Three Attempted On Me In Rome Within The Last 24 Hours

Hi T,

Thanks for the chuckle.

Funny and I'm glad you were quick enough to avoid the rip-offs, but now you have me a bit concerned: I could see myself getting scammed by a guy using the "phoney cop" ploy. Since I'm going soon to a couple places I've never been to (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary) I'm gonna be a little nervous anytime I see an uniformed person in these ex-Iron Curtain countries. I will definitely carry a photo copy of our passports. Any ideas about protecting my pocketbook? Of course, I know to keep the cash hidden on me, but if some official looking dude starts threatening us, what do you do? Maybe I've seen too many spy flicks, but don't some of these cops live off shakedowns?

I had a lot of "gold ring" people approach me too, along with lots of "Do you speak English" scammers. This was in Paris, and it was VERY annoying but I was very glad I'd read about these on fodors and was prepared.

I was in Rome last week. Although I didn't ever see what I thought were attempted scams, a funny thing happened in Rome that didn't happen elsewhere in Italy: a number of people stopped me to ask directions...in Italian! I don't look Italian, I think I stand out as a tourist. But as soon as I indicated that I spoke no Italian, these people immediately split. One guy even drove by in a car asking where something was.

If these were attempts at scams, you'd think they'd peg me as American and speak in English. Could be that Rome is such a confusing city even for other Italians that they will ask anyone for help!

As for Eastern Europe, I wouldn't sweat it, Zeus. Prague is so westernized now that you can barely tell it was ever a Communist country. The architecture in Budapest looks more imposing perhaps but still, very western now, very easy for Americans to get around without fear of "iron curtain" tactics. In Prague I witnessed only one attempt at a "scam" when I was getting on a bus. One guy pretended to pass out as he got on, but his attempt was so obviously a fake that I figured he might even be some sort of a street artist (because he seemed to have a partner nearby who "helped" him). Could ANYONE be that inept of a con artist?

These nasty events will probably always happen where many tourists are.
It's as difficult (or not) for Europeans to deal with his as for Americans.
When I have to be in cities that are known for lots of pickpocketing or scams I split my money and credit cards:
- one wallet with just coins and maybe 20 euros in my front or back pocket
- bit more cash (but rarely more than 100 euros altogether) plus credit/debit cards in money belt or buried deep down in my daypack
- and one credit card at the hotel (in the safe), so if something goes wrong I can still get cash

I tried hard to remember when the last time was that I got stopped by a cop (plain clothed or in uniform) in the last 20 years in Germany, Hungary, Spain, Austria, France, etc. I can't.

You should get really suspicious when any other police business than checking your identity gets handled in the street.

If a 'cop' stops you on the street and asks to see your money, just say "no" and start walking. Real police don't ask to see your money.

I'm disappointed! Only three? But then again, not bad for 24 hours.

You should upon arrival at the airport been accosted by a very official looking man in a well-tailored suit carrying a walkie talkie offering you transport into the city.

For more fun, go to the Forum midday--there's a guy who works several entries/exits there. Looks as though he could be a Brit, a Yank, French, you name it. Surmises the nationality of the people approaching, switches into their language, with the scam that he's lost his money and only needs
so much more to make bus fare to get out of the city.

We didn't bite, but were intrigued by his skill. Very good actor. We bought a couple of ice cream cones from a vendor and watched the guy work for 1/2 hour. He later showed up in the evening at the Pantheon at around 10 pm. Hardworking and quite talented con!

Also, speaking of vendors--did you get the slow pay yet? That's when the vendor doesn't quite rip you off--he just waits to see if you're smart enough to wait for ALL of the change.

Ah, Rome...gotta love it (and like you, we did!) Keep 'em coming, TRSW.

I have to say I'm really disappointed. How come none of this neat stuff ever happens to me? I've spent about 6 weeks total in Rome over the past 10 years or so and have never been approached by anyone with any of these scams.

Have seen similar in Paris over a dozen visits.... just in Rome and Venice, no one accosted us. The 'dancing Mickey' scam was perpetrated upon my hubby and his son, however they'd had some beers and it was 2€, so they figured 'what the heck'. They had more fun laughing over schemes to make the Mickey dance than 2€ could ever have bought them.

Neo,

So sorry you havent experinced the fun yet. Like I said, they must think I have sucker tattooed on my forehead. So I will probably get hit up again.

Ciao

Tom

That's pretty funny. The only place that scam artists have gotten me (or tried) was in Rome! I've been all over, but that city gets the No. 1 prize for bold, stupid, and annoying scammers. Luckily, I've never been ripped off or had anything bad happen, but it's comical what they will try.

My most famous story (already posted on here under "why I hate Rome", or something) goes like this: I'm walking down the street & feel something funny around my waist, as I'm waiting at a crosswalk. I know my purse is safe, so I figure it's some old Italian guy rubbing up against me, or something.

At the next crosswalk, these 2 teenage girls scream "Madame!" I look, & they tell me to check my skirt. Well, the bottom of my skirt was stuck in the waistband of my skirt.(hmm- wonder how/when that happened...) I don't think you could actually see my undies, or anything, but I'm sure I looked pretty stupid.

They helped me fix my outfit, and I thanked them. They followed me down the street & wouldn't let me pass. They held their hands out & demanded money. I told them they were crazy, and I shouted at them to leave me alone, and pushed them out of my way. A few minutes later, I saw them wandering about the neighborhood, and they said hi to me! Stupid losers.

Anyway, be careful out there, because the Italians are crazy people.

A few weeks ago when I was in Rome I was asked directions often by Italians too. I couldn't figure it out and still can't.

Near the entrance to my apartment there a funny event happened. A woman was walking by with her child (about 3 or 4 years old). She was walking a bike and the kid had on a helmet. The kid all of a sudden started yelling and butting me with her helmet, like a little fiend.

I held her off and she started swinging her arms at me. So here I am fending off this little dervish by pushing on her helmet while she screams and flails about. The mother kept saying for her to stop but made no other effort.

My friend and I just looked at each other and I manouvered the kid towards the bike and then left them. Now what was that about? We couldn't figure it out. I didn't see a third party but figured there was one waiting to grab my purse.

If this is a scam it is such a shame to have the little kid trained so early.

Tom, glad you're not letting it spoil Rome for you! I wonder how they choose their victims. Having spent 30 days in Rome in the past 2 years, I've never been approached on one of these scams. I look forward to your whole report when you return.

SeaUrchin, if you were recently in Rome, where's your trip report?

Hi SusanP, I was thinking about writing one....

Thanks for the warning Tom. We will be in Rome in a few weeks. I think Travelnut has a good point:real police will not ask to see your money. I will watch for the Bluebird Ferries uniform. We have never had any problem in Rome but some scams-to-be occurred in Paris a few times. And a backpack with camera was almost taken in Milan.

Two weeks ago in Paris, we had the ring scam tried on us twice within ten minutes. We were walking along the Seine, near the Alexander III bridge, when a young Latin looking chap coming toward us bent down and scooped up this large golden ring from a pile of leaves.

DW and I had talked about this scam, and I instantly flashed into my "Macho, Get Angry, and SHOUT" mode. Before I could start my act, Tammy burst into laughter.

The guy looked surprised, shrugged his shoulders, looked away, and walked on past.

Tammy's response worked so well that, when the next chap went into his routine, I whispered, "Do it again!" She did, with the same result. I recommend that approach, as it worked beautifully, and saved me from confrontations that would have only have served to raise my blood pressure and adrenaline levels.

Well, I think I can spot a scam a mile away but when we were in Italy in June I fell for TWO of them. And the kicker is that I had warded these off in the past and warned others about them!!! One was when we were rushing to catch a train to Naples, madly looking for our train car. I saw a man rushing around trying to help people with their luggage, knew it wasn't legit, but as he rushed up to us as we tried to board the train with all our luggage, my friend nudged me and shouted to give him the luggage. And I did!!!! I plead travel-drunkness, or something. Well, he hauled all our luggage on the train, found a spot for it, then demanded 10 euros from my husband. DH gave him 3 and told him to beat it. I can't believe I fell for it but honestly, it was worth 3 euros for him to hump the luggage. THEN the second scam I made our group fall for was when we returned to Rome. We exited the train station by a different exit than I was used to and since there were four of us we boarded a taxi/van not at the taxi stand. Well, you know the story. 30 euros for a trip of a few blocks. I must say that I argued with the guy and told him he was a scam artist the whole way and he offered to let us out but we were so hot and sweaty we just kept going and paid the 30 euros. Oy.

I think it would be fun to carry a Crackerjack type plastic toy ring. When someone pulls the ring scam, quickly sub the plastic one, and hand it back to him and say "No, not mine". and walk away.

Or simply say, "Yes, that ring is mine. Thank you for finding it."

Ciao Tom!! Here is an idea, take photos of those con people, lol. Bet that will make them scurry away. BTW, love your photos! Grazie.

Glad you aren't letting these incidents tarnish your enjoyment of Rome. Hopefully your quota has been filled and no one will bother you for the rest of your trip

IMO it's not a good idea to stop and give people directions. The best way to nip these problems in the bud is to keep walking.

LoveItaly: Brilliant idea!!!!! Can you imagine it if we had a "Con Artists in Rome" website? Or perhaps a multi-city directory? Picture it: photo, pseudonym, most likely to be found..., last date encountered, etc. Favorite movies, person from history would most like to have dinner with,...

My daughter, passing by, suggested that then vistors to our "bus fare" guy at the Forum could approach and ask for autographs.

Another reason why we like to travel in the smaller cities of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. We've never had any problems remotely resembling those mentioned here.

These things are trival and in no way ruin my time in Rome. I thought since I had 8 nights this time I would be taking it more easy. But NOOOO. I have probably walked 20 miles in the last 2 days and loved every minute of it.

My feet on the other hand, well lets just say, fashion police be damned!! I broke doen and bought a pair of Nikes and Addidis today, and the pups feel better already.

Now if you excuse me, it is time to go cook dinner.

Ciao,

Tom

Loveitaly, that is brilliant. We could have their faces on a Hall of Shame thread. I love it, their favorite movies, favorite person, loLOUD!

I often play with con artists. It annoys them no end. My very first time was in Senegal when I was offered a lot of items in ivory. I always told them "Oh my goodness, ivory is illegal! Don't you have anything that looks like ivory but is really plastic?" They never knew what to say.

My only attempt at humor is when I answer Oh no thank you when someone asks for money. I like to see their puzzled look.

Is loading your suitcases, with your consent btw, onto a train and expecting a tip... reallly the same as a "scam"?

At the Naples train station last week, I had two suitcases to put on the train, a big one and a little one. I lifted the big, heavy one on first and left the little one maybe 8 feet from me before I could grab the little one. By the time I came back some guy was lifting the little one onto the train for me. "Oh, thanks," I said, thinking he was just a kind fellow passenger about to get on behind me. And then he started asking for a tip. I just said no and he seemed disappointed (but not angry) and walked away. Hey, pal, try lifting the HEAVY suitcase for me next time, not the light one!!!

kerouac, I love that!

Tom, what are you cooking?

SeaUrchin, we will wait patiently...ok, impatiently for a report!

Every single one of these was an opportunity for pickkpocket diversion, too.

You're right, Dukey. But the whole time I was in Italy, my right hand developed an unconscious hovering over my right front pocket where my wallet lives. Sometimes I realized I was hovering/doublechecking my wallet without even thinking about it. In my case at the Naples train station, there's a real possibility the guy could have walked off with my bag although I probably could have outrun him (the bag wasn't light and was bulky to carry). Still, it was foolish of me to let the bag away from my side even for a second. It's easy to forget that ANYONE can walk onto the train station platforms in Italy without any legitimate reason to be there.

And ONTO the train too. That is how my friend was robbed, from two girls working inside the car at the Termini train station. They got off when the train was about to leave.

They used the luggage confusion of all the entering passengers to creat even more confusion and then pretended to "help" with the luggage, while inside the car.

A trip report..per favore SeaUrchin!

And a Hall of Shame, yes wouldn't that be fun and interesting. With all the wonderful photographers we have here on Fodor's why not?

SusanP,

The sauce was fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, oregano, basil and olive oil bought at a local open air market. Unfortunatly the apartment was equipped with crap for knives, so it was pretty chunky.

So I let it simmer for awhile, threw in the fresh herbs and two different kinds of fresh stuffed pasta. Along with that a fresh loaf of bread and a bottle of vino and all was good.Plenty of leftovers for tonight!!

Ciao,

Tom

Tom, Mmmmmm...

Isn't it great that visitors to the USA don't have to put up with this nonsense!?

See also my post just the other day "Spain: fake policeman bails up Madrid tourist".

Robbery and impersonating a police officer are serious offences in most parts of the world, so when are the authorities in the countries mentioned going to make a serious effort to crack down on this kind of criminal activity, or are they in on the act too?

Perhaps it's time this forum awards annual 'Pickpocket/ Scam/ Mugging Capital of Europe' titles and we see just how much local authorities in certain countries value tourism.

And the nominees are...

TR, I've missed all those when in Rome - so far. But I've seen every variety back home in NYC!

The worst thing that could have happened was for one of them to ask to get hold of your camera - can't wait to see your latest shots.

Ciao, and welcome home.
TC

TC,

I am still in Roma. I leave for Paris on the 1st. I wont be back in the states til the 9th.

Some time while I am in Paris, I will post a link to the Roma photos, that is if the wifi is working in the apartment.

Ciao,

Tom

TC,

I am still in Roma. I leave for Paris on the 1st. I wont be back in the states til the 9th.

Some time while I am in Paris, I will post a link to the Roma photos, that is if the wifi is working in the apartment.

Ciao,

Tom

PS If someone were to try to take my camera, they will be wearing upside thier head. Because if I cant use it, I might as well break it so they cant.

haha Neopatrick, i like that.

In barcelona last week, this similar thing kept happening to a friend of a freind staying here, who says he was nearly robbed about three times.
he does look quite gormless tho. i think if i was a pickpocket he'd be top of my list.

When we were in Rome in 2004, we were near a fairly major spot and asked directions to it. The man who was in a car then started chatting about how he was a salesman. When he asked my DH his size, I told him (my DH) that I'd read about a similar scam on Fodor's and we got ourselves out of the situation quickly.

What is the Mickey scam? We did see many of those toys and eventually decided that we'd buy some. Fortunately, I guess, at that point we didn't see any more sellers and were leaving the city.

Debbie

This message is for Andrew and Zeus (I'm visiting Prague next too!), hold your horses! I posted this message up about a year ago:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?screen_name=Aleckii&fid=2

1. Do not change money with the gypsies on the streets, only do it at licensed money changers or at banks. Over here in Kursk, Russia, we have very trusted money changers on the street, they provide much better rates than the bank. So of course, when approached by one on the streets in Prague, they thought it was ok. The gypsies calculated the notes one by one in front of my friends, 100 corona, 200 corona, 500 corona, etc. Then they did some tricks (very quick with the hands) that my friends didn't see. When they took back their moneys, it turned out only the uppermost note was a 1000 corona, the following notes were 1 usd dollar. By the time they realized, the gypsies was out of sight. 3 persons did this mistake, they lost a total of 300usd that day. Of course, it was their own fault too for not double checking afterwards. But all the same, no where else did we experience the same thing.

2. The apartment they rented in Prague, as cheap as it was (700usd for 9 days of stay- shared amongst 7 people), wasn't a great place as it turned out to be. I don't really know wether we are allowed to reveal names of hostels or apartments (without getting sued), but the staff did a mistake or something, leading to someone sneaking into their rooms, stealing a handphone, and some other stuffs. The thing was- the lock to the door was not picked, the window was locked, and the door wasn't broken into. It was obvious someone entered with a key, left with a key. They made a police report, but nothing serious was done. The police only took some statement and that was that. And by the time they left, the hostels wouldn't make any compensation, the police had no leads whatsoever. All this happened in the 9 days they spent in Prague.

So take extre precautions on your trip.

Travel Safe!

Our response to the Swarthies (strangers who approach holding an index card and saying, "Excuse me, do you speak English?" is to respond with various phrases of Slovak, Hungarian, German (and, when I feel particularly incensed, a Korean phrase inquiring about one's sister). Results in a walkaway every time.

The "Mickey Scam" is well worth 2E to take up a page in a travel scrapbook. 2E for all those laughs for years to come. Every kid should have one.

We were in Paris 2 days ago and had the gold ring scam tried on us. A woman walking towards us bent down and picked up a ring, showed it to my husband and asked if it fit him etc. We were both a bit slow on the uptake but it hit DH that he had read about scams such as this on this forum and so he tried to give it back to her, she refused so he put it on the wall beside us (we were walking along the river just past the Musee Orsay) and we kept on walking. Luckily there were no reactions and we got away. Thanks to the people who posted info about this scam. By the way we were also in Prague and Budapest and were never approached or had any problems in subways, on streets etc. Both are wonderful cities to visit!

<<1. Do not change money with the gypsies on the streets, only do it at licensed money changers or at banks. >>

I was probably six years old when I saw Lucy and Ethel get a great exchange rate on Francs from some guys on the street in Paris ... they spent like sailors on leave until the gendermes nabbed them for passing counterfeits.

My first lesson in savvy travel, and a good one!

I would also like to hear about the "mickey scam." We're headed to Rome in December and I would like to know what to look out for -- or what to look for depending on how entertaining it is!

BKP - I can tell you generally what to look for. In many of the tourist areas, they were selling what looked like flat cut-out Mickey's. However they danced to music. It did look too good to be true - but I have no idea how they would have done it.

Debbie

They tell me the dancing Mickeys are on a fine wire or thread. Sure enough, I've never seen them when there wasn't a box or radio or something at either end of them that could support a wire or thread. If you want to see the seller jump, walk over and lean down as if you are going to check the wire supporting them.
Anyone who thinks that flat paper cutouts can stand upright on their own, yet alone "dance" to music unsupported deserves to lose whatever money he pays to buy some.

Youtube has a few dancing Mickey videos. Keywords - dancing Mickey

Pago -"Isn't it great that visitors to the USA don't have to put up with this nonsense!?"

2 scams from Chicago.

First, well dressed man lost his wallet and needs $10 to get back home to the burbs.

Second, man sprays your shoes & shines them (even gym shoes!) then demands money.

Going to Paris in Feb will have to remember to tell DH about these scams.
-

<<the scam artist must think I have 'sucker' tattooed on my forehead.
>>

There's a high-ranking gypsy who works at the airport: as you pass through customs he secretly stencils S U C K E R on you with ink visible only through special gypsy sunglasses. (Put an infrared filter on your camera and get a picture of yourself - just be careful who you ask to take it.)

Popular scams of past and present in NYC include:
Hold My Wallet
Need $20 to get my wife/girlfriend/mother to the hospital.
I Was Mugged
Do You Have a Ten for Two Fives?
There's a Fresh One In The Box

et cetera !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NYC complete scam!

Bar I worked in, this guy comes in, very mouthy, on about how he works for kmart across Astor place, asks for the other bartender, says he was supposed to bring her in some video games.
he gets a drink, the conversation continues, involving my friend who is sat at the bar.

so this guy works packing the trucks for kmart, the electronics etc. he hates kmart, robs it whenever he can.
say, do we want to buy anything like my colleague has done (who apparently knows him).

the only thing i could think of offhand was polaroids for my camera.
sure! he could get me a box, name the price etc.
my friend at the bar was getting interested, the guy was going into infinite detail about how he scams the receipts, sounds so believable.
my friend agrees to go with him 40 dollars (which we split) for a box of polaroids etc, its just over the street they'll be gone 10 minutes max.
just after they walked out i said to myself "i should have told him NOT to give the guy any money before we get the box"
but i thought, he wouldnt do that...

half an hour later, my friend comes back forlorn.. guy went in the truck entrance, said "just wait here" etc, stupidly gave him the money.
theres a subway exit underground to the kmart on astor place.

this guys does the rounds on the bars; he also came into a friends bar in midtown. he is black with no front teeth and i bet he's still doing it.
one born every minute......

So your friend was trying to "steal from K-mart" with the help of this other guy and he ended up losing his money? He deserved to.

Exactly! Patrick.

A memorable occasion (not a traveler's scam, but it refers to my earlier mention) was when I was tending bar (oh, our varied pasts). Guy comes in to the busy bar, finds me and asks for a ten for two fives. This is on the face of it rdiculous, for who would want such a thing unless it's his ten-year old's birthday ...

Anyway, I take his two fives and give him a ten. But with quick fingers he produces a single, saying, "You gave me a one, not a ten!"

Helpful witnesses - a waitress and the manager, both standing right next to him, say to me, "Yeah, you did, you gave him a single." I look at these two in amazement. Though I was sure I had given the guy 10 and was being scammed, thanks to my eyewitnesses I had to pony up, and ended up $9 short in my register at the end of the night.

Ah, there are none so gullible as the willing. (And, as pointed out in the Kmart responses, none so easy to rip off as someone who wants in on the scam.)

Neopatrick, that's ridiculously warped, my friend was not "trying" to steal from kmart "with the help of some other guy".

the other guy, the con artist in question, spent about 45 minutes chatting about kmart corporation, big suits, whatever etc. etc.
my friend was never "trying to steal" anything.

he was tricked by a con artist into giving him money for something he never got, kmart or no.

its like the typical ring trick, found cash trick, blah blah.

I've see the Mickey scam all over the place. Yes, it is a thin wire tied between the radio and whatever it is on the other side with mickey "dancing." It would be funny to just walk up and pull on the wire!

Now here's a story that's not a scam but just old fashioned stealing. I was in Naples on last Friday on my cruise and a bunch of us stopped at a newstand across the street from the port to buy tram/train tickets to go to Pompeii. My friend Mike came up to me as we were waiting for the tram stating he didn't think he got all of his change back. He wasn't sure of the ticket price - was just following the group in paying for the ticket and missed hearing me stated the price. I counted back and sure enough, he was 10 euros short. He had given a 20. So I took him to the booth and told the guy to give Mike back his 10 euros. I couldn't speak completely in Italian, but the guy knew exactly what I wanted. He just stared at me as I repeated myself and he finally gave us the 10 euros.

Remember to count your change before leaving a place. Better yet, try to have smaller bills when paying for small purchases.

Monica

travelbuzzing, justify it anyway you want, but if someone comes to you and says he knows how to get something for nothing from somewhere (stealing) and you offer to pay him for some of it -- YOU ARE STEALING, TOO. Pure and simple.

Sure, I've heard it all. "It isn't really stealing since K-Mart is a big company". "They overcharge and steal, so it isn't really stealing to get some back from them." "It was the other guy stealing, I was just giving him money to go steal some more."

He was "tricked" into thinking he could get some stolen merchandise for cheap. Well, sorry, that's the same as stealing in my book.

Sorry, posted before my main thought:

The bottom line is that if you were looking for sympathy for your friend who gave a guy some money to meet secretly and get some stolen merchandise, but the guy never showed up -- you aren't getting any sympathy from me -- nor from any other HONEST person, I suspect.

In France, the term for most stolen merchandise is "fell off the back of a truck."

I was just wondering what other current terms might be.

I completely agree with NeoP ~ (that rhymes, so whenever I agree with you in future, Patrick, I may have to put it that way)

Buying merchandise one knows is stolen is a crime, so debating whether it is ethical or not is beside the point. Encouraging someone to steal by paying him in advance ... and waiting outside the place of business ... this takes the guesswork out of a trial!

People everywhere today are becoming very casual about theft, thanks to the ease with which intellectual property can be "offered for free or at discount" online. In a radio discussion I heard a mother defend her child's "innocent" illegal music downloads. One presumes the lady would not [openly] endorse swiping cds from WallMart.

It's far too easy to excuse theft from "megacorporations", forgetting that megacorporations employ tens of thousands of people who depend on that company's revenues for their own bread and butter.

So hundreds of thousands of DVDs are copied in China (or in your own neighborhood) and marketed openly - big movie studios can afford the millions in lost revenue. So there are a zillion counterfeit copies of Microsoft XP in the world, and Adobe programs, and on and on. They can afford it.

But can we? The incredible theft of intellectual property from US owned companies puts a powerful thumb on the scale of US trade balance - especially when such cultural and intellectual export is taking the place of hard goods from the US. Between the lost investment potential of companies ripped off thus, and the lost tax revenues, it does indeed hurt us all. And it happens to be theft, even if the Chinese truly do not understand the concept of intellectual property (or truth in labeling, at present, it seems.)

The same goes for the fake Louis Vuitton and Prada bags and Bulgari watches and all the other junk for which tourists specifically flock to Chinatown here in NYC. I've seen chaperones of HS kids in church tour groups proudly encourage this worship of false idols ... never thinking there is anything wrong with manufacturers putting someone else's label on their own substandard goods. But they don't care about the quality - it's the price and bizarre sense of "cachet" from association with ... a fake. (Which prompts the thought: why not make a movie with a lookalike Julia Roberts opposite a Richard Gere "type" and say it's them? Charge $3 instead of 10 ... )

A knockoff is one thing - they are staples in the fashion world, and if Kia wants to cobble together design elements of Jaguar, Mercedes and Audi into one car, so be it. But to put the Jaguar medallion on their grille would be ... lying.

Ha! It's not the Lounge, and it's not Friday, but there's my rant!!

>>>In France, the term for most stolen merchandise is "fell off the back of a truck."<<<

That's used in North America, too. It's the only term I've heard used in real life, though on tv they used to say "hot".

But if you're talking about a PERSON who just fell off the back of a truck -- particularly a turnip truck -- it means the person is particularly naive or downright stupid, and not that he was stolen!

tomassocroccante, good rant! I'm still sort of reeling from being reamed out because I dared to suggest there was anything wrong with someone actually paying someone else to steal merchandise for them.

Never mind the fact that to actually trust a stanger who offers to steal for you is not only dishonest but stupid, too.

Which makes for a nice symmetry with the turnip truck, back-of-a truck thing...

To return to the "scams" - I;ve already told the story about the waiter who put 4 drinks on my tab in Paris which I never had, and which I caught - but then again I have fallen for the "slow money: the newsstands seem to be particularly good at this - once in LIsbon, I bought a postcard, and the fellow turned away and ignored me, keeping the change....but I did speak up....the same thing happened in Paris - but that fellow got away with it... mostly because I'm slow in figuring out the exchange and how much money I should be getting back...other than those I've been fortunate not to be tricked in my travels (knocking wood).

But I do have one other thought on the subject - since we all won't stop to give anyone directions --- I have asked for directions in Rome and Paris and been passed by several times until someone realizes I'm really a tourist and not a gypsy - try asking for instructions on how to use the phones/phone booths in foreign countries and have people keep walking !!! Frustrating.

Of course scams can happen in the USA

One fellow tried one in our store (a variation of the change scam - Meathead pulled it on Archie in one episode of 'All in the Family'). I stood nearby while my employee successfully thwarted his repeated attempts. Rather humerous.

We reported it to the police. An officer was getting the details from us when the perp walked by and into the store next door to try it there! The officer went next door - you should have seen the perp jump!

I was told about the slow change scam back in the early 80's but it was easier to do in the days of the lira. In fact it was more the norm to have it happen than not, it seemed.

Oh, please tell me about the RING scam! Haven't heard that one.

hey no Neopatrick, not looking for sympathy.
I had originally posted to add to the scam information (i.e. about a scam that some may not be aware of) on this forum.
So it doesn't happen to anyone here who might be "less than honest" in NYC.

That's a good idea, travel-buzzing, but it sure didn't sound like that when you responded back to my suggesting that your friend deserved what he got since he was actually paying the guy to steal with your comment "Neopatrick, that's ridiculously warped, my friend was not "trying" to steal from kmart "with the help of some other guy"."

I guess you didn't really mean that? Your response sure sounded like YOU thought there was nothing wrong with what the guy was doing. In fact I'd hardly call it a scam when the guy getting scammed is trying to help break the law himself, or at least knows what he is doing is totally against the law. Maybe it IS a scam, but hardly anything like an innocent bystander getting taken! And as said before -- if your friend got "scammed" for trying to buy what he knew was stolen merchandise, then he DESERVED it.

I agree with NeoPatrick - buying merchandise you know is stolen is wrong. I think karma came into play, when your friend ended up losing his money to a scam artist.

I thought it was warped that you would make out that my friend actually initiated a plan to get hold of hot goods from Kmart.
He didnt come into my bar that day to hatch a plan of any sort of illegal activity, and I didn't like your suggesting it.

He got taken in by this guy, as I said in the first place "one born every minute".

I don't disagree that he got what he deserved, or what we deserved moreover.
I was actually stating what happened for informative purposes, which came to mind when Tomassocroccante posted about NYC scams.

yes, it was a scam.

Sorry, if you misconstrued what I said as suggtesting he was the one who started the whole idea of stealing. Of course, I didn't mean that. But I clearly meant that when someone says, "Hey, I steal stuff and if you come with me I'll steal some for you at a good price" and the guy goes with him and gives him money to steal stuff (paying him to steal, in effect) -- well -- it's just as bad as stealing. I didn't mean it was his idea, but he WAS encouraging it.

well, here is my "psychic Income" ploy for the game of "lift the tourist" on the Rome metro. Since, I am in Rome several times a year I was nearly "lifted" on the Metro from the Termini to Del corso. Now I collect/keep old wallets and when on the Metro, I put one in my back pocket with the top of the wallet slightly sticking out of the pocket. Now for the good part, I stuff the wallet with hand drawn "Euro Notes" that make references to the limited brain power of the "lifter, and also some rather off-color comments about his mother's romantic preferences. Maybe I have too much time on my hands, but this prank has had 3 successful takers!!!! oh, well I hope they like the old wallets!!!!!

We just returned from Rome and another scam that we got out of by just being streetsmart was the "Do you guys know where I can buy a SIM Card?" My husband and I were walking and talking on Corso Vittorio and out of nowhere an American-English speaking girl comes up right beside me and asks the question about the SIM card--We just said "Sorry, good luck" and kept walking but after she engaged us she was looking around us as if looking for someone else, I suspect she was part of a team, but we skated out of there. We met some older folks on the train who were travelling through Europe for the first time in decades, and I had to remind them that although it is nice to strike up conversations with other Americans travelling abroad, that they really should keep their guard up, and trust no one. It's okay to be rude, we are already "ugly Americans" so why try to change that at the risk of your personal safety?

When I travel alone in Europe, I often engage other Americans or Brits or Australians in conversation. Not everyone chatting you up in your own language is trying to scam you. Some of us are just being friendly.

Returning briefly to tomassocroccante's comment
>>Buying merchandise one knows is stolen is a crime, so debating whether it is ethical or not is beside the point.<<

People can certainly debate whether existing laws are ethical, and have been doing so since around Antigone's time. You and NeoPatrick are exactly right, though, of course.

I still haven't figured out what the Versace scam was all about. What happens if you accept the gift? I'm not real clear on the gold ring one, either, while I'm admitting things.

"I still haven't figured out what the Versace scam was all about. What happens if you accept the gift? I'm not real clear on the gold ring one, either, while I'm admitting things..."

I'm not sure about the Versace one either, but having just returned from a week in Paris, I do have first hand experience with the "ring scam."

It seems kind of lame, and not all that effective for the scammer, but there must be some sort of return, as we were approached two different times with it, and it seems as if many others have been confronted with the ring, as well.

Here's what happens: You're walking along and all of a sudden someone stoops down in front of you and "finds" a gold ring on the sidewalk. Actually, unless you've just come in on a turnip truck, "gold" is not what the ring looks like - more like polished brass - The finder acts amazed, and hands the ring to you, as if to ask if you have lost it. When you say no, they may offer to give it to you or they just hand it to you. Then they want a reward for finding it.

I'm not sure if the purpose of this scam is to actually elicit money, or to distract you so they can try to pickpocket you. In any event, we just handed the fake gold ring back and said no thanks. The second time we were witness to an amazing "find," we waved the person away without engaging in any conversation at all.

With the Versace Scam, they hand you the'gift' in a bag, then usually ask for 20 euro for gas money. And it's not until they drive away that when you look in the bag to find you more or less have a rag.

Tom

My husband and a friend were walking down the streets of Barcelona when coffee was thrown on them form a balcony. Conveniently, a "nice" man happened to be standing in the area and motioned to them to come over where he had some towels to "wipe them off" - well he "wiped off" my husband's wallet. The concierge at our hotel told us that this was a common scam by the "gypsies" in the area. Lesson learned - never let a stranger get that close to you!

OK this seemed like a scam in progres on the subway in Paris. Two young girls are laughing standing in a crowded train one kiddingly touching the other's breast. My husband looks at them like they are crazy and I notice a third party moving up to his area. So I almost had to kick him to get his attention. (He is easilay distracted) No harm done that time....

<<coffee was thrown on them form a balcony>>

At least I know that when the bird dropped a PINT of guano on me as I passed through the streets of Sutri, it wasn't a plot: the only one around to wipe me off was my "travelling companion." (So aptly named, it turned out ...)

The NY version used to involve a hot dog and mustard. Somebody's probably pulling that one at a state fair near you...

Following is something that happened to me at a busy BART station in SF, but it could easily have been any Metro station in any city...I was reading the info in order to purchase my ticket, and a man offered to help me. At first I thought he was in a hurry to buy HIS ticket, as he had been standing behind me, so I accepted his help. After my purchase, he then asked for change (knowing I had just received some from the purchase). I gave him the money (it was less than a dollar) - at least I received something in return for it.

How about trying this when someone tries a scam on you: take their picture, then calmly point to the camera and say, "for Police".... and watch them run away!

...or, watch them snatch your camera...

applejacks1, that reminds me of a scene near the bridge near Notre Dame, where a group of girls with long skirts were hanging around. They were interacting with the crowd and one suddenly lifted her skirt and flashed her bare buttocks.

There was also an apparently related couple doing some sort of dance (maybe a tango) a short distance away. I felt these were all distractions meant to allow pickpocketing as well.

hi travellers,
I suppose we all have been scammed or ripped off sometimes without knowing.
Last time I was in rome I had the shiny card trick scammed on me. A begger woman carrying what looks like a young baby around her waist (child was about 5 years old).she approached me carrying a silver board reflecting the sunlight into my eyes, whilst prodding me and asking for any spare change, the youngster went about his job of emptying my pockets of wallet, bank notes and credit cards. I relised something was amiss and pushed her and she fell over, out popped my wallet, notes and credit cards from the youngsters mits, i picked up my belongings turned around and they were gone.
but don,t let any of this put you off from a great city

ciao
jellie

<<Isn't it great that visitors to the USA don't have to put up with this nonsense!? >>

Oh, but they will get panhandled by street people in most major cities.

The worst thing I ever saw in Rome was a tiny gypsy girl about 3 sitting on the curb near the Pantheon about 11 pm, crying and falling asleep while holding out her hand for money. When she nodded off, her mother kicked her to wake her up. I felt awful about it.