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Paris Pickpockets and scams in paris

With over 2.2 million city residents and millions of tourists, it is easy to see how this crowded city can make a petty thief rich. If you travel there you should know how to avoid pickpockets in Paris.  The US Embassy reports that major sites such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Champs-Elysées are prime hunting grounds for Paris pickpockets who work near these tourist attractions. Additional areas where travelers need to be vigilant of pickpocket scams in Paris include metro trains, monuments, trains, train stations, hotels, airports, and parks.

Where Pickpockets Lurk in Paris

There is never enough time to truly discover Paris. From the breathtaking sites of the Eiffel Tower, Arc de la Triomphe, the Louvre, Sacre Coeur, and to the romantic walkways along the Seine River or narrow streets on the Cité Island, there are many reasons for travelers to explore the Paris to the city limits. Because there is a large concentration of museums, monuments, and parks in proximity, it creates the perfect hunting ground for petty thieves and pickpockets in Paris. The following tourist sites are frequented by pickpockets and other thieves: Madeleine, Arc de Triomphe, Champs, Sacre, L’Opera, George Pompidou Center, Porte de Clingnancourt flea market, and the Eiffel Tower.

Video of Young Paris Pickpockets

Watch this video so you can see what a typical group of young teenage pickpockets looks like when they travel as a group.  While they look like an innocent group of kids, trust that they are far from it.  Note how they will cover their faces when they see that someone is filming them.

Pickpocket Scams at Paris Museums and Monuments

The following is a list of typical Paris pocket picker scams that are reported around local museums and monuments.

  • No place in Paris is safe from the skillful, delicate hand of a pickpocket. While touring the Musee D’Orsay you may notice fellow tourists and even Parisians examining the superb collection of art, including the young, unknown man dressed in khaki trousers, a pink, Polo button-down shirt with a large camera hanging from his neck. You and the man must be walking through the museum at the same pace because he keeps accidentally bumping into you. After viewing the treasures of the museum, you start to make your way out and notice that your bag is unzipped and open. In fact, your wallet is missing. The fellow tourist was not only examining the exhibitions; he was also examining you.
  • The Eiffel Tower is probably the area with the most pickpockets and swindlers. The grounds below the tower are open and quite large. In 2009, 6.6 million visitors took in the world-class views from the top deck. With millions of travelers carrying valuables such as money, cameras, purses, etc., it is no wonder that a man would spend his entire day there zipping around on rollerblades and grabbing whatever he can. Because of the rollerblades, he can escape quickly and never be caught.
  • There are even small, organized gangs that operate on the Eiffel Tower grounds. They may be selling miniature statues of the Eiffel Tower or other souvenirs. When you try to pay for the trinket, one of the “salesmen” grabs your purse, wallet or waist pack and runs away. Although there is a police presence to protect visitors from these occurrences, the thieves have learned to outsmart the police by throwing the stolen goods from member to member until they disappear.

Solution: If you are interested in purchasing a souvenir from a street vendor, after selecting the item and agreeing on a price, step back from the group; discreetly remove the needed money and return to pay. Try to maintain a distance from the salesmen, so that your items are not within hand’s reach. Also, keep small change for these sorts of purchases separate from your passport and wallet. Do not expect street vendors to make change for you.

Tips to Avoid Pickpockets in Paris

  1. Always be aware of your surroundings. When observing the sites, make sure to also observe those around you. If you find yourself in a crowded area, such as an elevator, keep an eye or hand on all of your belongings.
  2. Take only what you need for the day, the rest should stay in your hotel safe or in a portable safe in your room.
  3.  Guard your valuables (passport, credit card, phone) with an anti-theft waist pack or hidden underclothing waist wallet.
  4. Bring no more cash (Euros) than what you expect to spend and only one credit card, your second backup credit card be stored in your safe.
  5. If wearing a purse only wear it crossbody style, and make sure it has a locking zipper.
  6. Do not place anything in your back pocket, only use your front pocket, or better yet use a money belt you tuck into the front of your pants.

Additional Paris Pickpocket Scams

  • Most travelers expect thieves to be gangs of men. However, there are also small groups of women who eagerly await the daily arrival of new visitors. A woman or group of women may approach you with a sign or even text on a piece of paper. The text may be in French or even English. While you take a look at what is on the paper, one of the other women will take a look at what valuables you are carrying and grab what they can. This is the classic distraction technique.
  • There are many, often long lines to enter the Eiffel Tower. While waiting in line (between 15 minutes and 2 hours), you notice two teenage girls greeting the people in line. They seem very nice and approach you by saying, “Hello”, while gently touching your shoulder from the front. As she touches you from the front, you don’t notice the other girl taking your belongings from behind.
  • Once you finally enter the lobby to take the elevators to the top of the Eiffel Tower, you are safe, right? No. Per the Overseas Security Advisory Council, thieves take advantage of the crowded conditions

  • A must see is the Louvre. With an exhibition area of 652,300 square feet, you could spend years in the Louvre and still not see everything. In 2008, 8.5 million guests visited the vast collection. Next to the Louvre Place is the Garden of Tuileries, making this a very big tourist attraction. What attracts tourists will always attract pickpockets. University-aged students may attempt to collect signatures for a cause from the hundreds of tourists waiting in line. It seems like a prime opportunity to gather many signatures in a short amount of time. It is also a prime opportunity to be robbed with your hands and eyes occupied with the petition.
  • People may also campaign for relief for third-world countries by asking for small donations. Once you stop to learn more, a group of people surrounds you and attempts to lure more money or simply take what they want. This and the previous signature scam can occur all over the city, including The Louvre, Garden of Tuileries and on the Champs-Elysées.
  • An iconic site in Paris is the Cathedral of Notre Dame. The cathedral is especially popular for visitors taking a city bus tour. There is a large, open square in front of Notre Dame that provides a fantastic resting place to enjoy the weather and the gothic architecture. While relaxing in the square, a fellow traveler asks if you can help translate a flyer for a café. While you examine the text, his accomplice makes off with your camera bag. This pickpocket method of distraction is performed by men, women, and even small children.
  • Once you arrive at Notre Dame, you notice that there is a very long line to enter. You contemplate if you should stand in line, and a person approaches you offering to sell you tickets to enter the cathedral. You purchase two tickets and wait in line only to find out that there is no entrance fee. If you do want to climb the staircase to the top of the cathedral, you can pay at the desk inside the cathedral.
  • After taking in the views from the top of the cathedral, you make your way down and exit. As you walk out the door, a blind man bumps into you. You are distracted by the waving of his cane as he tries to find his balance. Later at a café, you realize that your money is missing. The blind man was not blind at all. When he bumped into you, he quickly made a grab for the cash in your pocket.
  • Deaf and Dumb Trick. A young or old man or woman approaches you indicating that they are deaf and dumb.  She has a clipboard. It looks like a petition. You sign your name. She asks you for money as you just signed a pledge to give a donation. It is written minimum 10 euros.  Almost always, the people are not deaf, they just pretend to be – which you may observe if you stand back and watch them for a while.  The best response to these types of situations is to say simply”no thank you” and walk away.

Solution: Try to keep a distance from strangers. If someone bumps into you, check your pockets and bags immediately.

More Paris Pickpocket Scams

  • Settled on a hilltop in the Montmartre neighborhood is the stunning Basilica of the Sacre Coeur. This is an excellent location to view the city from above, especially when lit at night. While taking a peek inside of the Basilica, a man lightly bumps into you as you are admiring a statue. Startled, you look at the man, and then out of the corner of your eye, you catch the movement of the man’s hand in your purse.
  • The steps in front of the Sacre Coeur are a popular hangout for young people and tourists. As you search for a good place to rest on the steps, a man approaches and offers to perform a “let’s be friends” trick.  Americans love to be loved and hate to be embarrassed in public, which makes them a perfect target for this type of scam.  The man who approached you innocently asks if you’ll help him  (or her) with a “demonstration” for other curious tourists.  The scammer proceeds to scam artists and tourists make a “friendship bracelet” right on your wrist.  But when he’s finished, you’re suddenly and unexpectedly asked to pay for this simple string bracket.  Since you can’t easily take it off, you pay up to avoid creating a scene in front of the crowd.
  • Another version of the string bracelet being tied around the wrist starts off the same way, but this time you are confused because this is no trick and
  •  once the bracelet is tied, the man can see if you are wearing a watch and steal it, or a group of friends quickly surround you and demand money for the bracelet, you are forced to “pay-
    Avoid paris pickpocket scams

    Thieves and Pickpockets Prey on Tourists in Crowds

    up” for the bracelet in order to get your watch back.  Stay clear of anyone trying to approach you with the bracelet scam.

  • Famous artists such as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso once had studios in the Montmartre neighborhood. Today tourists can still visit the tiny streets and the decadent bistros of this hilltop quarter. A local artist may even approach you offering to sketch a caricature of you. After much convincing, you finally agree. The artist has indeed sketched a very fun portrait, and after he charges you a steep price of 50 Euros.
  • You decided to visit the Centre Pompidou to see what the controversy is about – some people find the contemporary style to be an eyesore and some truly appreciate it. You sit down on a bench outside of the center, and another person sits down on the same bench, but behind you and facing the opposite direction. The pickpocket then carefully slides their hands into your jacket pocket and steals everything inside. They then quickly disappear into the crowd.

Solution: When you sit, you cannot feel the weight of your heavy pockets or bags. This makes it easier for a petty thief to take what he wants without you noticing. Try to keep belongings out of sight from others. If this is not possible, hold them in front of you, or in eye’s sight when taking a rest.

Additionally, never purchase anything without agreeing to a price beforehand. There are many pickpockets and swindlers in this area, so beware.

Pickpockets Scams in Paris Neighborhoods and In-between

The city of Paris is split into districts or quarters. Many of these neighborhoods are unique and attract many visitors. The Marais, Les Halles, Latin Quarter, Republique and especially the Pigalle quarter are areas where travelers should pay special attention to their belongings.

  • While walking through the streets of “Old Paris” in the Marais quarter, you refer to your travel guide to find directions to Place des Vosges. While studying the guide, a French woman asks if she could look quickly at your book. As the woman examines the map in the book, you realize that another man is standing very close to you. The woman quickly gives back the book and the two walk off together. You inspect your bag and notice that one of the zippers is open, and money is missing.
  • The Pigalle is known as the adult entertainment district of Paris.  The US State Department reports, “Many entertainment establishments in this area engage in aggressive marketing and charge well beyond the normal rate for drinks. Reports of threats of violence to coerce patrons into paying exorbitant beverage tabs are not uncommon. There have also been several violent confrontations between rival gangs in the district, including one in August 2007 one block from the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret. Visitors are encouraged to avoid this area unless touring with a well-organized and reputable tour company.”
  • It is a beautiful, warm summer evening and you decide to walk from Montmartre to the city center via the Pigalle district. When near the Moulin Rouge a man sees you smoking and asks for a cigarette. You give the man a cigarette and another passerby also asks for a cigarette; you give this person a cigarette too. The next morning when you pack your travel pack for the day, you are unable to find your camcorder. Thinking back on the previous evening, you realize that the people who asked for cigarettes were actually working as a team to distract you and steal from you.
  • To stroll the streets along the River Seine is a wonderful way to view the splendid bridges of Paris, some even centuries old. Unfortunately, Parisians and tourists are not the only people taking in the sights of the city; pickpockets also work this well-traveled path. A fellow passerby stops to ask you which direction the famous Pont Neuf, the most famous and oldest bridge in the city. You pull out your map to help guide the friendly traveler in the right direction and beneath the map, the traveler has their hands in your bags.
  • There are many joggers in Paris; it is a beautiful place to get some exercise. A jogger dressed in a Nike outfit accidentally bumps into you and knocks you down. He apologizes and frantically tries to help you up. He also helps himself to the contents of your pocket.  If someone is truly lost and you wish to offer assistance, it may be a better idea to hand over your map, so they can find the location on their own. This allows you to keep an eye on your belongings and pockets, while they find their way.  If someone bumps into you, first check to make sure their hands are not on you.
  • While walking across Le Pont de l’Archevêché (bridge) a passerby accidentally spills their ice cream cone on your back. The person apologetically stops and pulls out tissues to help you clean off your shirt. While they help clean your shirt, they also help themselves to your back pocket.
  • Walking home from a late dinner, you notice a group of 10 or 11-year old kids skating on the sidewalks and clumsily bumping into people. At first, you enjoy watching the children having fun on their rollerblades, but the longer you watch, you see one of the children bump into an old man and swipe the wallet from his back pocket.
  • The Overseas Security Advisory Council reports that petty theft can also occur in Parisian department stores such as Galleries Lafayette, Printemps, and Bon Marché. Thieves swipe wallets, credit cards or even passports that customers set on counters when paying.

Pickpockets and Travel Scams at Paris Restaurants and Hotels

People at h Eiffel Tower at night, watch out for pickpockets and thieves

  • You arrive in Paris exhausted and jet-lagged at 6 a.m. You arrive at your hotel and are unable to check in until 2 p.m., but the hotel agrees to hold your bags until then. You decide to go to a nearby café to try your first, authentic, French croissant and a café au lait. You pay the waiter and then once you leave, you realize that he double charged you. Always check a menu before entering a restaurant or café and always examine the bill at the end of a meal.
  • Although there are fast-food chains such as McDonald’s, Subway, and KFC in Paris, these restaurants usually attract American tourists and pickpockets know this. You want a break from the foreign and decide to enjoy a hamburger at one of the surprisingly clean and stylish chains in the city. You sit down at a table, and a few minutes later, another diner asks to share your table. When the man next to you leaves, he grabs his bag and yours as well.
  • You decide to eat breakfast at your hotel and take your travel pack with you so you can immediately start your sightseeing afterward. Because the breakfast room is on the lower floor of the hotel, you set your pack on the chair across from you. After you finish eating, you collect your things, but to your surprise, your bag is gone. A thief, pretending to be a guest, snuck into the hotel to take the belongings of unsuspecting travelers.
  • After returning from a long day of sightseeing, you return to the room to find that your bags are open and empty, even the socks and undergarments are missing. The only other person who had access to the room was the cleaning staff.  You never know where or when you will be the victim of theft. Keep items in your hotel room locked using a luggage lock or a portable travel safe with a padlock.
  • The US State Department reports, “In hotels, thieves target lobbies and breakfast rooms, and take advantage of moments of inattention to snatch jackets, purses, and backpacks. While many hotel rooms do have safety latches that allow guests to secure their rooms from inside, this feature is not as universal as it is in the United States. If no chain or latch is present, a chair placed up against the door and wedged under the handle is usually an effective obstacle to surreptitious entry during the night. There are, however, reports of thieves breaking into hotel rooms on lower floors through open windows while the occupants are sleeping. To guard against this, hotel room windows should be kept locked at all times. Whenever possible, valuables should be kept in the hotel safe.”

How to Outfox Pickpockets In Paris – Explore the City like a Local

  1. Dress like the locals. Parisians typically dress in darker or neutral colors. Shorts, running shoes, baseball caps, and t-shirts scream “tourist.”
  2. Learn a few French phrases. Parisians are more likely to help you if you make an effort to speak their language.
  3. Familiarize yourself with the local currency in your hotel room, not in a public square. You can even research the different Euro bills online before leaving home.
  4. It is great to be patriotic, but try to avoid wearing the US flag on your backpack or clothing. This again indicates that you are a tourist.
  5. Visit less crowded attractions such as the Musée D’Orsay. The larger Louvre, for example, is always busy with both visitors and petty thieves.
  6. The Police authorities in Paris have created a safety guide for travelers, Paris  – Complete Safety. The guide offers tips on how to avoid becoming a victim and who to contact if theft occurs.

Protect your valuables when traveling from pickpockets. Select one or two different styles of travel security accessories such as an anti-theft waist pack, money belt, passport pouch, or antitheft backpack before you go for peace of mind.

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Tourists love to visit the Eiffel tower at night and hence there are pickpockets at the Eiffel Tower at night too.

Many tourists visit the surrounding area of the Eiffel Tower at night to see it lit up with strobe lights and enjoy the tower’s nighttime ambiance. The benefit of visiting the tower late in the evening is that there are smaller crowds and shorter lines which make the ascent more pleasant. What attracts tourists is that the entire Eiffel tower is cloaked in the warm glow of 336 light projectors and 20,000 sparkling strobe lights – see the below video. From the tower’s observation decks, you can enjoy cool evening breezes as you view floodlit bridges, churches, and other landmarks in the glittering Parisian lightscape. Visiting the Eiffel Tower at night is a beautiful way to appreciate Paris which is known as the city of lights.

Planning Your Nighttime Visit at the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is open until 11:45 p.m or 12:45 a.m., depending on the time of year. Entrance fees vary, depending on whether you’re climbing the steps or taking the elevator. However, make sure to check with their website, as this time and availability changes due to special events, holidays, as well as recent issues with political and terrorism concerns.

Pickpocket activity on the way to the Eiffel Tower

For years, pickpockets, both professional and opportunists, have known that a great spot to target the pockets and handbags of tourists is the subway metro lines 1 and 4, but more importantly, the main stretch of pavement from the Champ-de-Mars-Bir Hakeim metro and RER station to the Eiffel Tower.  This area is where most of the tourists will get on and off the metro to walk to the tower. These specific locations were brought to the public’s attention when an undercover police story broke about the arrest of numerous young girls who were all pickpockets working in these locations.  In December, Paris police arrested 19 people believed to be the ringleaders in a major pickpocketing operation on the Paris public transport network.  These thieves targeted the metros and stops favored by tourists – as well as the walkway to the Eiffel Tower.

Authorities say the gang is responsible for about two-thirds of thefts on the metro and has netted at least €1.3m. The Paris police judiciaire has been working with Spanish and Italian authorities for the past three years to track down the leaders, who recruited 100 young girls from eastern Europe.  Investigators believe the girls were threatened with violence if they failed to reach their daily targets, typically between €300 and €1,000 ($300-$1,060).  This is a sad story, but one that all travelers need to be aware of.  Many people make a living as pickpockets – both young and old, and in order for them to do so, someone – especially unknowing tourists will end up falling victim to these individuals.  Let’s hope that reading these pages on how to identify pickpockets will give you enough insight so your trip to Paris will only be great memories of famous locations, great food, and interesting sights – not the lobby of a Paris police station making a report for having your wallet stolen.

Pickpocket Activity at the Eiffel Tower

Pickpocket Sign at the Eiffel Tower

Pickpocket Sign at the Eiffel Tower

Many tourists who visit the Eiffel Tower at nightfall victim to pickpockets. The strobes come on for about 10 minutes every hour to illuminate the Tower and that attracts the tourists, and the tourists attract the thieves. The pickpockets use a variety of distractions to target tourists such as asking for directions, asking the time, where the subway is in the area, as well as other common pickpocket distractions.

Visitors should also be aware that the Eiffel Tower operating company knows about the pickpocket problem too – and even documents that they are not responsible for theft due to pickpocket activity when visiting the tower.  “The company may not be held liable for theft (from pickpockets), loss or damage of any kind, during a visit”  is a quote from their website. While this is normal for any business which is open to the public, having a quote that specifically makes reference to “pickpockets” is not. This in itself should alert you to take additional precautions.

Pickpockets operate at a variety of locations at the Eiffel Tower.  One of the most obvious indicators will be one of the numerous “beware of pickpocket” signs you will see at the base of the tower, right before you enter the Eiffel Tower elevators, within some of the elevators, as well as around the various observation decks.

Another area pickpockets find their marks is the line for the women’s rooms at the base of the Eiffel Tower.  Sometimes the line is very long, and once you get farther down into the bathroom area, the size of the corridors becomes narrow.  Many tourists have reported thefts at this location, as well as while using the restroom at this location.  This photo shows the pickpocket warning on the way down to the toilets.

Eiffel Tower Stairs and Pickpockets

If you elect not to wait for the Eiffel Tower elevator to take you back down due to the long, crowded lines, many tourists elect to walk down the stairs. Generally, walking down the Eiffel Tower’s stairs is not a great idea. While it may seem like a good idea initially, many pickpockets like to work the stairwell knowing that it is an easy location to target unsuspecting tourists. The stairwell is packed with tourists, going both ways. It is not very wide, so you are forced to bump into people during your journey. Many tourists have reported that they fell victim to pickpockets walking down the Eiffel Tower when they were targeted by pickpockets using the following pickpocket scam.

As you make your descent down the Eiffel Tower stairwell, about a 1/4 of the way down, the pedestrian crowd starts to back-up. You are forced to walk slower and begin to enter a packed crowd walking close together. A small group of people in front of you begin to walk very slow. It can be men or women, but many times it seems that the group is young women. The women stop short, causing you to bump into them.  One of the girls begins to yell at you, while other women pickpockets are behind you and naturally bump into you. Everyone is trying to pass you, but you are held up by this unruly group of girls.

As many people try to pass you, items are removed from your pockets, purse of daypack.  The same type of thieves do the same going up the Eiffel Tower.  Think about this for a second, other than someone who wants one heck of a good workout, who walks up the Eiffel Tower, except someone up to no good.

Gold Ring Scam

Always be on the lookout for the Gold Ring Scam at the Eiffel Tower, or anywhere in Europe for that matter – but it does seem to hit the most in Paris.

Honesty and Lost Rings in Paris

The scam works like this.  You are walking in Paris when a man, woman, or child crosses your path and suddenly stops and bends over, picking up a shiny object on the sidewalk.  Many tourists think that the person is picking up a bottle cap or some other junk.  That’s when the scam begins. Here is a sample conversation that has been repeated to thousands of tourists every year:lost found ring scam

“Excusez-moi, Monsieur. Vous avez laissé votre bague ici.” He showed me a large gold wedding band.
“What? No, it is not my ring, Monsieur.”
“Mais oui, c’est à vous.”
“Mais non. I have no ring.”
“Mais oui, it is your ring. Well, if it is not then give it to your woman. It will make her happy. It is a woman’s ring.”
He hands me the ring. Indeed it is heavy. Apparently gold. “Um, no. It is not mine.”
“I cannot wear it. I am a man,” he said. “Give it to your woman.” He turned and walked away.
“Well, OK. Merci, Monsieur.” I turned and walked away.
He turns again. “Ah, Monsieur. S’il vous plait. I am hungry. I don’t have enough money for a baguette.”
“Um. OK. Take some change.” Hmm. He is honest but only needs money for a baguette. I gave him a few coins from the change still in my hand.
“No, that is not enough. Just a little more. I gave you the ring.”
“Well, OK, here is two euros but nothing more.” And I walk away.

You just fell victim to the “gold ring scam.”

Video of the Gold Ring Scam in Paris

The below video was shot by a family visiting Paris.  Wait for a few seconds and you will see a young man stop in front of the boy, bend over, and pick up the “gold ring” and try the scam. This family was smart and moved on.  But at least you have an idea of how innocent this scam looks when it happens.

Other Paris Tourist Scam

Dancing doll scam.  You will find this scam on the streets of Paris.  It looks like these dolls magically dance, but don’t be fooled and keep a hand on your wallet or bag.

“I am from Bosnia – Do you speak English scam”
This is a classic setup scam used around the world.  Gangs of women roam around beneath the tower. They usually wear bright clothing, long skirts, maybe even a flower in their hair. Their approach is usually to ask if you speak English. If you acknowledge them, they hand you a white card. On it is written how they have escaped from Bosnia (or another country) with their brother, they are homeless and need help, and can you spare any change? So what do you do? Appear hard-hearted and tell them you don’t have anything? Or give them something? Meanwhile, while you are distracted by reading their card, any unprotected belongings are rifled by an accomplice. Given there are large numbers of these women, all carrying white cards, there must be a lot of homeless Bosnian siblings in Paris. Best to wave them away as soon as they approach you and they quickly go off seeking another victim. We were approached at least twice on each visit to the tower.

“Crippled old lady” scam

You may come across an old woman, painfully bent over and using a child’s crutch with a begging bowl out. Watch for long enough, and you will see her make a miraculous recovery, put the crutch under her arm, and stroll casually away with her “earnings”. Best to ignore her and keep walking.

“Praying to my cup” scam
This one was actually more common on the Champs Elysee but if frequently found at the tower base. A woman with a headscarf will be kneeling in silent prayer before a cup on the ground. Watch long enough, and you will see her get up, walk with her cup to a nearby accomplice, casually tip her “earnings” into his bag, then go to another spot to take up her position of prayer once again. Best to ignore her and keep walking.

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Beware of the Lost-Found Gold Ring Scam

The “lost ring” scam is one of the oldest and most famous of the tourist scams in Paris, France and has now spread all across Europe where many tourists gather. There are several versions of this scam and its delivery is dependent on the scam artist or thief presenting the scam. One common thread is that always the story told by the con artist ends in asking for a few Euros in exchange for you keeping the gold ring.

How the Con Works

In essence, the “lost ring” or “found ring” scam, is based on the simple act of duping the target to believe that this is their lucky day. The scam can be targeted to anyone, but almost always a traveler. The scammer walks up next to you and quickly bends down and picks up a ring on the ground (that they placed prior to walking over it.) The ring is often a gold men’s wedding band.

The scammer (often a woman) then offers to give you the ring but asks for a small amount of money in exchange for doing so. She pleads that she has no money or job and would appreciate a few Euros in trade for the gold ring.

Another “reason” to give you the band is that she has no husband, or that her husband already wears a gold band and has no use for this one.

Some con-artists claim that it is against their religion to wear jewelry and that is why they want you to have it.

She continues on saying that the ring is worth a lot of money and it is your lucky day because she only wants a few euros in exchange for the ring. She pressures you into thinking that you are doing a kindness by giving her a few Euros. Laying on to her plea for a few Euros is that if she has a young child at her side making her look more honest or needy.

In reality, the ring is worthless and made of cheap brass – but it looks like gold.

Variations of the “Lost Ring Scam”

Some victims of this scam have reported that the scammer begins to yell if you don’t give them a finders fee. Other variations have included a few accomplices who just “happen” to be walking by and verbally support the fact that the ring is valuable and you are very lucky to have found it.

The best course of action in these cases is to simply walk away and try not to engage them in a conversation.

Videos of the Famous Paris Found Gold Ring Scam

What to Do if  You’re a Target of This Street Scam

If you are approached by someone handing you a gold ring, the best thing to do is to walk away, and not engage with the scammer. Be prepared that they may yell at you and accuse you of stealing from them, even if you didn’t take the ring. Their motive is to get you to give them money so they will go away. Don’t cave in to their bullying and public shaming tactics. Remember they are the bad guy, not you.

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In Paris Don’t Fall for the – Fake Petition Scam

The fake petition scam has been going on in France, Italy, and Spain for years because it is so successful. It’s a scam many first time visitors fall for because it starts out as what appears to be a legitimate conversation with a friendly local.  You will usually find con-artists with clipboards at many of the larger metropolitan tourist destinations.

How the Fake Petition Scam Works

The con-artists target single travelers, couples, and small groups of tourists.  If you are or see that you are about to be approached by clipboard-wielding young man or woman who greets you with a smile and genuine interest – know that you are very possibly being set up for any number of scams to relieve you of your money. After you sign the petition (and there are many compelling reasons or causes to sign) they pester you sometimes to the point of intimidation to make a “donation” now that you signed the form.

Fake Petition Scam

Fake Petition Scam

Victimized travelers have many different variations of how they fell victim to a scammer who targeted them with the “fake petition” scam – with some of the interactions being very unpleasant.  The best advice is to avoid the fake petition scam in the first place. If anyone approaches you holding a clipboard, or holding a piece of paper that may even remotely look like a petition, do not let them engage you in conversation. Simply say firmly “non merci” and walk away. If necessary be rude, and do not let them engage you in conversation, because if you do, you might end up like the man in the video below.

The scam works this way. Once you sign what you think is a petition, the scammer will insist that you make a donation to whatever cause the petition is for. If you don’t give a “donation” the scammer will point to the paper you signed that says you have agreed to give a donation. If you still don’t give a donation, the scammer comes up with another trick, they will tell you that if you don’t give a donation they (the scammer – or as they may call themselves “petitioner” will have to personally give the pledge money to the cause you signed for. If you resist, other youths may come to their aid as a way to pressure you to pay. The scene can escalate from there in various manners, including the use of other thieves who may try to steal your bag as you are distracted by the argument.

How Fake Petitioners Operate to Rip Off Unsuspecting Travelers

Another variation is that the scammer targets unsuspecting tourists who are sitting down at a café table. The scammer looks specifically for someone who may have a cell phone or camera on the table and uses the fake petition scam as a distraction to steal it. The thief’s job is that when they walk up to your table, they need to engage you in conversation while they put their clipboard or papers on top of your phone or camera. The thief tries to do this in a way that you won’t notice what they are doing – again facilitated by engaging you in a verbal conversation.

After a short conversation, and with the hope that you were also able to get you to “donate” to there scam cause, the thief walks away, with your cell phone or camera under their clipboard or other paperwork. Most times these thieves are so skilled that it takes victims some time to even realize they have been ripped off. Lesson learned here is to keep your guard up against overly friendly strangers and always be aware of your possessions when they are sitting on a table. A defensive strategy for travel is to always place your phone or wallet while sitting a table into an anti-theft waist pack.  You can reach for it easily, but no one else can.

Don’t Be a Target – Learn From Others and Don’t Fall Victim to the Fake Petition Scam

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Don’t Fall for Pickpocket Scams in Paris while using the Paris Metro or Trains

Paris is the city of light, fashion, artistic expression, and love. Paris was also rated in a TripAdvisor.com survey as one of the top ten cities in the world for pickpockets. Tourists visiting Paris are targeted by a variety of thieves, which can be can be any gender, race, or age, however, you have the highest chance of being targeted by young teens (especially young girls) under the age of 16 because they are difficult to prosecute.  While several thousand tourists make police reports that they had fallen victim to Paris pickpockets, it is believed that nearly half of these thefts occur on Paris trains and the Metro.

Keep in mind that pickpocket activity at the below locations may have changed, so keep that in mind.

Taking a little time to learn about how to avoid Paris pickpockets can potentially save you hours of travel disruption and hanging out at a Paris police station making a pickpocket report – not something most travelers want to do.

Paris Train and Metro Stations with High Pickpocket Activity

Just know that Paris pocket pickers love to target tourists while they are passing thru or riding the train or Metro, and is believed that nearly half of Paris’s pickpocket reports are reported occurring on these two systems. Know that all Metro lines present high levels of pickpocket activity, especially during the summer months.  In regards to timing when pickpockets operate, keep in mind that it can happen at any time, however, many of the thefts occur on the Metro between 4 and 6 pm when it is rush hour.

Paris pickpockets can be any gender, race, or age but are commonly children under the age of 16 because they are difficult to prosecute. Keep out an extra eye for groups of young female teens, as they are probably one of the most prevalent groups that can be easily identified.

The following Metro and RER Lines are ones that travelers need to be very vigilant when riding on, or in the area of, as they have higher than average numbers of victims falling victim to pickpockets:

REF Rail Link – In Paris, two trains, in particular, are favorites with pickpockets because they’re both loaded with tourists: The RER train between Charles de Gaulle Airport and central Paris, and the RER train that goes between Paris and Versailles. For years, both the US State Department, as well as the Paris police have reported that the rail link RER B from Charles de Gaulle airport to the city center (downtown Paris), both east and west directions, are often prime hunting ground for pickpockets – as many of the stops are tourist favorites.

Metro Line 1 – especially between Charles de Gaulle-Etoile to Bastille (both directions).

Metro Line 2 – Barbes-rochechuart to Anvers

Metro Line 4 – Chatelet to Barbes-rochechuart, and especially the part that goes to Montmartre from Chatelet.

Metro Line 6- Charles de Gaulle-Etoile to La Motte Picquet Grenelle

Metro Line 9- Alma Marceau to Franklin D Roosevelt

Metro Line 13- Saint Lazare to Montparnasse bienvenue

The following train and metro stations are reported to be locations with considerable pickpocket activity:

  • Chatelet
  • Les Halles
  • Barbes Rochechouart
  • Gare du Nord
  • Auber-Opera-Harve Caumartin
  • Charles de Gaulle-Etoile
  • Concorde
  • Strasbourg-Saint Denis
  • Republique
  • Montparnasse
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • Bastille
  • Care de l’Est
  • Nation
  • Gare de Lyon

Video of Paris Metro Pickpockets

The below video was shot by a rider of the Paris Metro.  The video shows child pickpockets roaming a Paris Metro subway platform.  The video shows how young pickpockets work and roam in groups.  Watch how they cover their heads when they realize they are being videotaped.  Many times, child pickpockets operate in crowded trains and platforms.

Pickpocket Scams on Paris RER and Metro Lines

  • While waiting for the RER to depart, several young people enter the train carrying clipboards. One of the members approaches you and asks you to sign his petition. With the clipboard in one hand a pen in the other, also covering your lap, the young man takes your bag from your lap and runs. He was able to take your belongings because your hands and eyes were distracted by the petition.
  • A small group of 2-4 well-trained pickpockets searches for tourists exiting a train. Once a tourist is spotted, the gang members scatter among the crowd of departing passengers and follow the target to an escalator that exits to the street. One or two thieves stand directly behind the target, and third a few steps further behind. Thief number 3 slowly walks up the escalator passing other passengers and his accomplices. Once he is standing directly in front of the target and is near the landing, he awkwardly drops coins from his pocket. As he collects his coins on the landing, the target and fellow passengers are unable to disembark because the thief is blocking the exit. Due to this, the passengers are thrown into each other. This commotion creates an opportunity for the two thieves that were positioned directly behind the target to remove wallets and other valuables from the target’s back pocket, without notice.
  • Metro and train riders need to pay attention when stopped at stations, as metro pickpockets and thieves often time their pickpocket attempts to coincide with the closing of the automatic doors on the Metro, leaving the victim on the departing train. This is especially important to tourists who are standing close to the doors of the metro. Pay attention to the sound of the metro’s bell or buzzer sounds, because that’s the thief’s cue, and it should be yours too. This noise indicates the doors are about to shut, and the train is moving on to the next station. The pickpocket needs just a couple of seconds to grab your phone or purse and dart out the door, knowing that before you even realize what’s happening, they’re on the platform waving goodbye as you speed off to the next stop without a chance of catching the culprit.
  • Another big Metro pickpocket scam occurs when you are riding the Metro and when you see a group of pre-teens or teens standing close to you and pick a fight with each other. They push each other around, bump into tourists and while you’re distracted, will try to grab your bag. Vigilance is key! If someone acts weird or suspicious, get off the car at the next stop and either move to another car or wait for the next train. Try to find a seat, or stand away from the doors. If you can’t sit, back yourself up against one of the sides. Try to minimize access to your pockets and purses.
  • You are riding up or down a busy metro escalator when a thief behind you tries to get into your backpack, back pocket, or purse without your knowledge or sight since they are behind you. In another scam, the escalator suddenly jolts to a stop, most times because someone (usually a member of a group of thieves) pressed the emergency stop button at the bottom. As you begin to walk up or down the stopped escalator, other similar scams occur such as someone in front of you walking up or down the escalator stairs starts to walk very slow, causing you to slow my pace. While this occurs, the thief behind you has more time to steal your valuables from behind. In other escalator scams, a thief acts like they dropped something, causing you to have to “squeeze by” the person, again, a built-in distraction by thieves to get extra time to steal from you.

Solution: First be observant of the people who are near you at all times, especially at train stations. Second, there are clever travel products on the market that can help you keep items like your wallet or money safe. If you insist on carrying a wallet, use a security-style travel that cannot leave your person.

Pocket expands to fit phone & passport. Hide under shirt.

Pocket expands to fit phone & passport. Hide undershirt.

  • A similar and equally popular pickpocket method is the swarm and snatch. While being swarmed by passengers on a full metro train as they enter and exit, a pickpocket skillfully places his hand in your pocket and removes your wallet. Due to the pressure of the passengers around you, you are not able to feel the intruder snatch your money.
  • Another trick is to snatch the purse, watch or bag from a passenger near the exit and quickly escape through the closing metro train doors.
  • A passenger enters the train and has a jacket draped over his arm. The passenger stands next to you and gently drops the jacket over the top of your bag or purse, without you noticing. While his hands are out of sight, he is able to reach into your bag and steal your valuables.

Solution: Always keep your belongings in eye’s sight and be wary of passengers carrying jackets or long scarves, especially in the warm summer months – it is unusual to wear heavy clothing in warm weather. Use a purse designed for travel with built-in anti-theft features. Most importantly look for locking zippers and slash resistant reinforced construction to foil thieves and keep valuables safe.

  • The metro train is full and there are no available seats, so you stand and hold the above handrail. A man next to you insists that he dropped his ticket and you are standing on it. The man bends down and begins to tug at the leg of your trousers. You focus your attention on the odd behavior of the man touching your leg, and his accomplice lifts your cell phone from your front pocket.
  • Gare du Nord is a bustling train station and connection for express trains from the airport. Opportunists eagerly await the arrival of disoriented tourists with luggage. A well-dressed, young man offers assistance with the foreign ticket machine. While you are consumed with learning how the automat works from the helpful man, his accomplice helps himself to your laptop bag.Leg Safe, won't fall off, fits most leg sizes.
  • While traveling with a friend to the Louvre metro stop, a group of well-dressed, young women with beautiful, long dresses surround you and ask for the time. You check your watch and the women suddenly grab your wrist to admire your watch. Oddly enough, the women do not release your arm. They continue to talk to each other saying how beautiful the watch is.  While your friend and you frantically try to free your arm, one of the women has helped herself to the contents of your backpack.

Solution: If you find yourself in such a situation, try stepping on the foot of the woman or man who holds onto you. This reaction will catch them off guard and bring attention to the group.

  • You have just arrived on a train from Charles de Gaulle Airport to downtown Paris. You suffer from jetlag and are carrying two suitcases, a carry-on, and a backpack. A stranger approaches you in the train station asking for directions. While you try to explain that you are not from Paris, an accomplice helps themselves to an unguarded bag. The U.S. State Department suggests taking a bus or taxi from the airport into the city.
  • You and your travel partner decide to play it safe and take the Air France bus from the airport to a downtown train station. You purchase two round-trip tickets totaling 44 Euros with three 20 Euro bills. Once you take a seat, you realize that the driver gave you 6 Euros in change. When you walk to the front of the bus to explain the situation, you overhear another passenger also explaining that they received incorrect change.

    Pacsafe Sling safe 350

    Anti-theft backpack keeps hands out and valuables in

Solution: Try to pay with exact change, but when not possible, do not walk away from the bus driver, ticket counter, restaurant, cashier, etc. before counting your change. Research initial costs such as airport transportation before arriving in France.

  • While going through a turnstile at the Notre Dame metro stop, a young man behind you pushes claiming that the turnstile is stuck. The man reaches across you with his left hand over your shoulder and releases the turnstile. You are now able to exit but without your wallet. While the man was pressing against you and distracting you with the tale of the jammed turnstile, he was picking your pocket with his free left hand.

Solution: It is impossible to always avoid these types of spontaneous events, but you can carry your valuables more safely in a money belt hidden under your trousers. With the short window of opportunity for this scam, a money belt will help to spoil the attempt because it is difficult to reach.

Coversafe V100 Anti-Theft RFID Blocking Waist Wallet

  • Never purchase metro tickets from people on the street claiming to sell them for a discounted rate. Always purchase tickets from either a ticket machine or counter.
  • Many men find it more comfortable to carry cameras, identification, and money in a small bag or waist pack. While traveling on the metro to Arc de la Triomphe two men who are speaking to each other in an unrecognizable, foreign language stands near you. One man was reading a newspaper and the other man seems frustrated with him while pointing at the metro map in the train. The man continues to read the newspaper as the train departs he begins to lean on you, pushed from the movement of the train. This makes you feel immediately uncomfortable and while you pay attention to the fact that a stranger is leaning on you, his friend cuts the straps of your waist pack and exits at the next stop. You did not notice the lightness of the missing pack because of the man who was leaning on you-you were focusing on where he was touching you and not the suddenly missing pack around your waist.

Solution: If someone touches you, or presses into you, immediately try to move. Additionally, you can purchase a small bag or waist pack with slash-proof straps or belt with a hidden closure.

Security Waist pack with locking zippers

  • Before a RER train departs from Paris, a young person asks you to sign a form while you are seated. An accomplice is behind the young person, and as you busy both of your hands to hold the clipboard and pen, the accomplice is able to steal your belongings, even those sitting in your lap.
  • Do not underestimate what a thief looks like. While on a packed train, you travel with a group of friends to the Eiffel Tower. Two young girls, younger than 10-years old ask your group if you have any candy. You politely tell the girls no and one of the girls looks at you sadly. While the disappointed little girl continues to stare at you, the second little girl robs you by unzipping your backpack and stealing the camera and wallet. At the next stop, the two girls quickly exit leaving you to notice nothing until they are gone.
  • During rush hour it can be difficult to enter a packed train. You are able to push your way onto a train with a group of young girls. You are not concerned with pickpockets because you cleverly carry your valuables under your clothes and you hold your handbag closely to your body. Although you packed smartly, the little hands of the young girls are still able to unzip your bag before you sense anything.
  • Using payphones in a foreign country can be like learning a foreign language. Once you arrive at the La Chapelle station, you attempt to telephone your friend who you are visiting. A friendly man notices you struggling with the pay phone and offers to help. The man overhears where you plan to meet your friend and offers to accompany you. The man is genuinely friendly, so you accept the offer. Later that night when you arrive at your friend’s flat, you realize that you are missing 500 Euros.

Solution: If you need help with pay phones, ask a staff member of the train station or a storekeeper. If a friendly stranger offers to help you, decline.

  • While traveling on the RER, an older woman walks up to you with a long scarf or tablecloth draped over her arm. She holds out the cloth, but with one real arm and one fake arm. This allows her other real arm to snatch one of your bags lying by your feet.
  • Be aware in colder months of large winter coats and accessories. The added bulk makes the job of a pickpocket easier as they slip their hand in and out of the coat to grab the goods. Do not carry wallets, money or valuables in the exterior pockets of heavy coats.

Taxis and Driving

The biggest scam with taxis in Paris may be how difficult it is to catch a cab. While there are not as many reports of overcharging or scams on Parisian taxis, compared to Rome for example, it is still to be a vigilant passenger.

  • You enter a taxi and tell the driver where you would like to go. The driver seems to not understand even though you said quite clearly, “La Louvre”. You pull out a map and even show the driver where you want to go. Finally, after a few minutes, you realize that the taximeter has been running the entire time. Beware of the “confused” taxi driver.
  • Be suspicious of unlicensed taxi drivers who approach tourists at the airport offering a cheaper fare. Because the driver is unlicensed, there is not a way for the passenger to know in advance what the fare might be. It is best to wait in line at the taxi stand.
  • You decide to take a taxi after dinner and what is normally a five-minute trip, takes 15 minutes. You don’t notice the time go by because you are too busy enjoying the site-seeing tour that the driver has taken you on. Or maybe you see the Eiffel Tower two times because the driver is going in circles. Sometimes when in the city, it is best to use buses or the metro trains.

Ride the Paris Metro like a Local and reduce your chances of being targeted by a pickpocket

  1. Plan your route before leaving the hotel, selecting the most direct route in order to limit the amount of travel/train time.
  2. Try to avoid changing trains in larger touristy metro stations such as Gare du Nord, Gare Montparnasse or Chatelet Les Halles. One can easily get lost in these large stations and that makes travelers vulnerable to potential theft.
  3. During busy travel times, stand on the far end of the platform, away from the entrance stairwell.
  4. Stand further back on the train platforms to scout out a suitable, or empty train car to enter. This keeps you out of a crowd and allows you to be flexible to enter a different car at the last moment if necessary.
  5. If someone comes up to you and try to sell you something or ask you to sign any form of a petition, decline politely and walk away in the opposite direction.
  6. If the metro escalator stops and someone asks to help you with your suitcase decline or watch to make sure someone else isn’t going in your handbag on the other side.
  7. Carry backpacks or large bags in front of you, especially when the train is full. Carrying your pack on your back signals to other passengers that you are a tourist.
  8. Wrap straps of handbags or purses securely around your wrist, especially when sitting or standing near an exit door.

Additional Paris Metro and Train Pickpocket Information

Know that Paris Metro and Train pickpockets use simple, t effective strategies that steal items from tourists.  Many times pickpockets will have a light jacket or sweater draped over a forearm – which is used to hide the fact that they are reaching under the jacket with the other arm for a victim’s wallet.  Paris Metro pickpockets will use this type of technique on a crowded metro or train car, but their favorite opportunity seems to be during the bustle and bumping that occur as a car empties and refills. The idea is to grab a wallet from someone on or boarding the train just before the doors close and then get off while the victim rides away.