers and commuters carry stuff with them -- more than a cell phone -- and people hanging out in the station and platforms empty handed should make you wonder what they are doing there. This literally goes "double" of you see them in pairs.
Watch out for thieves who may ride the trains between Termini and wherever the first stop on the train line is. If you see people without luggage wandering back and forth in the aisles with a ticket in their hand, ostentously looking at seat numbers, they may be pretending to be hunting for their seat, but may actually be looking for an opportunity to snitch an unattended bag. If you are traveling alone, take everything valuable with you if you need to use the loo, and ask neighboring seat mates to watch your other luggage when you are absent from your seat.
By and large, if you take all the "silly" precautions of keeping your valubles very close to your person, you will not be an easy target for any thief. The vast majority of Italians traveling through Termini are utterly blase about leaving their purses half open, slinging backpacks over one shoulder, being distracted by cell phones, etc -- so any half-intelligent thief is going to rifle in those purses and pockets rather than take an interest in your stuff if you are obviously guarding it. But don't let your guard drop, inside and outside the station, and on the train itself. There are definitely people who work the trains and the stations looking for easy pickings.
Jun 29th, 2015, 12:34 PM
#9
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I actually experienced the opposite results. This was about 8 years ago- I was purchasing my ticket from the machine and a non-official woman offered to help me. I told her no thank you and proceeded to purchase my ticket. As I walked away, she grabbed my arm and pointed to the tray in the machine. My seat reservation was still in the tray. I didn't realize that the ticket and reservation were two separate documents. I thanked her and she said "prego", smiled, and never asked for money.
Jun 29th, 2015, 01:09 PM
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I had to transition from a flight to Pisa airport to a train to Monterosso.
My Rome to Pisa flight was well delayed and it had rained before I landed.
Took awhile to reclaim my luggage and it didn't look like the first train I'd planned to take was going to be a realistic option.
Then had to wait awhile to get a ticket for the PisaMover bus. Finally by the time I got off at the back of Pisa Centrale, I had to drag my luggage across all the tracks and then up the elevator to reach the main hall, to buy my train ticket.
I had like 5-7minutes to spare so I was actually running, while pulling my suitcases along. On the touchscreen kiosk, there's a warning about pickpockets and not accepting help from anyone but actual station employees.
I was able to buy the ticket for the train which was arriving in 5 minutes and as soon as I completed the transaction, there was either a gypsy or Arab woman standing right by me.
I just said "No" sternly and ran off to try to make it to the track in time for the train. There were a couple of others also running to make that train.
The train showed up about 3 minutes after I reached the right track, which involved going down the elevator, running across the underground passage and then running up the stairs, carrying two big suitcases.
My Rome to Pisa flight was well delayed and it had rained before I landed.
Took awhile to reclaim my luggage and it didn't look like the first train I'd planned to take was going to be a realistic option.
Then had to wait awhile to get a ticket for the PisaMover bus. Finally by the time I got off at the back of Pisa Centrale, I had to drag my luggage across all the tracks and then up the elevator to reach the main hall, to buy my train ticket.
I had like 5-7minutes to spare so I was actually running, while pulling my suitcases along. On the touchscreen kiosk, there's a warning about pickpockets and not accepting help from anyone but actual station employees.
I was able to buy the ticket for the train which was arriving in 5 minutes and as soon as I completed the transaction, there was either a gypsy or Arab woman standing right by me.
I just said "No" sternly and ran off to try to make it to the track in time for the train. There were a couple of others also running to make that train.
The train showed up about 3 minutes after I reached the right track, which involved going down the elevator, running across the underground passage and then running up the stairs, carrying two big suitcases.
Jun 29th, 2015, 02:27 PM
#11
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Wow. All that hectic movement and you were able to idntify the woman as a gypsy -- or an Arab?
Do you realize these people are nothing alike at all -- and their differences easily fold into anybody who could be Italian?
Thanks for the racist shaggy dog story: You bought a ticket and thought you saw a gypsy or an Arab near you.
Please don't come back.
Do you realize these people are nothing alike at all -- and their differences easily fold into anybody who could be Italian?
Thanks for the racist shaggy dog story: You bought a ticket and thought you saw a gypsy or an Arab near you.
Please don't come back.
Jun 29th, 2015, 02:53 PM
#12
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There have been such problems at Termini on and off for years - including fake porters willing to take your luggage off the train (and out of the station) - yet when I mention this I am labeled a crying Cassandra and told by pseudo experts that there is no problem. One reason I suggest using Rome Tiburtina station where there is a lot less chaos that is conducive to such shenanigans and probably no thieves lurking about.
I say shame on tyhe Italian Railway police for letting this go on so much it becomes a news story.
I say shame on tyhe Italian Railway police for letting this go on so much it becomes a news story.
Jun 29th, 2015, 04:33 PM
#13
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How is it racist?
By dress and facial features, I could tell she wasn't a native Italian.
She came right up next to me while I was using the kiosk. It wasn't someone waiting to use the machine after me, it was a person asking for a handout.
It's one thing to panhandle in public by taking up some space. It's another to go up to people who are stressed trying to make a train and worried about pickpockets.
Who the hell are you to tell anyone to not "come back." Don't come back to Italy? Don't come back to the forum?
Get off your high horse.
By dress and facial features, I could tell she wasn't a native Italian.
She came right up next to me while I was using the kiosk. It wasn't someone waiting to use the machine after me, it was a person asking for a handout.
It's one thing to panhandle in public by taking up some space. It's another to go up to people who are stressed trying to make a train and worried about pickpockets.
Who the hell are you to tell anyone to not "come back." Don't come back to Italy? Don't come back to the forum?
Get off your high horse.
Jun 29th, 2015, 05:34 PM
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Sounds like scrb11 had a very lucky escape.
Or maybe a tourist from one of the countries on the "Arab street" was waiting to buy a ticket.
Gypsies ( more properly known as Romany) also take trains on occasion, and buy tickets.
We were in Rome a while ago, taking the shuttle to the airport. A gentleman wearing a vest with "Crew" on the back lifted our bags onto the train. We thought, "what a great way to get the train loaded, so it gets away on time. Full marks to the Italian rail operators".
We realised the scam when the "crew man" strolled through the carriage, requesting money for the service provided. Gave him a euro - such a clever scam system deserves a reward. A euro is a small price for a memory that we still smile about.
Or maybe a tourist from one of the countries on the "Arab street" was waiting to buy a ticket.
Gypsies ( more properly known as Romany) also take trains on occasion, and buy tickets.
We were in Rome a while ago, taking the shuttle to the airport. A gentleman wearing a vest with "Crew" on the back lifted our bags onto the train. We thought, "what a great way to get the train loaded, so it gets away on time. Full marks to the Italian rail operators".
We realised the scam when the "crew man" strolled through the carriage, requesting money for the service provided. Gave him a euro - such a clever scam system deserves a reward. A euro is a small price for a memory that we still smile about.
Jun 30th, 2015, 07:04 AM
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Romani has been involved in scams all over tourist Europe - calling a spade a spade well that's what it is - you can tell them from a mile away - are they the ony miscreants - no but they stick out in sheer numbers weverywhere and garb. Nothing racist about that.
Jun 30th, 2015, 04:15 PM
#16
>>>One reason I suggest using Rome Tiburtina station where there is a lot less chaos that is conducive to such shenanigans and probably no thieves lurking about.<<<
I find it to be the opposite. A lot more hanging around Tiburtina especially outside where there are tourists heading to long distance buses.
I find it to be the opposite. A lot more hanging around Tiburtina especially outside where there are tourists heading to long distance buses.
Jun 30th, 2015, 10:34 PM
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They're always trying something, but thanks for letting us know about the latest trick. From my last visit I am surprised to see Tiburtina looking a bit rougher than Termini. Termini is still Termini, but to see it again after so many years, it has improved. Not too much, but it's a bit cleaner than many years ago. I think they sent some of the riff-raff to Tiburtina maybe? But I never talk to anyone at any stations who is not literally official staff or railway employee and always keep all belongings close. No cell phones, no headphones, no distractions, and you have no trouble. It is interesting to read the variety of things they try here!
