Old wives tales/ urban myths
Jan 4th, 2010, 05:59 PM
#41
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I can't believe the leather coat scam. If you'll buy that come to Brooklyn and I have a bridge to sell you.
The simple rule is that anyone stopping you with any sort of story is a con artist and all you do is look straight through them and just keep walking. Never even acknowledge their presence. (This may seem odd to someone from a small town - but it's how cities operate. It's not rude. It's just plain common sense.)
The simple rule is that anyone stopping you with any sort of story is a con artist and all you do is look straight through them and just keep walking. Never even acknowledge their presence. (This may seem odd to someone from a small town - but it's how cities operate. It's not rude. It's just plain common sense.)
Jan 4th, 2010, 08:51 PM
#44
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I'm curious as to why anybody feels a need to deny other people's travel experiences. I don't care how many times you've been to Europe, the two dozen people posting here are just two dozen people, and some people -- guess what -- don't know when they've been scammed or even robbed.
I think a lot of people think that they are very "smart" travelers because they've never been sexually assaulted, robbed or targeted in other ways. There may be other explanations. I've had little but good experiences in my travels, but when other people report negative ones, I don't imagine they didn't happen or that they're defective people in some way.
This thread looks like people who need to go way out of their way to feel vain about something. Millions and millions of people travel each year. They all don't go where you go.
I think a lot of people think that they are very "smart" travelers because they've never been sexually assaulted, robbed or targeted in other ways. There may be other explanations. I've had little but good experiences in my travels, but when other people report negative ones, I don't imagine they didn't happen or that they're defective people in some way.
This thread looks like people who need to go way out of their way to feel vain about something. Millions and millions of people travel each year. They all don't go where you go.
Jan 5th, 2010, 01:23 AM
#46
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We are so stupid we have been scammed and have not realized it. It took years for us realize that all our money and jewelry was gone. It fact our son was kidnapped 18 years ago and just came home with a college education. That worked out well.
In all our travels, my wife was pickpocketed once in Chicago and she was working at the DA's office at the time. It was quite ironic.
In all our travels, my wife was pickpocketed once in Chicago and she was working at the DA's office at the time. It was quite ironic.
Jan 5th, 2010, 02:39 AM
#47
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"The one exception is the shocking prevalence of the mullet in Spain"
A friend of mine, with perfectly nice hair, moved back to Spain a couple of years ago and within a few weeks was sporting a hideous mullet. Even worse - she cut her little girl's beautiful long hair into a matching mini-mullet!
A friend of mine, with perfectly nice hair, moved back to Spain a couple of years ago and within a few weeks was sporting a hideous mullet. Even worse - she cut her little girl's beautiful long hair into a matching mini-mullet!
Jan 5th, 2010, 03:30 AM
#48
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In all MY travels, the only place I lost something was New York, where I wasn't paying attention at Thanksgiving in Bloomingdale's and someone pinched my wallet. I live in France, often holiday in South Africa, and so far haven't repeated the experience.
Did arrive in San Miguel de Allende at midnight many years ago, took a taxi to our hotel. In the morning we realised that we were just about opposite the train station, and so most of the ride was around the block. However, I still figure that was mostly our problem, not the taxi driver's.
Did arrive in San Miguel de Allende at midnight many years ago, took a taxi to our hotel. In the morning we realised that we were just about opposite the train station, and so most of the ride was around the block. However, I still figure that was mostly our problem, not the taxi driver's.
Jan 5th, 2010, 07:14 AM
#50
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<i>I'm curious as to why anybody feels a need to deny other people's travel experiences.</i>
Who is denying anything? I don't doubt that some people have been pickpocketed or scammed. But the myths that have sprung up, and which are repeated often, is that pickpockets are common, or that you are likely to fall victim to a scam. You aren't, and people should relax. You don't need to go all Jason Bourne when walking around Barcelona, simply because there are a few pickpockets.
People need to keep perspective, but we see recommendations on this board for things like steel-reinforced handbags! And, yeah, it may be judgemental, but if you fall for something like the ring scam (even if you had no idea what it was), then you are pretty much an idiot.
Who is denying anything? I don't doubt that some people have been pickpocketed or scammed. But the myths that have sprung up, and which are repeated often, is that pickpockets are common, or that you are likely to fall victim to a scam. You aren't, and people should relax. You don't need to go all Jason Bourne when walking around Barcelona, simply because there are a few pickpockets.
People need to keep perspective, but we see recommendations on this board for things like steel-reinforced handbags! And, yeah, it may be judgemental, but if you fall for something like the ring scam (even if you had no idea what it was), then you are pretty much an idiot.
Jan 5th, 2010, 08:30 AM
#51
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LOL @ the kidnapping comment!
I have seen the bracelet/string trick in action; I saw it several times in Montmartre in the spring of 2006. Seems like there are two types of ppl - loud ones that win against the scammer and then there's the ones who don't want to make a scene and throw money at the problem.
In general, it is a good thing that we are only talking about these [usually] non-violent crimes. I think it shows ppl that our fave European cities are quite safe.
Oh! And I have a collection of postcards/letters explaining the woes of gypsies... After a while on my last trip to Paris, I just started to get really rude to them, take the postcard/letter they just handed me, and thanked them! They don't like that.
~Jay
I have seen the bracelet/string trick in action; I saw it several times in Montmartre in the spring of 2006. Seems like there are two types of ppl - loud ones that win against the scammer and then there's the ones who don't want to make a scene and throw money at the problem.
In general, it is a good thing that we are only talking about these [usually] non-violent crimes. I think it shows ppl that our fave European cities are quite safe.
Oh! And I have a collection of postcards/letters explaining the woes of gypsies... After a while on my last trip to Paris, I just started to get really rude to them, take the postcard/letter they just handed me, and thanked them! They don't like that.
~Jay
Jan 5th, 2010, 08:54 AM
#52
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Travelgroument...Jason Bourne 
You funny!
I got cuaght a few years back on the Paris RER, on a Sunday, going to Versailles from St Michel. No ticket booth open , so we were looking at the ticket machine. Guy comes up, asks if he can help, bingo bnago bongo, he puts money in, gets us tickets and asks for repaymwent. We do, and later, as we are on train to Versailles, the conductor checks our tickets and we are busted. The cool thing is that after explaining what happened, he invited us to the train station admin room, gave us coffee and free tickets back to Paris.
Last May I got caught by a Hindu "priest" in London, on Fleet St. He did some cool tricks with me writing names on a small piece of paper,etc..OK, I had landed that morning, bit of jet lag, so my cynical self was at its weakest. I kept watching to figure out how he did it, never did.
You funny!I got cuaght a few years back on the Paris RER, on a Sunday, going to Versailles from St Michel. No ticket booth open , so we were looking at the ticket machine. Guy comes up, asks if he can help, bingo bnago bongo, he puts money in, gets us tickets and asks for repaymwent. We do, and later, as we are on train to Versailles, the conductor checks our tickets and we are busted. The cool thing is that after explaining what happened, he invited us to the train station admin room, gave us coffee and free tickets back to Paris.
Last May I got caught by a Hindu "priest" in London, on Fleet St. He did some cool tricks with me writing names on a small piece of paper,etc..OK, I had landed that morning, bit of jet lag, so my cynical self was at its weakest. I kept watching to figure out how he did it, never did.
Jan 5th, 2010, 10:42 AM
#53
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In the summer of 2006 a 'charming' man tied a bracelet on the wrist of my 10 year old daughter at Montmartre and asked for 10E. She looked at him confused as even she was aware that a bit a string was not worth 10E. I was a couple of steps away taking photos and immediately realised that this was a 'scam' that I'd read about.
I asked him to remove the bracelet and said that we weren't interested (in French)and he started huffing and puffing about how we had to pay for it now.
I called my DH over (he was across the street) and explained briefly what was going on and he turned to the man and said 'Shall I call a 'gendarme?' and the guy just threw his arms in the air and then produced a pair of scissors to snip off the string.
I also experienced a pick pocket trying to reach into my backpack at Termini in Rome (2007) but I turned and confronted the woman. She was too short to actually delve deeply into my bag and when I caught her she very quickly walked away.
That's the sum of my scam experiences in Europe. I'm European (British) and have lost count of all my trips to the continent.
I think scams are common but obviously not as common as tourists and the savvy traveller just needs to be alert.
Oh, and years ago it was recommended that we reinforce our backpacks with chicken wire in South America or risk having them slashed and possibly lose our passports... we kept them in our socks prompting the comment from a friend "Where is your passport and why do you have a square ankle?"
I asked him to remove the bracelet and said that we weren't interested (in French)and he started huffing and puffing about how we had to pay for it now.
I called my DH over (he was across the street) and explained briefly what was going on and he turned to the man and said 'Shall I call a 'gendarme?' and the guy just threw his arms in the air and then produced a pair of scissors to snip off the string.
I also experienced a pick pocket trying to reach into my backpack at Termini in Rome (2007) but I turned and confronted the woman. She was too short to actually delve deeply into my bag and when I caught her she very quickly walked away.
That's the sum of my scam experiences in Europe. I'm European (British) and have lost count of all my trips to the continent.
I think scams are common but obviously not as common as tourists and the savvy traveller just needs to be alert.
Oh, and years ago it was recommended that we reinforce our backpacks with chicken wire in South America or risk having them slashed and possibly lose our passports... we kept them in our socks prompting the comment from a friend "Where is your passport and why do you have a square ankle?"
Jan 5th, 2010, 11:04 AM
#54
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<i>"christycruz on Jan 4, 10 at 11:34pm:
I'd like to hear if anyone has ever scammed the scammer."</i>
Don't know if this counts, but it is very fun and satisfying to carry a gold ring and then when approached by a scammer say "No, I just found mine!!" or "Did you lose this one??" One quick young girl offered to trade rings with me, perhaps thinking mine was 14k.
I'd like to hear if anyone has ever scammed the scammer."</i>
Don't know if this counts, but it is very fun and satisfying to carry a gold ring and then when approached by a scammer say "No, I just found mine!!" or "Did you lose this one??" One quick young girl offered to trade rings with me, perhaps thinking mine was 14k.
Jan 5th, 2010, 11:20 AM
#55
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Does it count if you THOUGHT you were being scammed but were ACTUALLY being helped?
Long story short..Back in those "Europe on $5 a day" times I and my companion missed the last train out. We had to wait at the station till the next train at 5 AM. Cold, hungry and pissed off, a grungy man approached and mumbled something that I took as 'Give me money". After I yelled to get the "He%& out of here", it turned out that WE must of looked so pathetic that he was asking if "We Need Food"! Turns out he was a construction worker coming back from a pub crawl (thus the dirty clothes) and just wanted to help a couple of poor looking kids!
Long story short..Back in those "Europe on $5 a day" times I and my companion missed the last train out. We had to wait at the station till the next train at 5 AM. Cold, hungry and pissed off, a grungy man approached and mumbled something that I took as 'Give me money". After I yelled to get the "He%& out of here", it turned out that WE must of looked so pathetic that he was asking if "We Need Food"! Turns out he was a construction worker coming back from a pub crawl (thus the dirty clothes) and just wanted to help a couple of poor looking kids!
Jan 5th, 2010, 12:36 PM
#56
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As for me, I know of two young people from Vancouver who experienced robbery, or attempted robbery, with violence in Barcelona within the past couple years (in unrelated trips), and one who did not. They were not engaged in drug-seeking behaviour, in case you were wondering. So based on my limited sample of young people I know who have recently gone to Barcelona, I would say it's a place to be cautious. If you haven't had this problem, then of course that is great for you.
As for me, I went to Ciudad Juarez in 2008 and I wasn't killed, but it doesn't mean that I disbelieve the fact that thousands are killed there every year.
As for me, I went to Ciudad Juarez in 2008 and I wasn't killed, but it doesn't mean that I disbelieve the fact that thousands are killed there every year.
Jan 5th, 2010, 02:00 PM
#57
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I think TravelGourmet pretty much summed up my point throughout and best with this:
<i>
Who is denying anything? I don't doubt that some people have been pickpocketed or scammed. But the myths that have sprung up, and which are repeated often, is that pickpockets are common, or that you are likely to fall victim to a scam. You aren't, and people should relax. You don't need to go all Jason Bourne when walking around Barcelona, simply because there are a few pickpockets.
People need to keep perspective, but we see recommendations on this board for things like steel-reinforced handbags! And, yeah, it may be judgemental, but if you fall for something like the ring scam (even if you had no idea what it was), then you are pretty much an idiot.</i>
Yes, people get pickpocketed and the like. Hell, I admitted to having my purse swiped at home on this thread. It is just the hysteria of Europeans dying to "get" tourists that is off putting and weird to me. As much so as the whole fashion thing - the same clothes are available everywhere and everyone pretty much wears the same thing regardless of whether one is North American or European. The aforementioned Spanish mullet is another story, though I guess it is business in the front, serious party in the back especially in the north.
<i>
Who is denying anything? I don't doubt that some people have been pickpocketed or scammed. But the myths that have sprung up, and which are repeated often, is that pickpockets are common, or that you are likely to fall victim to a scam. You aren't, and people should relax. You don't need to go all Jason Bourne when walking around Barcelona, simply because there are a few pickpockets.
People need to keep perspective, but we see recommendations on this board for things like steel-reinforced handbags! And, yeah, it may be judgemental, but if you fall for something like the ring scam (even if you had no idea what it was), then you are pretty much an idiot.</i>
Yes, people get pickpocketed and the like. Hell, I admitted to having my purse swiped at home on this thread. It is just the hysteria of Europeans dying to "get" tourists that is off putting and weird to me. As much so as the whole fashion thing - the same clothes are available everywhere and everyone pretty much wears the same thing regardless of whether one is North American or European. The aforementioned Spanish mullet is another story, though I guess it is business in the front, serious party in the back especially in the north.
Jan 5th, 2010, 02:28 PM
#58
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On the other side of the coin, I had a little adventure years ago in Mexico. I was driving from one place to another with my then SO late at night (stupid!) and we were anxious because of farm animals wandering on the road, and the fact that we were driving through real desolation. Not a light anywhere.
Suddenly I saw a beat up pickup truck on the shoulder of the road and two guys in white work clothes waving me down. Without thinking, I pulled over and got out to see what was wrong. As soon as I did so, my companion hissed at me, "Are you out of your f***ing MIND?", as she slammed the car door and threw the locks.
"Oh, oh", I thought, "I think I'm screwed"! But I walked back to them in the pitch darkness and asked if I could help.
Turns out the guys had run out of gas, and wanted to know if I could spare any. They had a piece of hose, and a can, so we siphoned some gas from my tank, as I expected to get clonked with a wrench or chopped by a machete at any second.
They were grateful for my help, offered to pay for the gas, and gave me an big abrazo (hug), as I refused the money said I was always happy to help someone in trouble. We parted friends.
Not so with my young lady. She was REALLY pissed at me, as she had huddled in terror in the car, expecting to get raped at any moment.
The rest of the trip did not go well, but my faith in people was confirmed.
Suddenly I saw a beat up pickup truck on the shoulder of the road and two guys in white work clothes waving me down. Without thinking, I pulled over and got out to see what was wrong. As soon as I did so, my companion hissed at me, "Are you out of your f***ing MIND?", as she slammed the car door and threw the locks.
"Oh, oh", I thought, "I think I'm screwed"! But I walked back to them in the pitch darkness and asked if I could help.
Turns out the guys had run out of gas, and wanted to know if I could spare any. They had a piece of hose, and a can, so we siphoned some gas from my tank, as I expected to get clonked with a wrench or chopped by a machete at any second.
They were grateful for my help, offered to pay for the gas, and gave me an big abrazo (hug), as I refused the money said I was always happy to help someone in trouble. We parted friends.
Not so with my young lady. She was REALLY pissed at me, as she had huddled in terror in the car, expecting to get raped at any moment.
The rest of the trip did not go well, but my faith in people was confirmed.
Jan 5th, 2010, 03:00 PM
#59
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Scams-Have had the gypsies in Florence with my husband;bag being cut in Rome after my girlfriend went to a different ATM other than our usual and they got her on the bus,etc. Just got back from Egypt and saw a new one.
My daughter and I are walking down the street and a man wants us to help him write a women's name in English on a postcard as he does not know how to do it. He has the name totally spelled out on a card. He takes a postcard from a shop and wants us to write her name on it-realized before we fell for it that he was going to stick us with buying the postcard and other stuff.
My daughter and I are walking down the street and a man wants us to help him write a women's name in English on a postcard as he does not know how to do it. He has the name totally spelled out on a card. He takes a postcard from a shop and wants us to write her name on it-realized before we fell for it that he was going to stick us with buying the postcard and other stuff.
Jan 5th, 2010, 07:27 PM
#60
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38/58 posts reported some type of scam from cab overcharges to leather coats and the gold ring scams. I didn't count the sexual harrassment or attacks as 'scams' posts. Some posts (most) reported more than one instance of a scam.
