Have you been Scammed while traveling in Europe? Share your stories.
 

There are scams everywhere, at home, on line, all over the world. Traveling to a foreign country, not speaking the language and/or knowing the local rules and customs can make one an easier target for unscrupulous people who want to take advantage of tourists. Do you have a SCAM story to share? Would you mind sharing it with us to serve as a warning for all of us?

Here are some scams I recall reading here:
~ Classic Gold Ring scam or other street card game scams
~ Beautiful lady at the Bar scam - targeting single male who is asked to buy the lady a couple of drinks, only to find out later that the bar charges are through the roof
~ Taxi scam - taken for a ride; or non-existent "surcharges"
~ Restauran scam - told by waiter that tip/service charge isn't included even though it is
~ Hotel bait-and-switch scam - Show up at hotel and told it's fully booked, and you have been assigned to a sister hotel which is at a less convenient location and less comfortable
~ Apartment rental scam - photos on rental website looks nothing like the actual apartment

Just a couple of times but nothing major. About 15 years ago we were in London and we bought some theatre tickets from a kiosk in the mall and I paid with my credit card. But instead of processing the transaction as a sale, they ran it as a cash advance. I had no idea they had done this until I got home and got my bill. Of course I was charged the usual interest and cash advance fees. It wasn't the end of the world, but it did tick me off.

Also before I was a Fodorite I made a few credit card charges in Ireland where they converted the charge to US$. At the time I did not know this was Dynamic Currency Conversion, which of course is a rip-off.

These days I usually pay cash when traveling in Europe.

I'm not sure getting switched to a sister hotel is a scam.

I was stopped on the street in Madrid, outside the Prado, but a young man with a map asking for help with directions. His English was very poor, and when I tried to find out what language he did speak, I got very odd answers. We were soon accosted by a much older man who flashed a odd-looking badge, declared he was a policeman, and demanded to see everyone's passport. As I began explain that mine was at my hotel, I suddenly realized it was a scam. I ran.

Oh, and a taxi driver in Brussels switched off his meter than charged me twice the rate.

zeppole, thanks for the reminder, a taxi driver in Athens did the same to me. I fell for it once, but after that whenever Athens cabbies tried to cheat me I threatened to take their cab number and go to the police. That's when they suddenly backed down and charged a fair rate.

We were a victim of a taxi scam. On one of our first trips overseas, we took a taxi from our hotel to the Plaka in Athens. We assumed he was using the meter. No! He tried to charge us an outrageous amount (can't remember exact #) but it was 10 times more than our last ride! We argued with the driver and threatened to call the police. We ended giving him slightly more than the previous fare.
Important lesson but it taught us to always check for the meter now. Yes, there have been others that tried the scam. And arguments that the meter is broken.

In Greece, same trip, a taxi took us to " a very special restaurant". It was very remote but he told us he would pick us up after. Well, after we checked the prices (outrageous of course), we tried to get him to get us. He did not answer! We walked 1/2 mile to a nearby town where we had lunch.

In Portugal, the driver charged us double for the luggage.

We also had waiters in Italy and France tell us that service was not included in the restaurant bills. We were more savvy and done our research and knew they were lying.

I have more stories, just have to think some.

How bout starting another thread about the kindness of strangers during travels? I have a lot of those stories too.

Great suggestion about taking down the taxi driver's # and reporting it to the Police! I would have NEVER thought of that! (Taxi scams are one of the reasons why I travel light and prefer to use public transportation.)

Just to show taxi scams are not unique to overseas, had a driver try to take me on a "tour" of Philly after picking me up from train station. My meeting was about 1 mile from the station. He didn't realize I knew Philly. I looked up from my notes to see he was trying to drive OUT of the city. I told him to turn around and gave him the exact directions on how to get to my meeting. And no, I did NOT leave a tip.

Athens is notorious for taxi overcharging.

I actually consider getting overcharged for a taxi fare one of the minor hazards of being a tourist, and suspect it's happened to me more than I know. (By the way, in Italy, the driver has a legal right to charge you extra for your luggage.) I don't like it, but it doesn't ruin a trip for me like, say, attempted robbery. Where I live in Italy, taxis are so expensive, legitimate metered rides have cost me more than the rip-off in Belgium. When I'm traveling, there are times when I would probably part with my life savings to a taxi driver, I'm just so tired.

I agree w/nibblette that taxi scams are everywhere including the US. Like yk I prefer public transportation whenever possible. Since we don't have great public transport in the US I usually opt for shuttle vans.

Let me clarify that--if I'm in an American city and I don't have a car, I often use shuttle vans for transport to/from the airport.

Hi yk; How about scamming ourselves. The last time to Rome, we took the train from the airport. Walked outside where there were a number of taxi's and we hired one. As he was putting the luggage into the taxi, we asked him how much? 20euros. We both thought it was too much and so had him take the luggage back out. Before we knew it, all the taxi's were gone. Had to wait about 15 minutes to hail another. The cost to the hotel, 32euros. Dumb Then there was the time we boarded the Metro in Paris and it was packed. My wife had no place to hold onto, so I had one hand up high holding onto a pole and the other holding onto my wife. Just before the car started to move, five kids jumped on and before the doors closed, they jumped off. I had a difficult time finding that 1400FF in my pocket. Refused to believe I had my pocket picked. About $200US. We were with friends and after a while had fun with it, me being where the fun was being directed. Then the last time in Paris with our daughter and husband, he had his camera stolen on the Metro. That was tough, because he had taken a lot of pictures. iris1745/dick

If it's any comfort see my 'Thieves - they're everywhere' post on the Australia & the Pacific forum -

http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...everywhere.cfm

DCC scam in London. Checking out, I was presented with a CC receipt listing an amount in US$. I knew about the scam and asked the clerk to redo it in pounds. She said it was in pounds, the US$ amount is just listing what the equivalent would be. I pointed out that no GBP was listed at all. Then she claimed that it was automatic and she couldn't change it. I finally demanded her manager who canceled the original transaction and redid it in GBP.

Attempted robbery in Rome: bunch of kids surrounded us and put cardboard under my chin. The police saw them and chased them away.

No - I've never been scammed in europe - in more than 70 trips. but then I'm from NYC.

Once Prague cab driver did try to scam us by going the long way around - but he lost. I paid what I knew the fare should be and when he protested told him to call the police. His language was quite colorful (although I don't understand Czech, his meaning was clear).

If you keep your wits about you (and aren't greedy in one sense or another) people can;t scam you.

I've met many new yorkers who didn't think they'd been scammed on their travels. They are some of the easiest marks just because they are so sure they can't be conned or scammed. Ignorance however is bliss.

I bet I have been scammed at least a few times without me realizing (esp if it was just for a euro or 2); plus I was pretty naive when I started traveling solo to Europe in my late teens.

The only scam I recall in recent years was taking the taxi in Paris. There were 4 of us with luggage. When we arrived at our hotel, the driver insisted that there is a surcharge for persons 3 & 4 (in reality, only the 4th person incurs a surcharge) PLUS surcharge for all the luggage (in reality, the first piece of luggage is free). So he ended up getting a few extra euros out of us. Since I had no idea what all the taxi rules were, I could not argue with him whether he was right or wrong.

During the same trip, we had our hotel call for a taxi for us to get to CDG on our departure day. It was during the October 07 transit worker strike, so we had no othe way of getting to CDG except calling for a taxi. I thought the driver was trying to scam us because the meter was already running when he showed up. But the truth is that he was NOT scamming us - as it was the rule that if you call for a taxi, the driver starts the meter from the moment he makes his way to you.

With such complicated taxi rules, it's impossible to know it all for every cities/towns we visit.

Nope, 120+ trips and never been scammed, to my knowledge. Of course, the greatest scammers scam you without your knowledge, so who knows? At any rate, I have enough language training to deal with most people in Europe in their native languages, and I think that helps enormously. I'm also frighteningly bold for a person who looks like a sweet, diminutive middle-aged lady. An ability to yell out in a taxi driver's native language "You'd better take the Avenue Bosquet, coz I'm not paying extra to go around the Ecole Militaire!" helps so much. Or to tell the rug merchant in Marrakesh "I wouldn't let my camel sleep on your ill-begotten carpet" is priceless and gets you many hundreds of dollars off the purchase eventually. Being on your toes and having spent a lifetime studying languages is major armor against being scammed.

StCirq: I want you on my next trip!

I've never been scammed in a foreign country, but I have been scammed twice in NY, my home town - the mustard scam and the revolving door scam.
They got me both times.

Well, recently in Rome I guess one could call it a taxi scam. The driver took us to Piazza Navonna on a roundabout route that was about 7 euro more than it should have been. However, his English was good and he was pointing out interesting sites along the way so we just considered it a cheap guided mini tour.

Hi again; Our first time to Rome, my daughter and I were walking towards the 'Roman bridge' and a car stops beside us. Where are you from. The US we said. I love Americans. I'm going to do something for you and give you this suade green coat. WOW. Could you give me some money for gas? We offered a very little. The next thing I know he has his hand going into my daughters pocketbook. I did take a 'little' action. He drove of and we had a good chuckle. A half hour later, we saw this couple walking across the Roman' bridge with the 'green' suade coat and they were happy. We had another louder 'chuckle'. iris1745/dick

Last week I called the police on a scammer I saw operating outside our offices (we are in a town centre). Nothing aimed at tourists, but this sort of thing makes me really mad. I hate to see people being ripped off. this was the 'designer wrist-watches' scam.

Another SCAM I recall reading here is regarding car rental - something to do with a deliberate minor crash (like a tiny scratch), and when you get out of the car to check, the scammers come around and steal your purses/valuables from the unattended front seats and take off in their getaway car.

Only once (in numerous times in Europe), in Rome - by a taxi driver. It was before euro, I gave him something like 50 thousand lira, when I turned my head, he had five thousand in his hand and said that was what I gave him.

I was tired and not sure. Later, I realized I was scammed.
It was a legitimate taxi , I spoke Italian with him
- made no difference. Crooks are crooks.

I am going to Prague this summer ,any advice...?
I speak one of the Slavic languages and will try to learn a few phrases in Czech... may not make a difference.

In Prague, if taking a taxi stick to AAA Taxi and City Taxi. Others are suspect. Ask your hotel to arrange an airport transfer - it is nice to have someone waiting for you and usually doesn't cost more than a taxi.

Beware of pickpockets, particularly on the trams and metro.

Beware of "inspectors" on metro who want to "fine" you for ticket and other infractions.

Yes, danon. One piece of advice. Take StCirq with you!

I would think one would know if one were being scammed or not.

Major scams are obvious.

Minor scams - adding a euro onto an illegible bill - well I suppose anyone could do it - but I do look at bills - and have never found one oddly large. I once lost some coins in a coffee machine - does that count as a scam. (The same thing has hapened to me here in the office when I didn't get a water for my $. I figure it was just a broken machine- not a scam.)

thanks for the info. basingstoke2.

"Yes, danon. One piece of advice. Take StCirq with you!'

I would love a company of a seasoned traveler like her since I am going alone ( Prague, Dresden, Berlin).
Does she speak German?
I can manage in several languages rather well but don't know a word of German.
I assume I'll be o.k. in Berlin? Anyone ?

Not all Athenian cabbies are crooks!

A friend and I took a cab from Syntagma to the Acropolis for 3 Euros. My friend was so surprised he asked, "Each?". "No, just 3 euros", said the driver.

Once in Paris the ring scam - gypsy girl on one of the bridges. Played along but didn't give her any money and even let her keep the ring. Once in Paris the taxi ride from CDG to the 5th - I thought the guy was trying to take the "scenic route" because he took us the other way on the ring road and came down the Champs Elysees, but it was worth the extra couple of euro to see the Arc de Triomphe at morning rush hour, and he probably saved time not coming down the usual route anyway.

I accidentally scammed some kids when I was in Florence. But it was self-defence.

My 83-year-old Mum insisted on carrying a purse in Italy as she had everywhere for decades. When we were mobbed by the usual gang of little urchins with the cardboard, I saw red and was determined they weren't going to get their hands on that handbag. I moved fast, grabbed one by the sleeve and held on. She wriggled away from me and ran but had to leave her sweater behind.

In the pocket (inside, sort of stitched in) was 20 Euro.

I guess that makes me a pick-pocket.

At least, Mum stopped clutching that darn purse for the rest of the trip and we donated the money to the St. Paul-within-the-Wall fund for Romany families in Rome.

Ja, danon, Ich habe Deutsch in der Schule studiert, aber vierzig Jahre seit!

In Paris, a young woman was dabbing paint on some cute paintings of Paris scenes near the Arc de Triomphe. We paid 30 francs for one, then the next day saw another young woman dabbing paint on the same cute paintings near the Eiffel Tower. The "painting" turned out to be a cheap color print, with the only paint on it being the highlights that the young woman was adding while appearing to be just finishing the "painting."

Other than that, no scams in five trips to Europe. Not only have I not been overcharged for anything (that I'm aware of) I've even been the good guy and pointed out two instances of being undercharged in Paris restaurants when the waiter forgot to write down all the food we ordered and had been served.

thanks StCirq

it looks like ' I studied in school but many years ago?
( from English and German movies)
Do you think I'll be o.k. in Berlin with English only?

I could learn a few phrases ,I tried before going to Vienna a few years ago , but German ( unlike Spanish, Italian, French) is just not my cup of tea.

sorry, I mean movies in German with English subtitles.

You'll be fine in Berlin with minimal German.

Pretty much correct, but not many years ago, rather 40 years ago. If you can understand that, you'll do just fine.

I guess we got "scammed" by a local in the only parking lot at the top of Arcos de la Frontera--a white village in southern Spain. After working our way up some very tight and narrow lanes to the top of this village, we encountered a very tight and mostly full open air parking plaza. An older man was directing traffic and assisting parking, which was backed up and waiting. We waited and went as directed and paid the fellow 5 euros as requested. We then made our way down to our hotel and upon remarking about the limited parking and uncertainty of time limits--were informed that parking was free!

It bothered me for a while but my DH told me "To let it go" and I did. I later encountered the "parking attendant" and he pretty much blew the encounter off--so did I. Oh well!

My wife reminded me of our most serious "scamming". We were in Isle sur la Sorgue for the famous Sunday morning market 2 years ago. It was not our first visit and I knew there were ATM kiosks in the outer ring. Upon inserting my card, the machine hesitated and the process got hung up. There was a fellow nearby who offered assistance and began a conversation. I was leary of distraction and after 3-4 minutes, my money and card came out as expected. All seemed normal and I left.

Upon our return to the states, I learned that my account was being debited the maximum allowed each day at various terminals in Marseille--all without my authorization. Contact with my bank cancelled the card. After filing affidavits with my bank, all funds were credited and I actually lost nothing. But the crooks got off with several thousand dollars.

It appears there was some sort of manipulation of the ATM allowing the retention of my card info and password, thus making physical possession of the card unnecessary. It was (and is) scary and I have no idea how to prevent it in the future. Maybe stay away from obvious tourist centers? I do not use ATMs in the states and have a separate account attached to it for use while traveling.

macanimals - It sounds like the ATM kiosk you used had one of those "card readers" attached. Basically, criminals attach a device to the ATM (right where you insert the card), but those device tend to look okay to unsuspecting tourists who aren't familiar with the looks of foreign ATMs. When you insert your card, the device read off your information from your card and the criminals get hold of your # and PIN.

I think a "safer" option is to use ATMs inside banking centers; or ones just outside the banks but still part of the bank; instead of stand-alone ATM kiosks. At least the banking center ATMs get inspected by the bank employees and have a smaller chance being tampered with.