Tag Archives: pickpockets

If you have never fallen victim to a pickpocket, you are lucky – and to tell you the truth – if you are just a little street smart, you may never in your lifetime. However, pickpockets come in a variety of levels of expertise from the expert to the opportunist. Falling victim to either one and losing your credit cards, as well as your passport and currency or phone can really put a crimp on your vacation abroad. Even seasoned travelers can fall victim to a distraction and be pickpocketed. See how easily you can be distracted by one thief while an accomplice relieves you of your valuables.

Anti-theft travel bag with locking zippers keeps hands out and valuables inside.

Learn from these prevention tips provided by a victim.

5 TIPS From a Victim of a Pickpocket

Here are five tips that the victim’s wife said she and her husband from now on will always follow.

1. I’ll leave all non-essential cards and documents at home.

I will thoroughly empty out my wallet before I leave home, but I could have done a better job. There was no reason for me to carry my driver’s license abroad, for example, and now I’m still waiting on a replacement! (Ahem, New York State DMV.) Hint keep images of ID on your password-protected phone.

2. I won’t withdraw large sums of cash at once from an ATM.

I’ve always withdrawn wads of foreign currency at a time under the theory that I was keeping ATM fees to a minimum. I found out it’s not worth the risk; next time, I’ll pay the five dollars!

3. I’ll divide my cash and credit cards into at least two stashes.

I generally try to be good about carrying half of my funds in a money belt and half in a wallet or secure pocket, but from now on, I will always do that.
If half gets stolen, at least I’ll have backup cards.

4. I’ll remember that I brought that zippered purse or travel bag for a reason and will always engage the zippers, and lock them down with the anti-theft clasp.

These are our favorite anti-theft handbags that have built-in pickpocket prevention features.

5. I will use an anti-theft travel bag to hold all valuables including my phone, and never use my back pocket ever to hold anything I don’t want to lose.

6. ( Bonus tip) I will travel with the phone numbers of my credit-card companies( hint keep them in your phone contacts).

As I was scrambling to find the numbers on the Internet, I couldn’t help thinking that having them on hand would have saved a lot of time during post-pickpocket cleanup.

Bonus Story

The following video is of a woman who was targeted by a pickpocket while she was riding on the Paris Metro and had her wallet stolen from her purse. Pay close attention to the portion of the video where the woman talks about her purse.

Be proactive before you travel and plan how you will protect your valuables in public places. One of the best ways you can thwart the actions of a pickpocket is to use a security purse or travel bag that has built-in anti-theft features. Have peace of mind and enjoy the sights knowing your gear is secure with an anti-theft bag.

Security Features You Want in an Anti-theft Travel Bag

The most important security feature of an anti-theft bag is a locking zipper. A locking zipper is one that stays closed by having the zipper pull stay secured to the bag with a carabiner-style hook. It takes two hands to open it keeping the hand of thieves out of your bag and your valuables and possessions secure.

Another valuable security feature is an anti-theft strap that you can detach from the bag on one end, wrap the strap through an armrest on a chair, and then reattach to the bag. This connects the bag to the chair (or another stationary item) to prevent grab-n-go thefts.

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Shop Travelon Classic Backpack

There are two primary things you must do to avoid theft and protect your valuables when visiting tourist locations or encountering large crowds. One, you need to be alert to your surroundings. Be alert to people trying to distract with questions or performances. Children and women are equally as skillful as men are when it comes to distraction and thievery. Distracted tourists looking at sights or talking to “friendly” strangers are easy and lucrative targets. They know travelers have cash, valuables, a phone, and potentially even a laptop in a backpack. Second, you need to protect your valuables so that thieves can’t access them when they do target you. Thwart their efforts with pickpocket proof travel gear. The bonus is you are a little more relaxed knowing your gear is safe.

AVOID THEFT IN CROWD DISTURBANCES

Travelon Heritage Backpack

A disturbance in a large crowd is oftentimes a way for thieves to bump into targets to steal valuables. It can take only a second or two to steal your wallet from your pocket, a handbag, or a backpack. To eliminate the opportunity from becoming a victim, both men and women need to be smart about the approach of strangers. When a disturbance or disagreement breaks out, hold onto your valuables, handbag, and wallet until the disturbance is completely over and you are away from the crowd. The same thing goes for if you’re watching street performers, enjoy the show, but know where and how you’re protecting your valuables first.

PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES TO AVOID THEFT

These are a few simple tips to keep your items out of the hands of thieves while you’re in a crowd.

Wear pants with buttoned or zippered pockets to prevent pickpockets from stealing items from those pockets. Turn regular pockets into theft proof pockets by having velcro sewn inside the very top of the pocket.
Only keep a small amount of money, one credit card, and one ID in your wallet.
Never publicly check your valuables because a thief may be watching you and will them know which pocket to target.
A smooth leather wallet is the easiest to slide out from a pocket and steal so use an anti-theft wallet.

AVOID THEFT BY PICKPOCKETS

Do not carry your wallet in an open handbag or tote bag without a zipper. Use the zipper to keep your bag closed, and never place it on the ground. If you must, straddle it with both feet and squeeze it tight until you are ready to pick it up.
Use a handbag with anti-theft features, that is more difficult to open than a regular bag.
A crossbody purse, where the straps lay diagonally across your body, is a visual deterrent to thieves.

Never leave your handbag unattended in a tourist spot, crowded concert, grocery store, or streetside flea market. The point is not to tempt anyone either.

BE PREPARED IN CASE YOU BECOME A VICTIM OF THEFT

Keep a copy of your ID, passport, credit cards, and airline tickets in the safe of your room or accessible via the internet in a password-protected document or file.
Consider leaving expensive jewelry at home or reducing the amount of jewelry you wear.
Carry your cash in a money belt. Newer style underclothing money belts fit passports and have built-in anti-theft features too.

This is a traditional Travel Money Belt that is Airport Security-Friendly Won’t Set off Alarm & Hides Bills

Use an RFID blocking protection backpack, handbag, or wallet to protect your identity from e-thieves.
If using a rental car and you can’t carry your valuables with you, hide them inside the trunk or in a locked glove compartment and always lock your car.

Taking just a few precautions to protect your valuables will give you peace of mind on your next trip.

While London tops many traveler’s lists as one of their must-see cities to visit in Europe, certain London’s subway lines are tops with pickpockets. The busier the station or line is with travelers the busier it is with pickpockets. Make sure you are safe from pickpockets while using the London Underground or Tube so you don’t waste precious vacation time in a police station making a crime report, obtaining new ID or passport, or getting new credit cards lost to the thieves.

Watch Out for Pickpockets on Certain London Subway Lines

Watch Out for Pickpockets on London Subway Lines

In a recent report released by the British Transport Police, several specific underground Tube lines were identified as the top pickpocket victimization locations where passengers are being targeted by pickpocket gangs. Obviously, the Tube’s busiest lines and stations are the ones most likely to have higher incidents of theft by pickpockets than quieter lines.

The report also shows the subway stations where London subway pickpockets are most active and unsurprisingly they are the tourist hot-spots. Of interesting note, the report also lists the sex of the victims and pointed out that if you’re a woman you are more likely to fall victim to subway pickpocket, as 1247 females were pick-pocketed last year compared to 1116 men. The London subway pickpocket figures were obtained by IBTimes UK from Freedom of Information requests revealed British Transport Police recorded 15,635 offenses across the Underground as well as Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and Overground services.

Travelers using London’s Central Line to get around central London are more likely to fall prey to thieves than on any other route on the London Underground.

The Solution – Stop Pickpockets Before They Ruin Your Trip!

Use anti-theft wallets, bags and other clever gear to thwart pickpockets. It should be pointed out that overall, the crime rate on the London Underground has fallen in recent years – down from 17,828 in 2012 and 19,223 in 2013 – to 15,635 in 2014, however, the locations which were outlined in the report are ones that all travelers should be aware of when visiting London and traveling on the subway. For a detailed report on London Tube pickpockets, read this report.

London, England, is known for pickpockets working the crowds for as long as they have had their underground tube.

Since a majority of pickpocketing occurs in their subway system, the British Transport Police has put together a series of short videos that alert travelers to the most common types of thefts that you would fall victim to in the UK.

These videos are very well done and should be viewed by anyone who is going anywhere pickpockets are known to show their trade. Here is the pickpocket video link that has additional information.

London Transport Police Videos

Pickpocket Tactics Video – The Stall

Pickpocket Tactics Video – The Concealed Hand

Pickpocket Tactics Video – The Easy Dip

Pickpocket Tactics Video -The Helpful Stranger

Pickpocket Tactics Video – The Distraction

Pickpocket Tactics Video – The Diversion

Pickpocket Tactics Video – Luggage Lifters

Pickpocket Tactics Video – The Snatchers

Pickpocket Tactics Video – The Blind Spot

Pickpocket Tactics Video – The Sleeper

Pickpocket Tactics Video – The Plucker

Pickpocket Tactics Video – The Helpful Stranger

Pickpocket Tactics Video – The Grabber

Pickpocket Tactics Video – The Early Bird

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 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.
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.
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.

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

Plan your route before leaving the hotel, selecting the most direct route in order to limit the amount of travel/train time.
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.
During busy travel times, stand on the far end of the platform, away from the entrance stairwell.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

General Pickpocket Scams in Amsterdam Holland

Amsterdam is known as the Venice of the North. The city itself fans out from the Centraal train station with a system of canals built to support the increasing population in the 17^th century and to provide protection from high waters. The oldest area of town lies to the east of the main road Damak, and is known as the quays or the famous Red Light District, and to the south of the quays lies the old Jewish quarter of Waterlooplein. The half-circle running canals are lined with narrow, colorful, wooden houses and the city is full of architectural wonders in the Renaissance, Gothic and Baroque styles. Amsterdam offers something for every taste from architecture, a lively nightlife, history, and culture.

Famous Scams in Amsterdam

The following scams have placed Amsterdam, in particular, as one of the top 10 cities for pickpockets, according to a TripAdvisor poll. Any of the following situations can occur in any city in the Netherlands or even Europe, while walking on the street, in a museum or church, on a train or even in your hotel lobby.

The Fake Police Officer: You are walking during the day through an alley and two officers approach you and your partner and tell you that there is a scam going on in Amsterdam where storekeepers are making change with counterfeit notes, so they are conducting a search to make sure that you are not carrying any of these fake notes. You pull out your money to show the officers and they quickly swipe it from you and run away.

Scam: There are gangs that pretend to be – and even go so far as to dress up as – police officers to earn your trust. The perpetrators are usually from Eastern Europe and speak English. There are many ways how this scam can play out: 1) One officer will question you while the other can at the same time pick your pockets; 2) The officers may pretend to arrest you in order to gain access to your belongings and perform a “search”; 3) The officers may ask to see your cash to make sure it is not counterfeit and then steal it; 4) The officers may ask to see your passport, credit card, or even ask for your PIN number and then steal the items.

Solution: First ask to see identification. If you are suspicious about the authenticity of the officers do not show your wallet, instead offer to meet him at the nearest police station. If the fake officer becomes aggressive, yell for help and try to draw attention to yourself or ask locals to call the police.

The Foreign License Plate: You are making a tour through Europe and you have a rental car from Germany. You park your car on a side street near your hotel for the evening and keep the majority of your luggage in the trunk, so you don’t have to lug it in and out of every hotel. The next morning, you find that the back window of the car has been smashed in and everything, even from the trunk, has been stolen.

Scam: There is a sophisticated theft ring in Amsterdam who target tourists in vehicles. The thieves search for cars with foreign license plates or rental car insignia. The perpetrators know that most tourists will store valuables in the trunk, believing it is safe.

Solution: Always keep your car doors locked and park in paid-parking garages where security is provided.

The Cookie Monster Scam: A friendly stranger on the street approaches you and starts a conversation. You are excited about the opportunity to speak with a local, so you speak with the man and he offers you a cookie. The man is so friendly and you don’t want to appear impolite, so you accept the treat and eat it. Suddenly you get really sleepy and find a park bench to take a nap.

Scam: The starts a conversation to gain your trust and get your guard down. He then offers you a cookie that is laced with drugs, so you pass out. He follows you and steals all of your belongings. The original Cookie Monster has been arrested, but there are copycat attempts with other food items such as a can of soda.

Solution: Never take food or drink from a stranger. Do not accept anything from strangers on the street.

The Hotel Overbooking Scam: You book three nights with a hotel-booking website such as Venere.com. Once you arrive, the hotel receptionist informs you that the hotel is booked. You show the receptionist your confirmation number and the hotel apologizes and offers to help you find a similar accommodation. You go to the other hotel and it is a total dump, but it is late, so you decide to stay.

Scam: Many hotels will rent rooms to walk-in guests because they can charge a higher rate than many discount hotel booking sites. This usually happens to guests who arrive after 2pm.

Solution: Try to book with a site that pays for the room immediately, rather than paying once you arrive. This will guarantee that your room will not be given to another guest. It is also a good idea to call the hotel before arriving to confirm the reservation and to inform the hotel when you will be checking in.

The Museum Scam: You are waiting in the long line to get into the Ann Frank Museum when a couple walks up to you and begin to ask tourist questions.

Solution: Pickpockets love to target tourists when they are stopped – they are a very easy mark – especially at the popular Ann Frank Museum. Make sure you are always alert to someone who walks up to you unannounced – it could be a set up to where someone tries to remove your wallet or camera from your purse or travel bag when you are distracted by the conversation to someone else.

Broken Glasses Scam: Somebody drops glasses on the ground and steps on it, however, you are the one accused of stepping on them.

Solution: This is another Amsterdam pickpocket scam designed to get you to stop for a group of pickpockets can target you. As one of the thieves gets nasty in your face, one of the accomplices tries to remove something from your bag or purse. Know this scam up front – put your back to a nearby wall if you are so inclined to have a discussion with someone who pulls this scam. Carry a travel bag that has pickpocket prevention features like these to avoid this type of theft.

Scams reported by the US Consulate in Amsterdam

Below are two scams reported by the US Consulate in Amsterdam. While this is not a direct scam for tourists who are already in Amsterdam, it may be the reason for your trip over the pond (Atlantic).

“Each year, thousands of people lose money to sophisticated Advance Fee Fraud (AFF) schemes. These are known internationally as 4-1-9 fraud, after the section of the Nigerian penal code which addresses fraud schemes. Victims are usually contacted through email with promises of lottery winnings, an inheritance, an incredible investment opportunity, or other ways to get rich quickly. Unfortunately, many of these schemes are actively operating in The Netherlands, and American citizens may fall prey to these criminals. Please be advised that offers of money that will be made available to you in The Netherlands are likely to be fraudulent, and that money spent on such schemes cannot be recovered. Perpetrators of 4-1-9 schemes are often very creative and innovative and use a variety of tactics to entice victims into the scheme. Many victims are convinced that they have been singled out from the masses to share in multi-million dollar windfall profits for doing absolutely nothing. Before you are tempted to participate in such an offer, please review some common features of fraud schemes.
- An individual or company receives an e-mail, letter or fax from an alleged official representing a foreign government or agency;
- An offer is made to transfer millions of dollars in “over-invoiced contract” funds into a personal bank account;
- The individual is encouraged to travel overseas to complete the transaction;
- The individual is requested to provide blank company letterhead forms, bank account information, telephone/fax numbers, etc.;
- The individual receives numerous documents with official looking stamps, seals, and logo testifying to the authenticity of the proposal;

The individual is asked to provide up-front or advance funds for various taxes, attorney fees, transaction fees or bribes.

Other forms of 4-1-9 schemes include: c.o.d. for goods or services, real estate ventures, purchase of crude oil at reduced prices, a beneficiary of a will, lottery winner, recipient of an award and paper currency conversion. While the victim’s bank account information may be requested, this is often an indicator to the culprit that they have hooked another victim, rather than an attempt to plunder the account. They will gain access to your money through other means! ”

“The Consulate General of Amsterdam has received a number of complaints from American and Dutch citizens who have been lured into online relationships via false pretenses.” (US Consulate-Amsterdam) The perpetrators are primarily men who pretend to be women in chat rooms or on dating websites and after the relationship develops, he/she will start frequently asking for money and that it be transferred through wire services. The swindler claims that the money is needed to resolve a family issue or to arrange for a trip to the United States or to The Netherlands.

When it is time to make the trip, the swindler will typically say that something has come up and they “can’t leave the country”. Perhaps an injury that leaves them in the hospital and one of their family members contacts you requesting money for an emergency surgery. There are many ways that this scam can play out, but the sole purpose is to get as much money as possible from the victim.

ATM Machines & Credit Cards

Most ATM machines in Amsterdam are safe and often provide a better rate of exchange than exchange bureaus. Because money is easily accessible from ATMs, they are excellent targets for petty thieves waiting to make a quick buck. When you access your bank account from an ATM, cover the keypad when you enter your PIN and do not count your money in a public place.

Additionally, the Overseas Security Advisory Council reports, “During the past year, there has been an increase in credit card skimming conducted by criminals. Police are making arrests against skimmers; however, precautionary measures should be made when using credit cards, even when using them for paying parking fees.” (The Netherlands 2010 Crime & Safety Report)

10 Basic Tips to Protect Your Belongings from Pickpockets in Amsterdam

Although millions of people have fallen victim to petty theft, it is most certainly not a reason to avoid the riches of Amsterdam. Prepare for your departure to avoid being a target on your trip. Travel companies have even created specialized products to help you keep your belongings safe while viewing the wonders of the world; take advantage of these tools.

Research ahead of time to determine areas with high pickpocketing activity. Either avoid these areas or be vigilant when traveling through.
“Ga Weg!” – ”Get Lost!” Learn a few Dutch phrases to catch the pickpockets off guard.
Appear confident, even if you are nervous, or lost. If you do get lost, step into a café or museum lobby to review your map.
Avoid talking to strangers. If unavoidable, stay alert and keep some distance when speaking with them.
Use ATMs located in bank lobbies during bank opening hours. Block the keypad when entering your PIN.
During the day, walk on the sunny side of the street and avoid empty streets or alleys. Most pickpockets lurk in the shade.
Be suspicious of strangers who try to position themselves close to you.
Be on high alert in areas that are crowded and create the opportunity for people to easily bump into one another: buses, trams, open-air markets, etc.
If possible, travel in groups – safety in numbers.
Try to dress like the locals, no shorts, flip-flops, baseball caps, etc.
When traveling on a tram, attempt to find a seat. If a seat is not available, try not to stand by the doors or near the attendant on board.
Do not pull out cash in public to avoid drawing attention to you. Keep your money spread out in multiple locations.
Leave large amounts of cash in the hotel safe.
Do not examine your map while in a crowded area. Try to study your map before leaving the hotel or while sitting at a restaurant.
If you carry a backpack or purse in a crowded place, wear the backpack on the front, or your purse across your body.
When speaking English, speak quietly, so you do not alert pickpockets that you are a tourist.
Never leave your purse or jacket hanging on the back of a chair.
If you suspect that you are being followed, do something unpredictable and go into a store. This will catch the pickpocket off guard.
Do not buy or accept products off of the street.
Last, prepare for the worst and gather pertinent information such as: credit card phone numbers, make two photocopies of your passport, make additional copies of tickets and hotel reservation information.

Products to Keep Your Belongings Safe from Pickpockets

Travel companies have developed products that provide an additional level of security for valuables, thus giving travelers peace of mind. Such products include special slash-proof backpacks with locks, a portable travel safe, plus travel wallets, waterproof pouches, and wrist, arm or leg wallets.

When making a tour through Europe by car, use a cable locking system with an alarm to help detour thieves. Whether in the trunk of your car or in your hotel room, the Retractasafe with a 24-inch retractable steel cable will help keep your belongings in place.

To carry your passport, money, tickets and credit cards safely around town, hide your belongings in a PouchSafe neck wallet. This version of the neck wallet has a slash-proof strap, three secure pockets and is lightweight and washable making it difficult for pocket thieves to locate and access.

Don’t miss that great camera shot because your camera is locked securely in your travel pack. Use a CarrySafe 100 camera security strap to keep your camera easily accessible and safe. Avoid the threat of “cut-and-run” with this steel reinforced strap, comfort neck pad and the ability to directly attach to the camera.

Pickpockets have been around ever since the invention of pockets, purses, and carry bags. Unfortunately, it is just something th

Shop Travelon Urban Tour Bag

at travelers need to be prepared for when they travel – especially when visiting crowded tourist destinations. One of the best ways to out smart pickpockets is to know their scams, diversions, and methods, so you won’t be victimized. Think of it as part of getting ready for your trip in addition to reading guidebooks and articles about what to see and do. A little time spent learning about how pickpockets and thieves operate and counter-planning before you go and you’ll return home with your valuables plus new memories. Start by selecting a pickpocket-proof backpack as a travel companion.

One of the best ways to ensure you won’t be wasting precious vacation time at a foreign police station filling out police reports for a stolen wallet or passport is to watch videos of actual thefts committed against tourists and change your behavior to avoid being the next target.

Some pickpockets operate in teams, and others are lone wolves. The thieves who target travelers are both male and female, young and old. You’d be surprised how sophisticated and professional some thieves are. Watch and up your street smarts.

Pickpocket Video Filmed in Baia Mare, Romania

This is a video of a street pickpocket that is targeting an unprotected zipper pocket on the rear of a daypack. The victim is stopped at a street corner waiting for the light to change. Notice that several other people are waiting at the crosswalk but do not see what’s going on around them. Can you spot the two thieves working together? You may have to watch the video a few times to catch the teamwork. At first, you do not see the accomplice, but she will reveal herself later on.

The main pickpocket is the man with the dark jacket, dark baseball cap, and blue jeans. The accomplice acts as a blocker and comes close to the mark to block others from seeing her partner remove a cell phone from the back of victim’s backpack. The cell phone is stolen just as the light turns green and victim walks across the street, never knowing that his cell phone was taken.

Lessons Learned From This Video

Never place items of value in rear pockets of backpacks, unless they’re in a secured anti-theft backpack. You will not feel an item being pulled out of an ordinary pocket, and many times the theft will go unnoticed by others around you. Solution: If you do carry a backpack, making it an anti-theft pack designed with security features. Specifically, one that has security zippers that prevent a thief from unzipping a pocket without your knowledge. Today there are anti-theft packs and bags for every type of traveler. At the very minimum retrofit your pack with a small lock on the zippers, to make it difficult for a pickpocket to get in the pocket.

Pickpocket Video – Women Pickpocket Operating in Department Store

This is a video of a team of pickpockets working in a department store. The victim is in the upper left corner of the screen. She is wearing a black, long-sleeve blouse, and gray pants. You will see her use her phone and put it in her purse when she is done. She then starts looking at clothes to buy. At about 25 seconds into the video, you will see two thieves enter from the upper right corner of the screen. One is a woman wearing a short sleeve blouse, and her accomplice is a man with a black tee shirt with blue jeans. Watch the woman thief pick up a piece of clothing and hold it up and close to the rear of the victim’s purse. The pickpocket uses her free hand to remove the victim’s wallet from the purse – while using the item she is holding up to block the view of others and to make it look like she is “just shopping.” The accomplice is acting as a “look-out.”

Lessons Learned From This Video:

1. Make sure your purse has security or built-in anti-theft security zippers so a thief cannot open it when you are distracted. As you saw in the video, the victim and the friends she was with had no clue what was going on. Pickpockets are great actors and actresses. They know they have to “blend in” to the situation so they do not cause the victim or others in the area to be alerted to “suspicious activities.” Good pickpockets have this skill down to a science, many times allowing them to get right next to you without you have any idea that what they are doing is unusual.

2. Good travel purses havebuilt-inn zipper locks, as well as other anti-theft / pickpocket security features to prevent theft of the bag and from the bag. If you don’t want to buy a new security purse, you can use zipper locks that can be adapted to many bags.

Travelon LTD antitheft backpack

Thwarting Pickpockets in Barcelona

Famously, Barcelona is called the favorite city of pickpockets. Perhaps because the beautiful city attracts so many tourists. Barcelona offers many sights to distract tourists. The most well-known one is the large pedestrian-friendly street called the Las Ramblas with so much going on, street vendors, performers, restaurants, and shopping to distract tourists. The following video shows how women carry their purses while walking down the Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain. Note how many women hold their purse or handbag in front of them, have purses that have short straps which ride high in their armpit, or clutch their bags tightly – all in response to safeguarding their valuables from slick fingered thieves and pickpockets.

Carrying your bag so that it can’t be snatched away by a thief that runs past you is only part of the way you must protect your valuables. The other way is to use a bag with built-in anti-theft features to keep pickpockets out. Bottom line, we recommend you use a bag designed with the latest anti-theft features and carry it crossbody or in front of you when in crowds.