Beatchick

I bought a gold ring from a woman trip before last for 1.40 euro. She was disappointed but took the money. I saw her again near the Chapelle Expiatoire that same trip.

THIS TRIP I saw her near rue Jacob. She showed me the ring, I pulled out my camera to make like I was taking a photo of it and got a photo of her holding the ring! AHA!! I'd kept the ring from last trip slung onto a strap on my purse and showed it to her saying I'd gotten it from her. She backed away and kept saying "non, non". I don't think she realized I captured a pic of her.

Saw another different lady in Montmartre at Place des Abbesses. I was touring with Michael Osman, he saw her out of the corner of his eye, grabbed the strap with the ring and showed it to her so she backed off. Tried to take a photo of her, too, but she moved away too fast and I only got the back of her as she melted into the crowd.

Met a guy in the line at CDG as we're leaving Paris. He met 5 different people running the scam in one day, all in the area around the Louvre. He was amazed at the number in one short day!

Beatchick

You can see the photos here:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/1b3d8d/

speckles

I was in Paris with my mum in Sept 06 and didn't come across the ring trick. We did however, come across the guys at the bottom of the funicular to Sacre Couer who wanted to perform some string trick. I said 'no', avoided them and kept going on my way. Mum or I would not engage with such strangers anyway, but I think it freaked her out a bit.

I've heard of problems in Florence, Italy and a work colleague had his backpack taken in Spain recently, which I've heard is common for bag slashings. I haven't been to these places though.

In 06 I did notice a beggar in Scare Couer church doorway and one in Venice, but they weren't trying any tricks, just sitting down with a plate begging for money.

The best thing is to be assertive, say no and physically avoid them if you see them coming.

MissPrism

Call me po-faced, but if I dropped a piece of jewellery and somebody pocketed it and sold it to a tourist, I'd call the finder a thief and the buyer a recipient of stolen goods.

Belledame

I was in Pigalle in May and saw a woman sitting on a sidewalk with both legs gone above the knee. Nothing was covering her stumps. It was as shocking as the time on Houston St. NYC when I saw a three-legged dog wretchedly limping along.

kerouac

Amputee beggars like to show their stumps in the months of good weather.

Withered limbs are also a treat.

sarge56

When we were in Florence last month, we saw a woman who was definitely 20-something, but good at faking being a crippled old woman (including babushka hiding her face). (I was not fooled.) We passed her one day near our hotel and the next day we saw her on the other side of the street. At that point, two police officers came by and were very assertive and loud in telling her to get up; I reckon' they knew her well, and she them, because she got up like a 20-something and quickly headed off down the street, no evidence of crippling in sight.

knickerbocker

Eiffel Tower this past May. A rather feckless scammer 'finds' a gold ring and tries to draw my attention to it. Having read the Fodor's forums, I laugh him off and make a mental note of it for a trip report-to-come. Enjoy the Eiffel Tower and environs and walk back along the other side of the Seine. Guess who 'finds' another gold ring? Same guy and he has no idea why I start laughing. Truly Paris' most feckless scam artist.

Turtlecurls

Gypsies aren't theives. They did used to use the more Indian style of business of more buyer beware and bargaining. That got spun out of control into bigotry against gsypies as being theives and behind every scam.

These pickpockets were investiaged by one of the major news magazine programs (I don't remember which one, 60 minutes maybe) - and it was mostly sponsored by Russian mob groups. The children used were essentially forced labor.

Get a clue, be kind to the world, and think before you slander whole groups of people. In the past it's lead to violence by Europeans of unparalleled proportions.

Actually Europeans are extremely violent and prone to hypnotic suggestion by hateful leaders. This includes their descendents throughout the world.

Believe that and I'll tell you one about gypsies (Roma)...

That excuse that the word is now generic doesn't fly. It comes out of hate and slander and perpetuates biogtry. You can't tell if someone is Roma, certainly not now a days.

Turtlecurls

My Paris experience was a little different.

First my family were followed on and off the metro at 9pm. We got off at a random stop, and he did. We got back on the next train and he did. We finally pretended to get off and quick got back on as the train was leaving and shook the man. We're talking mid-40s parents, and two late-teen teenagers, and he never did more than attempt a casual chat.

Second I was masturbated on while sitting with my sister on the metro in a different incident.

Neither gave any appearance of being gypsies. Both were pasty white males.

Turtlecurls

Oh, and when we got back on the train the first time, it was back in the direction we'd come from - and he did too. Very weird.

Pinchme_iam_dreaming

Although "Gypsies" is not a single race of people. I think it's a far stretch to accuse someone of being Hitler like if they use the term. Would it be more PC to call the persons that try these kinds of scams... "LOW LIFE SCUMBAGS" Oh wait, didn't Hitler put to death 1000's of scumbags too? Never mind.

Pinchme_iam_dreaming

In the last two times we have been to Paris (2005&2007) We have not seen the "ring scam". We did have dark skined people at Sacre Coeur and the eiffel tower TRY to tie string around my wife's wrist. Twice we were asked if we speak English while they were handing us a a flash card with words on it? I don't know what those scams are about? I just told them NO! and they moved away.

In 2005 we arrived in Amsterdam about 11:00am from an over night flight. After checking into our hotel we took the tram to the dam area. We got off the tram about 3/4 of a mile from the central station because we saw a very busy open air market and smelled food cooking. After walking around the market we didn't find anything to eat so we headed back to the tram stop. My wife was looking at a tourist map when a very large dirty man came up to us and told us we would show us where to get the very best "weed" in Amsterdam. I told him we don't use the stuff and started to walk away. He stepped in front of us then this guy TOLD me to give him some money! I laugh at him and TOLD him he better step aside before something bad happens to him. He could tell I wasn't kidding. He smiled and said, You're Americans I love America. He had a very thick slovic accent. I said no we are Canadians! No, I can tell you're Americans? Again I said we're Canadians. He said if you're Canadians what is the capital of Canada and smiled. My wife and looked at each other like,"Oh crap"
My wife said Toronto! which was wrong. He told us it is Ottawa. We all laughed and he asked if we could please spare some change. Again I told him no but, I gave him four of my Camel wide light cigarettes. He said thank you and walked away. This all took no more then one minute. We still laugh about that encounter.

Josser

He said if you're Canadians what is the capital of Canada and smiled. My wife and looked at each other like,"Oh crap"


No comment is necessary ;-)

Pinchme_iam_dreaming

Sorry josser, I don't understand what you mean "No comment is necessary" This was our first visit to Europe and we were told that Europeans are kinder to Canadians than to Americans. I guess we should have done a little research on Canada. I only used the Canadians thing once.

jamikins

As a CDN I think thats funny that you didnt know our capital

Pinchme_iam_dreaming

We're not Canadians.

Josser

jamikins

I wonder how many Canadians wouldn't know the capital of the United States.
I saw one of Pinchme's other posts and couldn't find a way to say politely what I thought of him.
His confession about not knowing the capital of Canada did the job for me ;-)

FoodTrekker

Funny, I just got back from my first time in Paris (only 2 days) and never got scammed. I live in NYC now so maybe I, too, have that "get away from me" look. I did see the guys with the bracelets on the steps of the Sacre Coeur... I even thought "what are you thinking!?" to a girl having a bracelet tied on. I shoved my hands in my pockets and when they wanted to know if I spoke English I looked like I had no clue what he said.

I did catch a small kid in my pack in Milan and as I was checking the contents I watched him walk away. (Since he was walking, I was pretty sure he had nothing.) But then I saw his hand reach up for a purse a block away and I yelled "attenzione!" and the woman spun around and smacked the poor kid.

Alternatively, even though I do live in NYC, I'm never in Port Authority. I couldn't find this ticket counter and a fairly dirty man walked me to the counter and I gladly gave him $3 for a slice. I actually expected it when he started talking... he got me to my bus on time!

As a music lover, I always throw money at decent musicians on the street and never to anyone who just shakes a cup at me.

Pinchme_iam_dreaming

I have told that story to many of my family, friends and co-workers. Only one person knew what the capital of Canada is.

"saw one of Pinchme's other posts and couldn't find a way to say politely what I thought of him"

What other posts? Have I offended you in some way? Is it my poor geography skills or writing style? I can't figure out for the life of me. Why you would make such a broad statement as that? Please explain.