Don’t fall for this common tourist scam in Rome

[@ScottMcMaster-er4xj]

Why in the heck would you stop recording during an attempted scam?? That recording is your best legal defense.

[@nicolarosella4553]

I cursed him out in italian lol

[@ElPato7272]

Because he doesn’t want to be called racist because they’re most likely African illegals. We experienced the same scam there and were called racists by them when we resisted

[@alanhorning8929]

He’s from Colorado 🥴

[@moonlightrelax639]

It's didn't happen and he needs "content"

[@bg7393]

Legal defence 😂😂😂 stereotypical American. What legal system are you expecting to drag a street scammer from Rome through 😂

[@blakebella2273]

Don't look at them...don't talk to them....ignore them....

[@paolapayano5561]

@@Tori.dance.moms.edits.their being rude by trying to scam you, why are you afraid of being rude to them?

[@MrCreative1777]

Don’t be rude guys. I would just take some bracelets with me too. Once he puts one on me I will take out mine and put one on him. He will go on his way and I will go on my way being friends. 😂😂😂

[@blakebella2273]

@@MrCreative1777 did anyone ever hear the expression: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do".. It helps in not getting scammed...

[@MrCreative1777]

@@blakebella2273 never heard it but I must be a Roman in my past life. 😝

[@abbemartensson3850]

stay away from blacks or arabs

[@alessandroc.4543]

The sad truth is that it's not only a tourist trap. The italians have to deal with this everyday in the cities. And if we protest against it, we get called racists.

[@TheABOUDRAR]

Scamers are on every touristic point around the world. Don't try to make your country look better

[@SarcasticBuddha4u]

This is how many minorities are literally scamming the West. They never seek refuge in Russia, China, Saudi Arabia...they know they have strict rules around immigration and basically wouldn't let them in.

[@KiKiQuiQuiKiKi]

DO NOT ENGAGE-no eye contact, no talking, no touching.

[@PoiluCul]

Or say no like a decent human

[@markfiori246]

@@PoiluCul I say yes sure I would love one, You are so friendly. When they ask for money I yell NO So loud everyone can hear me and look over. By this time the people just will leave you alone and you got a free bracelet

[@ashwilliams6894]

@@PoiluCulno doesn’t get them to leave you alone. Have you ever left your home before?

[@horlland]

​@@markfiori246That's not going to work.

[@realbammargera]

Yeah and dont breath,dont live

[@cosmodewit]

Best way to handle these people is having locals call them out. "SHUT UP DUDE, I SEE YOU DO THIS 30 TIMES A DAY".

[@claudiam.5182]

Thank goodness Italians have a heart and aren’t spies;) give one Euro and help someone out.

[@GhostSal]

The thing is when locals get involved, they almost always immediately cry “racísm” and with medía supporting them they often get away with it.

[@NeGatifPerson]

😂😂😂 the reason they still there because nobody give a shit about you😈🔥

[@ben7932]

I've found just saying a nationality they probably don't know how to speak, usually Rusiya or Polska work

[@markfiori246]

I say yes take one. And then if they ask for money i yell and say NO. They leave me alone after that cuz everyones looking at that point

[@gabriele1695]

I’m Italian and it actually happened to me too. The guy threw the bracelet at me so I just let it fall to the ground and smiled at him. He picked it up, tried to chat me up some more but then desisted and left me alone. Such a hassle. And they also call you racist if you don’t buy their stuff because they’re mostly Africans. They’re definitely not doing a favor to all the other African immigrants in Italy who get a bad rep as a consequence.

[@GhostSal]

Yes but there is also a disproportíonate probłem from who was let in and it isn’t just a small probłem. Here are Italy críme stats from a couple years back… the issues today remain the same: Foreigners make up 8.7 percent (today it’s over 11%) of Italy’s population, yet commit over half of all serious crimes. A whopping 89.7 percent of crimes involving exploitation of prostitution, 55.8 percent of cases involving sexual violence, 52.8 percent of robberies, 52.4 percent of thefts, and 43.6 percent of malicious injury cases. Keep in mind, the data does not include crimes committed by second-generation Italians. In other words, Italians born to immigrant parents are not listed as “foreigners” and are instead seen as Italian citizens. If you add them, it’s over 80% of the seríous crimes in Italy. The data helps dispel the notion that immigrants coming in are all just peaceful people looking for a better life. The data shows that foreigners account for a massively disproportionate share of the overall crime rate. “the worrying cultural climate in which certain phenomena occur is a sign of a total lack of any kind of values”. - Chief Inspector Omar Di Ronco A week of widespread chaos brook out in Italian lakeside towns near Lake Garda involving up to 2,000 migrants. The chaos included widespread violence, stabbings and assaults (perpetuated by the mígrants and not Italians). The Italian public prosecutor’s office and the Italian Parliament have opened a number of investigations, including into cases where migrant men sexually assaulted teen girls, including 6 on a train from Lake Garda to Milan. “They are just a culture of criminals who have left a deep wound in my community. We lived a week of war,” said the mayor of Italian lakeside town Peschiera Italy’s National Institute for Statistics (ISTAT)

[@Bigfatfrog83]

Lol the Africans dont have a bad rep for shit like this they have a bad rap because they rape people, including a lot of children.

[@danidejaneiro8378]

Why are you judging all Africans off the behaviour of a few?

[@GhostSal]

@@danidejaneiro8378Did you see the stats I posted? That’s not just a “few” and no one said anything about blaming all of any group of people. That doesn’t mean we have to ignore who is primarily responsibłe or ignore serious issues.

[@danidejaneiro8378]

@@GhostSal - yes you did, you said other Africans get a bad rep because of this but that's on YOU for associating a scammer with an innocent stranger just because of their skin colour or nationality. Imagine if we condemned all Italians because of the Mafia or Mussolini or Berlusconi. Every person is an individual and if you wanna treat all Africans as scammers because some of them scammed you, well that just makes you an old-fashioned racist.

[@Edlmoe]

The golden word is: Polizia 😂

[@victoriasmith815]

My advice fellow travellers is completely IGNORE the scammers & walk on! Their foothold is ANY reaction. 😂

[@delucxsglobal8616]

I'm italian, and this happens to me all the time when I go to crowded tourist places. Just ignore them. They won't do anything, and it's not dangerous

[@morpheuszzz662]

They did this to us in France, actually braiding a bracelet on my young daughter, despite my telling them "no" repeatedly. Then when they had it tied on her, they demanded payment. I got PISSED which made them pissed. I got it off of her and hollered at them. It sounds stupid and harmless, but these things feel like an assault when there is a group of them surrounding you and not taking no for an answer. I'm still pissed and this happened several years ago.

[@perthfanny3017]

I saw that in Montmartre. They were doing that to some Japanese tourists which made me even angrier because I know Japanese people avoid conflict and probably have a hard time saying no in this context 😡

[@steve.s6741]

The people doing this are NOT Italians

[@ElPato7272]

Exactly, it happened to my wife and I there. They’re migrants and if you’re white and say no they call you racists. They put one on my wife’s wrist and she didn’t resist then required money after saying it was free. I stood up to them and said free is free. Then the racism claims abounded. If I wasn’t 6’6” I think there may have been trouble because they were also tall senegaleses. I think that’s why he says he stopped recording, he didn’t want to look racist showing who the scammers are

[@NoSuffix]

Can't understand why some countries just open doors & let others dump their garbage/scumbags into them.

[@yadusolparterre]

They're always gypsies.

[@rustycage670]

Off course not, you rather have other more dangerous people..

[@askme2985]

They're KANGZ

[@bens1221sop]

Happened to me in Florence. Once the fellow try to insst on giving me the bracelet, I started shouting "Polizie". That ended abruptly.

[@Benny_M_1922]

You know why? Because you said "cleanings!" And people were confused 😂

[@IMTHATELDER]

@@Benny_M_1922 I thought the same. wrong country. surely he meant carabinieri lol

[@titob.yotokojr.9337]

To clean is "pulire" while "polizia" (plural "polizie") is police.

[@aliceongaro1770]

pOLiCes

[@JustinRinehart]

This literally happened to me 3 hours ago. Dude seemed shady so I just walked away. Didn't know it was an organized scam. Bastards

[@hickoryham2725]

This is all over Italy and Europe in general. A common one I saw when in Italy in march was black men dressed up in African robes selling “authentic” African goods. They work in teams and throw bracelets, belts and charms at you all while insisting they’re free. Once you take one, they show you a photo of their family and ask for money.

[@ScottMcMaster-er4xj]

That right there is why I much rather traveling to Japan. Where people behave civil and with excellent manners. Japan is a very safe country to travel in. I feel safer than at home in Japan.

[@GhostSal]

Sometimes it turns to threats of víolence too, where they are working in teams and some come at you from behind (sometimes with a weapon).

[@Artscrafts75]

True happend to me

[@janebeckman3431]

There are fake "monks" in the U.S. who do this, too. Especially bad in Las Vegas.

[@ElPato7272]

And when you resist they call you racist

[@BCJSimon]

Pretty common just don't take the bracelets they often do it with flowers as well

[@juiciestlemonadeofyoutube]

Another useful method is to slowly pull the pepper spray out of your pocket until you have a clear shot of the eyes, mouth, and nose before pulling the trigger.

[@momonaturale]

I got caught with the flowers in Venice a few days ago but gave it back to him after he asked for money. He was polite enough to show me directions of where I wanted to go however.

[@Fitzroyfallz]

@@juiciestlemonadeofyoutube that’s just gonna escalate the situation. Better to just walk away

[@Icandoitifiwant]

Same EXACT thing happened to me in Rome last October. Was walking along near City Center and the guy said... "I like your shoes"...asked where I was from and kept trying to hand me something. I just kept walking as fast as I could and kept saying, "No thank you". Nobody had previously made me aware of this specific scam, but I'm smart enough to know that NOTHING IS FREE! It's good that you're warning people however because many people just lack good sound common sense and they will fall for anything!

[@rstraveladventure4987]

The best way to avoid these people are to just ignore them. The moment they start a conversation, pretend that you don't hear them. Or just Say NO and walk away!

[@rmfrick91]

“Where are you from?” “My house.”

[@talvetar3385]

From Atlantis. 😁

[@D_sucker]

What I do when people try to scam me is I'll talk in different languages and pretend I don't know English or the local language, the look on their confused faces😂 good shit

[@huggybear441]

My 14 year olds nephew tossed back the bracelet lightning fast, glad l briefed him before our trip.

[@tigre9271]

20 yrs ago, people would come into fast food restaurants and place bracelets on your table with a note saying the seller was mute. We wouldn't touch them. Then they would circle back and pick them up or payment if anyone wanted to buy one.

[@feline.equation]

i was there 1 month ago and knew about this and i watched it happen to 2 different people in Rome. we took rick steves’ advice beforehand and didn’t make ourselves targets, and had zero issues. best travel experience ever, we loved everything about the whole country of italy and will definitely be going back!

[@RunningWild32]

My wife and I were in Rome back in 2019. We were walking around and noticed a man trying to hand people a flower. He immediately went towards my wife and handed her the flower and said for free, but then walked up to me then made the cash sign with his hand. I gave him the flower back. I have no tolerance for that

[@casgar5132]

Throw a bracelet...its landing on the ground as I walk away.

[@dougchinn2820]

When traveling, don't talk to strangers, don't provide any personal information, don't accept anything, don't sign any petitions, don't make eye contact with solicitors, don't buy from street vendors, don't give to beggars, always be aware of your surroundings and people around you, avoid crowded areas.

[@momonaturale]

Especially the buying from street vendors part. A big NO NO!

[@Fitzroyfallz]

No buying from street vendors?? That’s literally like half the shops in Thailand. What about markets as well?

[@dougchinn2820]

Caveat emptor always

[@Blt-rr2lm]

I was in Cairo in 2017, almost no tourists then. I came out of the museum and was approached by a guy selling crap photos. I said no. He put one in my hand. I said, in Canada, when someone gives you something, it’s a gift, and started walking away. He ran after me and demanded I give it back. We actually had a decent conversation after that.

[@pacifist1360]

I visited Italy three times and I would like to let any tourist know visiting Italy to be aware of scam artists and pickpocketers as they are mainly around the central areas of any big city such as Rome and I've seen them all the time when I was in Florence, particularly by the Duomo. But as others already mentioned, that shouldn't stop anyone from visiting such a beautiful country with such a rich history, tradition and architecture. These scam artists are not Italians and are not welcomed in Italy and most people just ignore them, that's the best course of action. Nothing happens if you just ignore them and pass by them like they are invisible.

[@constancejones6044]

Why catch the bracelet? Just let it fall. Why stop recording? That's when you absolutely should record!!!

[@sauronthegreat5799]

I saw a scam in a souvenir store in Los Angeles. The owner was asking outrageous prices for small things like film for cameras to Japanese tourists who he thought didn’t understand English. I definitely understood what he said because I grew up in NYC. What a scumbag.

[@matthieulaborde5119]

Same thing in london...

[@yesjustalemon]

Here in Greece we call them "HakunaMatata" since they will use that phrase a lot for some damn reason...

[@thespacesbetweenstudio3346]

Are they going to sing show tunes?

[@astd6055]

This very true. My parents this summer visited Rome and yes some tried to scam them, actually some even followed them and the locals who were near my parents warned them that they're marked. Luckily my parents quickly found the police and the others stopped tracking. Good thing is that its only this bad in Rome due to some dishonest immigrants. Otherwise Italy is a beautiful country, safe and the Italians are very polite.

[@theweebrt]

This scam is played everywhere... not just here in italy...

[@PiliHierro]

I was there a week ago. While taking a picture, I heard a similar voice saying: "Nice selfie. Are you from England or the US?" Which I didn't respond to because 1. I'm actually mexican, and in that moment, I didn't feel like explaining, and 2. I thought it might be a scam. I'm glad to know that I was able to avoid it.

[@wdynpn]

honestly visiting Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia are less scammy than european countries

[@alessandrom7181]

It's not "Europeans" though, they are Africans doing that..duh.

[@jesuschristlives2724]

Lady boy 😂😂😂

[@nanashi7779]

​@@alessandrom7181 how do you know?

[@alessioavolio1842]

​@@nanashi7779you think we go around selling bracelets?bruh,happened to me in Naples too from an african guy,gave him money cuz i was naive at the time(and also 13 or something).

[@emer157]

​@@nanashi7779probably because they look african, speak with an african accent and are fucking from africa

[@gdaddy5193]

When my daughter was 15 she was part of a cultural exchange program and visited, Athens, Rome and Paris. We knew there would be good supervision, but, my wife was a tad concerned. My daughter said ... I'm from New York! If I can handle NYC I can handle Europe. She was 100% correct and mom relaxed.

[@jimloh5378]

My wife and I had this happen there also but only it was with a rose. We refused the rose and the guy wouldn't stop, he followed us for a while until he finally quit.

[@Venlo731]

Please also check around the train stations in Rome there are plenty of pick pocket and most of them in the group , I was there last month I got harassed by pick pockets because I tell the young tourists not to keep her phone , those pick pocket using eye sign to each other when they see the target

[@melvinyit6859]

Wonder why the government do nothing about it 😂

[@gaia7240]

Because Europe thinks we are racist if we do

[@tartgreenapple1]

This happened to me in the Bahamas. I just told the woman we spent all of our money in town and we're on our way back to the boat (we were on a cruise). She picked a dumb place for the scam, right next to the boat as we returned. Thank you for sharing this, I'm sending it to the people I'm traveling to Rome with.

[@FirstTruth-xw3wt]

Italy needs to police these people or risk tourists not visiting their country.

[@LUIS-ox1bv]

Oh please!

[@howtubeable]

This is exactly why the radical left wants to neutralize the police. They want both locals and tourists to be completely vulnerable.

[@leelee12123]

Few years ago, in Rome we were at a train station, police officers walked up to us and pointed out our bags then pointed out potential pickpockets. They made sure the sign message were understood even without saying a word of Italian or English to us.

[@keithb372]

This used to happen on Hollywood Blvd. Wannabe rappers would hand you a CD. If you walk away with it they ask for $10 dollars.

[@thespacesbetweenstudio3346]

People still use CDs?

[@keithb372]

@@thespacesbetweenstudio3346 Past tense.

[@tyralewis6263]

This happened to me and the guy was so aggressive. Thank goodness my husband was behind me and my tour guide stepped in. He literally pushed my shoulders when i started to walk away. He put the bracelet on me so fast i didn’t even realize it until i started to walk away and he yanked my shoulder. Please be aware of your surroundings and Dont fall for their sob stories. He had shown us a picture of a newborn to lend sympathy. Thats when i knew okay, i should walk away. Other than that Rome was great 😂

[@francisdrake7060]

Was this guy Italian?

[@MvsicAdd7ct]

Someone threw a bracelet or something at our table in Munich in front of some restaurants and then yeha he wanted money for it. And I was aware of that so I said "sorry, no"

[@sandragiraudeau1762]

DO NOT ENGAGE AT ALL. DO NOT TOUCH THEIR MERCHANDISE.

[@cathanoneal5915]

Or you can keep the bracelet and walk towards italian policemens. The dude can yell at you as loud as he want, its illegal, and he know it. He is not going to do anything

[@gabrielewilliamabbatiello5896]

What you really have to worry about is when eating,you leve your belongings,on table or a chair,and your having dinner/lunch,outside you will risk having your wollet,phone ,camera stolen. Romanian ladies or kids ,make believe they wan't to eat so they sit next to your table ,and wait for the right moment to steal,R while walking in a crowded street they will reach for your items left on the tables,

[@julienmollard4947]

Those Romani are a plague through all Europe :/

[@roznovanvladgeorge]

I m sorry for what happend to you. I got this experience too so I know it is pretty shitty. It is worth knowing that those people are gypsies from romania not actual romanians. They are an ethnic minority in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Spain, Turkey, France, Russia and others. Have a nice day😊

[@derpherp7285]

Yes. Gypsies have nothing in common with actual Romanian people. It's just one of many tactics to get close to people to steal/murder by claiming to be "Romani" and wash their trash reputation. Gypsies are the most disloyal group of people you can find, they were a minority that emigrated from India because even the people there thought they were complete trash too and were getting bent over for acting exactly like they do today, steal and be as dirty as possible. Many gypsies will claim persecution and other nonsense when it's clear that they themself act like thieves and degenerates. The reason they got bent over during medivial times is precisely because they made themselves a reputation as absolutely dishonorable trash and thiefs. Seeing if someone is a gypsy is very easy, they have ashen/brownish skin and have facial characteristics in common with Indian people (the reason they even remotely look white is because they also engage in rape of europeans and the occasional white woman who willingly goes to them, typically trailer trash). Their husbands and wives work in teams, while the wife begs for money (again a Gypsy does not know what honest work is and never will), her husband will be out stealing shit. If there's enough of them (gypsies are the very definition of a coward) the men will mob a target and assault them, often with murder or severe maiming as a outcome. They also leave trash everywhere. This nomad trash disloyal behaviour is also of their own choosing, especially in the modern era with so much social support. Their very DNA screams at them to act like trash and be loyal to nothing.

[@mele7613]

Wow I went to Spain and my friend and I received a friendship bracelet from a seemingly African man that was selling them…and he was the nicest person. He didn’t ask us for money. He just blessed our trip & told us to be careful. I’ll never forget him.

[@jimmyandersen742]

Happened to me in Rome near the Trajans column...and the police are doing nothing about it...On a holiday 2019 it happened all over Rome and its a bit a annoying!

[@brian85]

In Milano they did this with roses as well

[@JayYoung-ro3vu]

I was the victim of a tourist scam in New Orleans decades ago.

[@cynthiacoring8602]

Yes, my daughter said they did that in Rome. She ran off a man that was harassing an old lady that couldn’t speak English. They give you a rose like it’s a gift then demand payment. Don’t touch anything or you just bought it.

[@Benny_M_1922]

He doesn't mention they scammer was not Italian. He was African. I feel scammed

[@agatakrenz7800]

Bamboo scammers

[@tammydouglaslafreda9992]

FACTS HAPPEN TO ME IN ROME MAY 2023 ... FACTS!

[@Ry1n_0]

This happened to us in Rome as well when we were walking on a street with shopping bags. The guy offered to carry them, we said no, and then he gave us a bracelet as a “gift”. Then he started asking for money. Be careful out there

[@user-qf7lp1yb4l]

Hi. Regretfully, this is quite common in many other destinations in Italy for instance in Piazza Duomo in Milan. Please be careful at very attended railway stations such as Roma Termini, Napoli Centrale, Milano Centrale and Milano Lambrate, Padova and more frequently pickpockets in Bologna Centrale. The best approach is to act like Northern Europeans. In other words, be quiet and walk your way without turning at people trying to get your attention.

[@sussanfung2652]

We gave them 5 euros for 4 bracelets. I never felt a scam. I liked it. Sometimes we judge people as Americans. Just be careful and still be human. ❤

[@gillian-clairepearman3125]

This happened to me in Paris, when a woman threw a cheap nasty wedding ring in front of me. She got angry when I didn't pick it up.

[@TheTantan1111]

I’ll just tell them “I’m from America. Step away. We’re told by our country to punch anyone who speaks to us. I give you a seconds before I throw my first punch” *2 secs pass. *punch guy That’s how I spend 4 days in Japan jail lol

[@ayumisae6864]

Sounds like an interesting story, how did it happen in Japan? 😅

[@SuperSaiyaGinge]

I would just tell the guy to get lost if he can’t take the hint.

[@craig2Afreedom]

As an American who travels far to see Rome, what makes people think that an American will be interested in a bracelet that is worth less than 1 Euro? Really? It’s like fishing for a shark and using a worm for bait. Lmao

[@davidleigh9823]

Excellent journalism. Something is going to happen,…STOP the camera.

[@breaker6900]

Happened in Barcelona... I asked repeatedly if it was free, let them put it on and when asked for money, my response was "You said it was free, cut it off if you want it back." Had a free bracelet

[@filipyakimov4786]

I was so prepared for this scam when i was in Rome, so when it happend to me i was excidet and wanted one :D We spoke about the price and he droped to 2 Euro, but the best thing is that i kept it in my pocket and when someone else desides to scam me i showed him that i have one. It woked like repellent , they just walk away leaving you to enjoy your vacation.

[@darlenelove7425]

Hey I live in California where we have 160,000 homeless. I get scammed quite often and sometimes it’s flat out begging!

[@dyinggaul8365]

Had the same guy last June with the “I like your shoes”, which confused me so I just kept walking. I was wearing an old beat up pair of hiking shoes…

[@reverendterminator]

it is like this in all southern countries. also if you dont look at them, and you walk away, they can be very rude, and shout after you and say like "look at me" in an angry way..

[@Kpher]

This literally happened to be at the Trevi Fountain a week ago! Lol. I didn't have anything on me so I was like, the fk it let's see how they work their game. Story time: Some guy named "Alex", probably around in his 20s, came up and was acting all friendly and buddy buddy with my friend and I gave us a bracelet with an elephant on it. Saying it gives good luck. The vibe was too friendly and non aggressive. Well, i also knew where this was going but me and my friendly personality and knowing how to play people, acted like I wanted it but rejected it. But we kept chatting saying we're from the US and he said he was from Africa and came to Italy a year ago while his brother was in LA. Anyways, we said goodbye after he put the bracelet on us and said to enjoy Italy and our stay and that the bracelet was free. I was looking around for potential backup guys trying to pickpocket us in this crowd while distracted, but didn't catch any. We walked off like 5 yards (while still wearing the bracelet) and he came back and was offering a small wooden elephant carving toy thing as a gift because "we're so cool". We were like... Nahhh we don't want it but take these bracelets back we don't want it. Still, playing it off all friendly and talking to him as if he was a friend, it was just a mind game of who would break first lol. He started showing us pics of his "son" or maybe it was real idk on his phone and asked if we had any money or something to support his son. Anyways, we said we don't carry cash and Americans never carry cash lol and in the end he took the elephant toy back saying he can't afford to give it to us, but said we could keep the bracelet as good luck anyways. I also managed to play it cool like we're homies and my friend and I took a selfie with the dude. So yeah, I got a pic of this scammer who failed to scam us, but in the end we got a free bracelet and didn't get pickpocketed lol. I guess it is lucky eh? 😂

[@boshhhhh420]

Literally ignore them. When we were there we just blanked them and 30 seconds later they move to someone else

[@ErinWronko]

I’m from Jersey and go to NYC a lot. Personally with scams like this i’m aggressive not physically but verbally aggressive. My boyfriend is like a golden retriever therefore engages and i quite literally have to scare scammers away.

[@jackbeanstalk9208]

This happened to me at the weeping wall in Jerusalem. Some guy tied a literal piece of Blue string on my wrist said it was a blessing and then asked for the equivalent of about $50 US.

[@Alwayshiding]

True but this happens in all Italy I know this because I am Italian Just ignore them and don’t look at them just say “no” or “no sorry” This is the best way to not be scammed

[@Hyclix]

Another crazy thing is that in Italy IF YOU TOUCH SOMETHING IN A MARKET THEY WILL FORCE YOU TO PAY FOR IT AND THE POLICE CAN GET INVOLVED AND FORCE YOU

[@sarahjanelara8046]

Ugh. I hated Rome for this. Spoiled my whole experience.

[@chockydog6960]

The dude that got us told me I had a “black empty heart” when I told him to bugger off

[@sedalionthunder6295]

I’ve encountered this already and just said no grazie and kept walking. As as they think your Italian they tend to leave me alone(I speak Italian as well)

[@jasonalper7898]

They tried to put it on my wife and my mother, and then i told the person to stop and no, they he tried to guilt me into money saying Americans hate Africans, yelling it at me then go the people next to me for $20 because they did not have $5, then at the Gardens someone tried to put a rose on my wife and i walked up with my chest puffed and yelled stop and they backed down quickly.

[@marcedwards7110]

And a lot of times they start with “my brother”. He started freaking out when i walked away after he said “free for you mon”. So i got louder than he and told him not to tell people things are free if they’re not. He walked away mucho unhappy. Needless to say, we didn’t become friends that day

[@titob.yotokojr.9337]

That happened to me. I'm always friendly to people who are friendly to me. The next thing I knew he was already putting a bracelet around my wrist. When he asked for payment for it, I said I'm not interested. But he became manacing so I just paid the few bucks to get rid of him. But that was a learning experience for.

[@sethdonaldson114]

Bro literally said the exact same thing. Like he complimented my shoes. I knew about the scam already, but my gullible self believed it was real. He then gave me 5 bracelets for “free” and I knew it was rigged and walked away

[@DoubleDsDeliveries]

I don't take trash from strangers. I don't take any handouts, flyers or anything anyone tries to hand me.

[@lucamorabito7551]

Im Italian and they do that to me too

[@jessieflores8788]

They tried that with me and I said no I make my own and don't forget they purposely leg their paintings on the ground so that you can step on them.If you step on them they make you buy them

[@KattMus2010]

I was in Roma when I was about 15 years old. I was in the middle of piazza navona alone (because I snuck out of our apartment when the rest of the family had a little siesta in the middle of the day) one of this guys did this to me after I repeatedly told him I had no money. He just smiled and told me he wanted me to have it and said goodbye. His friend was furious when he let me go, but he talked him down while I just kept walking away. This is 20 years ago so they have been at it a while 😊

[@martinverbeek8862]

Khabib: is my bracelet now, go sleep.

[@Teleportcamera]

Guess the race of the scammer.

[@LUIS-ox1bv]

The fact that all these posters who have had experience with these scammers, avoid describing how they appear, says a lot. But we know who most of these perps are.

[@matthieulaborde5119]

we have the same in Paris. it's a real problem. the police arrest them, but their crime is not enough. so they are released very quickly and start again. and they are very numerous.

[@dominiquewashington4761]

Everybody here is absolutely 100% without a doubt, correct ! I live in Italy🇮🇹 and I was a visitor in Rome and the exact same thing happened to me! They will try to make some type of familiarity with you and them and say to you, I want to give you this (bracelet), it’s from the heart” the whole wow you know it’s a scam but you continue to listen as if they might change their mind and as soon as you reach out to accept the bracelet, they will ask you for money! Also… there will be other guys sitting aside watching you interact with the one person wanted to give you a bracelet. Do not accept it. Do not extend your hand.

[@robertdavis3433]

At the Collesum it happened to me. I was so confused the Nigerian just gave it to me and walked away. Coming to Italy it felt so weird.

[@synth-100]

The same thing happened to me and my family in Rome last year 😂 An African man claimed that it was his last day in Rome, and he was selling bracelets to be able to buy a plane ticket to fly back home to Africa to see his wife, who was having a child. He asked where we were from, and then started saying things like, "we are Oreo! 😂" due to our races. We got a picture with him, and meanwhile he was just putting 2 bracelets on all of our arms. Then he started getting a bit aggressive, and demanding that we go to a nearby ATM and pull out like 5 euro for each bracelet. We then said sure, went away, and never came back 🤣 This was in The Vatican.

[@inescm4991]

This happens everywhere in Europe...I'm from Portugal and it happens here. Spain, Italy, France, etc etc. I've seen it everywhere here.

[@theprettybond159]

About 4 different people tried this on me yesterday in Rome. All African dudes. One touched me and I pulled away. He laughed at me, so I turned looked at him like the pos he was and walked away. Just don’t engage is really the best thing you can do

[@CookingWithK3]

Telling them you're gonna slap the scammer out of them if they don't leave you alone works like a charm.

[@nirvana42000]

I cant believe this is still a thing. When I was 13 I went to roma with school and happened the same thing to me. Got a bracelet on my wrist and then the guy asked me to go buy him some cigarets. I was kinda scared so I actually went to the tobacco store and thank god the guy here understood what was happening and went meeting the scammer yelling at him 😅

[@marypoppins7687]

This is like the super heroes in Times Square who scam you into taking pictures with them and then follow you around asking for money until you threaten to call the cops.

[@jawadarif5676]

Neve understand why these countries never crack down ont on these short of scam

[@gaia7240]

Because jails are already full of them

[@Santablanca-zt2ss]

It is also a curse because one of my family members got that bracelet and then could not sleep and had a lot more symptoms

[@Llum8878]

I just came back from Italy and yes!!! They do that a lot and for us girls, they try to give you a rose. Same situation, they hassle you all the time. I noticed how this guy took the bracelet took out his wallet and the scammer was so much into his wallet trying to tell him which bill to give him…. Ugh…

[@farana_01]

Oh this happened in Kambodscha with a 5 year old little girl. I thought she'd like to play around the temples (angkor wat). She took my hand and started to running between the temples. Suddenly she turned around, gave me an bracelett and said "5 dollar" 😢 yes i gave her the money - i know it is not hers and i know she have to work for her family at this young age but i also won't let her get in trouble. I also gave the bracelett back. 😮

[@TiagoReeves]

I was there a week ago, they did this on the colosseum. I answered “I’m from Mars, fuck off” 🤣 I was the tourist and I made the scene

[@tannerlocke9730]

This happened to me when I visited Rome 😂 Guy complimented my shoes, said something about yin & yang, then threw a bracelet at me…which I let hit me in the chest and fall to the ground before saying “thanks” and walking away

[@ben7932]

Had this happen a few times in Tenerife, usually they just move on but a had a guy today refuse to let go of my arm when I tried to give it back, he got aggressive and accused me of racism. I still didn't buy. Be careful out there