Almost got scammed at Metro - do you know this one?
Dec 27th, 2012, 01:05 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Almost got scammed at Metro - do you know this one?
During my last trip to Paris I got off the Thalys at Garre du Noord. I headed down to the Metro area and was looking to buy Metro tickets to an address I had for my meeting.
I was standing and looking at the big map and a guy approached me in English and asked - "where do you need to go?" - I told him the address and be said No problem follow me. So he goes to the ticket machine which was rather far from where we are standing and starts to operate the machine extremely fast (rolling the roller, clicking the buttons lightning fast).
Then the machine shows €24 on the screen which I found very weird since I knew that a one way ticket is about €1.6 so I ask the guy why such a high price and he replies "because you are driving to a special district and its more expensive".
At that moments my internal alarm bells started ringing and I simply walked away. I looked at what the guy was doing and he did the same as with me and was trying his luck with another foreigner.
So this is the story...
Does anybody know this scam?
What would be have gained had I gone through with the scam ?
Would he swap the high price "fully loaded" ticket with an empty one? Would he run away with the ticket I bought ?
I'm not sure what the main punch line of the scam is...
I was standing and looking at the big map and a guy approached me in English and asked - "where do you need to go?" - I told him the address and be said No problem follow me. So he goes to the ticket machine which was rather far from where we are standing and starts to operate the machine extremely fast (rolling the roller, clicking the buttons lightning fast).
Then the machine shows €24 on the screen which I found very weird since I knew that a one way ticket is about €1.6 so I ask the guy why such a high price and he replies "because you are driving to a special district and its more expensive".
At that moments my internal alarm bells started ringing and I simply walked away. I looked at what the guy was doing and he did the same as with me and was trying his luck with another foreigner.
So this is the story...
Does anybody know this scam?
What would be have gained had I gone through with the scam ?
Would he swap the high price "fully loaded" ticket with an empty one? Would he run away with the ticket I bought ?
I'm not sure what the main punch line of the scam is...
Dec 27th, 2012, 03:43 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,347
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh yes. I saw that scam in September when we were in Paris. Someone offered us help with the machine but my husband declined. I stood next to the machine with the luggage for about 20 minutes while my husband walked back to the long line to purchase tickets from a booth. And this is what was happening:
The "helper" (and there was several who wore an official-looking badge) took the victim's credit card and "swiped". Then he told the victim that their CC would not work because it was not a French CC but that he would use HIS CC and the victim could repay in cash. That happened several times as I watched. The next day I happened to see a couple at the Lourve who I watched using the "helper's" assistance and asked them how things worked out for them.
The scam is that their 3-day ticket was actually a 1-way ticket to their intended destination.
I tried to post on Fodor's when we got home but was having a problem with the site so just gave up.
The "helper" (and there was several who wore an official-looking badge) took the victim's credit card and "swiped". Then he told the victim that their CC would not work because it was not a French CC but that he would use HIS CC and the victim could repay in cash. That happened several times as I watched. The next day I happened to see a couple at the Lourve who I watched using the "helper's" assistance and asked them how things worked out for them.
The scam is that their 3-day ticket was actually a 1-way ticket to their intended destination.
I tried to post on Fodor's when we got home but was having a problem with the site so just gave up.
Dec 27th, 2012, 03:49 AM
#4
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,707
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yesterday saw on the BBC a scam at Stansted (probably other places too). 'Welcome to the airport - let me check your bags in, and I'll give you as a special deal, entrance to the First Class Lounge.' Arriving at the check in desk, you discover there is no remote check in, someone has just made off with your bags. I don’t know that there would ever be much in my bags to attract thieves, but there it is.
Dec 27th, 2012, 05:02 AM
#5
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,591
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good to remember that no one is hanging around train stations just to be helpful (sad, but true). I don't care how lost or confused I am....I never accept help from anyone who approaches me in a subway or train station or in an airport. There is usually an ulterior motive that doesn't lead to a happy ending for you. Glad you walked away!
Dec 27th, 2012, 06:59 AM
#8
I never accept help from anyone who approaches me in a subway or train station or in an airport. There is usually an ulterior motive that doesn't lead to a happy ending for you>>
it's not just european stations and airports where people are out to trick you. at colombo airport they had trolleys wheeled by official baggage helpers wearing bibs stating Rs 200 per bag. [£1]. we didn't mind this as it was a way of helping the local economy and getting rid of our remaining rupees, but when he tried to charge us Rs 800 for our 2 bags, and we objected to that, he looked most affronted when we pointed to his bib with the charges on it!
we were also offered "help" at Termini station; we told them to "vai via" which worked very well. all the ticket machines have english information, just like ATMs.
it's not just european stations and airports where people are out to trick you. at colombo airport they had trolleys wheeled by official baggage helpers wearing bibs stating Rs 200 per bag. [£1]. we didn't mind this as it was a way of helping the local economy and getting rid of our remaining rupees, but when he tried to charge us Rs 800 for our 2 bags, and we objected to that, he looked most affronted when we pointed to his bib with the charges on it!
we were also offered "help" at Termini station; we told them to "vai via" which worked very well. all the ticket machines have english information, just like ATMs.
Dec 27th, 2012, 07:22 AM
#10
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,160
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, just to offer a good experience, several years ago a person helped us buy bus tickets from a machine at Heathrow. Of course, this person came out from behind the counter so seemed quite official. And no scam occurred.
Dec 27th, 2012, 08:02 AM
#11
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,356
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Once i saw an italian couple, studying the metro map on the wall of the Omonoia metro station in Athens,
They seemed to be lost, and since i speak italian, i offered my self to help them.....
I was totally surprised from their reaction, i got treated as a scammer......
They seemed to be lost, and since i speak italian, i offered my self to help them.....
I was totally surprised from their reaction, i got treated as a scammer......
Dec 27th, 2012, 08:17 AM
#12
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Agree never to accept help from a random stranger in any tourist venue. Why would they be standing around - if it's not a way to make money.
Accept help only from official staff that YOU approach. Or - if it's obvious the person has noting to gain.
In Germany we were offered parking places a couple of times by people pulling their own cars out - I guess because we had a car with French license plate and decal. But it was obvious they were locals who were leaving themselves.
Accept help only from official staff that YOU approach. Or - if it's obvious the person has noting to gain.
In Germany we were offered parking places a couple of times by people pulling their own cars out - I guess because we had a car with French license plate and decal. But it was obvious they were locals who were leaving themselves.
Dec 27th, 2012, 08:40 AM
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Once in Istanbul we walked from our hotel to the Grand Bazaar. Shopped for hours and got completely lost, that is one HUGE, CROWDED place! A kind gentleman noted our delimma, approched and asked if we spoke French, we said no just English, he said sorry and left. But at least he tried. We then saw and hailed a taxi and asked to be taken to our hotel....a thief if ever there was one, his fare was a complete rip off! Not a good representative of his country.
Dec 27th, 2012, 09:24 AM
#14
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I help people all the time when I see them struggling with bags or buying tickets, or looking at a map. How sad to think everyone believes I am a scammer. I make sure never to touch their money and I always ask if it is ok if I help them.
Have been surprised at how rude some people are when they decline. You can decline in a friendly manner if you don't want help, especially since some cities are known for scams and others aren't, and Frankfurt isn't a big scam city.
Have been surprised at how rude some people are when they decline. You can decline in a friendly manner if you don't want help, especially since some cities are known for scams and others aren't, and Frankfurt isn't a big scam city.
Dec 28th, 2012, 05:42 AM
#15
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi den,
>Good to remember that no one is hanging around train stations just to be helpful ...<
Exception to the rule.
We were trying to figure out how to buy tickets on the finicular in Haifa when a young man wearing a bright yellow vest offered to help us.
It turned out that he worked with (or for) the tourist office.
We purchased our tickets.
He refused a tip.
>Good to remember that no one is hanging around train stations just to be helpful ...<
Exception to the rule.
We were trying to figure out how to buy tickets on the finicular in Haifa when a young man wearing a bright yellow vest offered to help us.
It turned out that he worked with (or for) the tourist office.
We purchased our tickets.
He refused a tip.
Dec 28th, 2012, 06:08 AM
#16
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Recently, in Paris, a nice young lady helped us with the ticket machine in a metro station -- no scam, no theft, just kindness. Some years ago, in New York City, a man helped us at a station then rode with us to our stop, got off with us (not where he was originally going) and gave us a mini walking tour of the area. No scam, no theft, just kindness. I'm very aware that scams occur -- we had a near-incident in Barcelona -- and that we should be ever alert, but isn't it sad that acts of kindness are often mistaken for ulterior motives?
Dec 28th, 2012, 08:32 AM
#17
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In Munich a man showed me how to use the ticket machine to get from the airport to town. In London the tube stop where I'd noted my hotel was no longer operable and i was staring at the map and a kindly older man helped me. I am pretty NOT trusting but as i was pretty out of it, my guard was down, Luckily the two episodes were fine. Not everyone is a scammer but you do need to be alert.
