Paris: The Biggest Tourist Scams in Paris

From the petition ladies to people finding gold rings to pickpockets sliding in through the metro turnstyles with you there are a number of scams that happen in Paris. This video covers the most popular pickpocketing scams and overall tourist scams you may see when you are in Paris.
Filmed in Paris, France
Copyright Mark Wolters 2019
#paris #scams #travel
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[@stumarston6812]

I had the biggest scam happen to me in NY. What they do is they have a guy walk up to you and he sticks a gun in your ribs and takes your wallet. And he will not take no for an answer. It's really rude.

[@futball24]

Say Non.

[@steviepigford2356]

HAHA 😁 lmao

[@gracehinkle3623]

sounds like normal NY to me

[@krdiaz8026]

@@futball24 "Non, non! Not interested in this NYC immersion experience. Desole."

[@sampIes]

LMFAO

[@max__pain]

People, please stop putting valuables in back pockets. It's just common sense.

[@ProfessorWolters]

Amen

[@bryantsteury8910]

I haven't had anything in my back pocket one day of my life. Feels weird on top of being unsafe

[@kieranlindsay1220]

even at home i keep my stuff in the front and my wallet is RFID bock

[@AdamSalomonTV]

Amen

[@MizzKittyBichon]

This is why I don't ever carry backpacks. Plus, a backpack automatically outs you as a tourist.

[@carltrotter7622]

If someone tries to sell you the Eiffel Tower, it’s not legitimate.

[@tarakb7606]

Thanks for the tip.

[@carltrotter7622]

@@tarakb7606 it's actually based off of a real story when someone tried to sell the Eiffel Tower as a scam. Search up Victor Lustig

[@tarakb7606]

@@carltrotter7622Thanks. It doesn't surprise me. Some people will try anything.

[@vacafuega]

Best comment

[@spadaacca]

Hey I was legitimately trying to sell it, I need the cash. Stop trying to impede me from making a good honest living.

[@il9237]

I got scammed big time in Cambridge of all places. Some bloke in uniform in an army careers office told me it would be wonderful to join the army. Years later after going to Iraq twice I realised what a con artist he really was.

[@6884]

lol

[@gurrrn1102]

Don’t join the army, kids. They don’t tell you about the murders they’ll make you do.

[@Moizel]

Hahahahaha

[@bhootbhagao5716]

Non-violence isnt always the answer

[@Kharkovkid]

Ouch! Wham! Zing-go! Bam x 10!

[@chloeavarodrigues9983]

The only scam I experienced in Paris was the landlord of the building I was living in explaining to me that the air conditioning I paid for was the open window in my room which provided me with natural airconditioning.

[@japkaur1530]

Omg HE DIDN'T LMFAOOOO i feel sorry for u tho...how much did you pay?

[@Kookie-zc3gt]

Whattt 😂😂😂

[@sostoney]

LMAOOO HE DID U DIRTY

[@alhaeri1]

lol thats a dirty one

[@avinashprabhu2811]

Lol

[@kermitttt]

Under Eifle Tower some gipsy wanted me to sign some petition to help orphans. I said my parents are dead and i want some money from Her. She run away and i was screeming, give me my money..

[@visionist7]

Pin this Wolter!

[@marvinc9909]

Thanks for the advice. I'll do the same if someone of these petition people come to me.

[@MultiN786]

😂😂😂

[@xenia8454]

I actually got scammed and gave 30€ for this kind of stuff. I just don't get why people do this shit. It's horrible.

[@user-gb6ft7hj9w]

👍👍👍👍

[@romainroussel6172]

Be careful with people putting on you bracelets. They do it fast with a smile, and you have to pay because you'll have fast 10 friends of them around you. They do this a lot on Mont Martre, around sacré coeur church ;)

[@reddyt1d658]

I had a guy try this on me at Mont Martre (I was an innocent child), luckily dad picked up on it real quick and stopped him before we had to give him and his friends anything, tourist scammers hit a pretty low standard of scum.

[@gurrrn1102]

@@reddyt1d658 I had three people do that to me on the steps of sacre coeur. Luckily I had no euros and could only offer them a five pound note so they let me go. Protip, scumbags. If you say you’re from Senegal don’t try and convince me by saying hakuna matata. You’re from as far away from where they say that as I was at the time. Should have come at me with some Wolof bullshit I’d never heard of.

[@permafrostprod1]

They are infuriating. 🤬 They're still doing that? I mean, they tried that on my girlfriend 10 years ago, someone would think the "gendarme" would have swept them away by now?! Luckily for us, the 4 of them weren't ready for the wrath of a 1.95 meter/100 kg crust punk already fed up with his day. ☠💣🤣

[@gurrrn1102]

@@permafrostprod1 In my case I was there in the week after the 2015 terrorist attacks, and as you’d expect there were gendarmes standing there with massive rectangular-profile rifles. They’d have seen it happening.

[@Snip3rguY]

Yes, this happened to me at sacre couer

[@flaminglaughter]

I bought something from a vender in the Paris Airport years ago, I gave him a 100 and he gave me change for a 10. I politely said, I gave you a 100 and he looked baffled. I said it again but this time louder. It was clear to the guy that I was ready to make a scene and he gave me back the correct change.

[@tinderbox218]

ANYTIME you hand someone a large bill always say it out loud, "Here is a 20" or "Here is a hundred" or whatever. It will feel awkward but it avoids scams or questions like this.

[@PetraKujundzic]

I work at an airport and couple of weeks ago two times in the span of one hour two different costumers tried to do the opposite to me. I don't think it was intentional, but I just told them to check their wallets again and make sure otherwise I can call my supervisor to check the camera and see what happened. The funny thing is we are heavily supervised when it comes to cash and I can't take the 'extra' money even if I wanted to. Everything goes in a envelope and that goes to cash room that always has at least one person checking that the same amount of money is being placed in the envelope and taken out. But people often assume we are trying to overcharge them or something else unsavoury and there is literally no incentive for us to do that. We are paid well, we have to charge exactly what we give out (that also get checked sporadically), and we work at an airport that is already overpriced by default so we really don't want to take even more of persons money.

[@Earle96]

The easiest way to stay away from scammers is just simply well ignoring them. You don't have to say anything to these people just keep walking.

[@moniquej2997]

That's my way of life as a tourist in the city

[@michaelscott7166]

There's an even easier way. Blend in. Nothing says tourist more than a DSLR Camera, Khaki Cargo Shorts and a F*nny pack. Just wear Jeans and a T-shirt. Put your phone in one front pocket and your wallet which should only have the cash you need to see out the day in the other. It's all you need.

[@Earle96]

@@michaelscott7166 yes you have a great point haha it's amazing how much I see tourist stand out (not in a good way)

[@michaelscott7166]

@@Earle96 I live near a tourist area (Haworth, UK. Home of the Brönte Sisters, inspiration for Wuthering Heights) You're right, you can see tourists a mile off. You can even get an idea of exactly where they're from just by what they're wearing.

[@sweetpjeb23]

@@michaelscott7166 I live in a tourist city and I go around all the time with a DSLR to get good shots. I'm also dying that you didn't spell out fanny pack. That's hilarious.

[@MarcoCorreaBR]

The good thing about being a brazilian living in São Paulo, commuting everyday by public transportation, I might scam the scammer.

[@woltersworld]

Muito bem!

[@CoCoFantastique]

Very funny!

[@extremepicks]

#Nao

[@edwardthejust4452]

You win the comedy award! :)

[@sreejaroy18]

Not really, I am from India and I had proudly said in Rome that who would pickpocket me?? Our guide had said, dont be too confident, here your wallet would be safe but the money inside would be gone.

[@tommalone8026]

You should come and visit Dublin, we may have pickpockets, we have undercover Gards all over the city. Street begging is prohibited by law. Poor people sitting beside ATMs is illegal too. I'm surprised the French have not adopted this process.

[@jturie]

zero problems in Dublin for me.....approached left and right in Paris by all kinds of scammers. Thank you, I think I'll go back to Dublin before Paris.

[@FactStorm]

Every country should take tips from this

[@rosebud3373]

"Poor peuple sitting […] is illegal too." This is why we don't adopt such things. Although policemen in France are even stupider than the average. This scam video doesn't reflect Paris at all. It concerns 3-5 touristic spots full of policemen. The fact being they don't care about 1 guy getting scammed and let it happen to spy the scammers and find bigger networks.

[@scottparis6355]

If a country wants to control this kind of crime, they can. France and Spain don't care, because the victims are tourists and foreigners.

[@steve41557]

Yes, why do the French allow this?

[@Clutching.My.Pearls]

When we travel we make sure we know exactly where we're going beforehand. Walking around with a map is the biggest mistake for tourists. If you need to find a new destination stop at a tourist bureau or Cafe and get your bearings. Then head off with confidence. Also, learn basic language of the country your visiting, there's apps for your phone that can make life much easier. Bottom line if your prepared and look aware you're usually not approached by these people.

[@thatnormalguy9]

If i can use google maps in paris, I'm good.

[@Nihal-wx3th]

if they see you leaving a tourist bureau they know 100% that you are a target

[@jasonmims5057]

Pretending to be handicapped for money is just low. 😡

[@JeeGee114]

Gypsies from Rumania just don't care about you except for your valuables.

[@largol33t1]

That crap happens in every country, not just France.

[@tomservo5007]

@@largol33t1 it's still a low thing to do and Gypsies are international.

[@Histoiredefouwesh]

Jason Mims Im french and its romania people .. and arab.

[@SRBOMBONICA86]

@@Histoiredefouwesh romanian gypsies not romanian

[@Prototype_Malice]

How to not get scammed: when someone approaches you, say "no english" in the thickest Russian accent you can come up with and walk away. Alternately, "I'm from Sicily and I'm waiting for my brothers".

[@lavenderflowers1075]

😂😂😂😂😂this is funny.

[@marinaau8551]

They seem to know where you are from, always speak your mother tongue....

[@beatsxlucas8021]

@@marinaau8551 yeah for real though it’s kinda scary

[@marcopellegrino5618]

I am from Sicily and can confirm

[@jomar1249]

the "Sicily" thing won't scare anyone in France 😂😂

[@Jack_all]

I miss being able to walk around the Eiffel Tower without all the fences and metal detectors.. Paris has changed so much over the past 10 years. Even candid street photography is illegal there, in the city where street photography was invented.. sad

[@stephencooper5155]

Import the third world and they bring it with them.

[@XXX-jk5mo]

@@stephencooper5155 Paris looks like Brazzaville with an amazing architecture and a shocking cost of living

[@Phi1.618]

It's not illegal at all to take photos in the streets of Paris.

[@AhmedAbdullah-me5xb]

@@Phi1.618 yeah. How can you even spot candid photography?

[@rwaynem]

My wife and I went through the gold ring scam scenario just exactlylike you described. I was sure it was a scam, but we gave her a few dollars. Even when we got home I was sure of it. However when we got back to the states we went to our local jewelry store and they gave us a $200 store credit for it. So I'm not sure what to think.

[@jeanne9771]

Whoa ! It was a scam but I think your jewelry may be make a mistake. Nice for you 😊

[@dand3953]

She may well have lifted it from some woman's purse about 5 minutes earlier.

[@marthas8108]

Not sure WHO is the scammer here...?

[@M3Vader]

Who else is watching with no plans on taking a trip to Paris

[@antonipolski9569]

Me

[@Andreschannel_SA]

Me too.

[@ethelwilson1450]

@@antonipolski9569 9

[@itenders3350]

i am watching this video and i actually live in paris suburbs just wanted to know what people are doing to the tourist

[@Faisal-dl8vi]

I unfortunately wasted a week of my life there

[@user-wh6fw2id9n]

I don't know why I'm watching this. I'm never leaving my room let alone going to Paris.

[@davidhagan6598]

same.I like watching these scam video's...with no intentions of traveling.

[@canyouwhenyourdrunk]

It’s been a year how Is the room going?

[@teriyaki_chicken]

Same

[@alwyn626]

To scary outside. 😆

[@criollitoification]

hahaha!!! OP your post was brilliant! I'm also watching all these vids from the comfort of my room! And heck I don't even own a passport at the moment!!! 🤣

[@pargolf3158]

Same thing with the ring happened to me just outside Paris - it was actually a bracelet. Dude asked me if I lost it and I freaked out - "oh my god thank you so much" I said 'you are so honest". Then he wanted 20 for it. I said no no no, I paid 500 for this bracelet it was a gift for my girlfriend but we broke up. Then I told him, you keep it and just give me $25, you can sell it for $250 at least. Of course he did not want to do this, so I got really aggressive about him keeping it and giving me $25. Fucker just threw it at me and ran. LOL

[@jeanne9771]

As a parisain,it happen to me yesterday 😂a imigrate girl come to me and she through I was a tourist so she spoke to me in english she said « is it your jewel ? » I said « yes » and then I leave and I will remember her face 😂😂

[@CHNWA]

@@jeanne9771 IZ ITTE YÖRRE JUWELL?

[@fins59]

As a schoolboy on a trip to Paris I had my pocket picked and wallet stolen at Notre-Dame catherdral back in the 60's, so nothing's changed.

[@uacbpa]

I just don't pay attention to anyone who approaches me on the streets. I lost trust in humanity long ago.

[@steviepigford2356]

Lmao 😁😋

[@slpr666]

edgy

[@rey_nemaattori]

That funny, because of the same reason, I'm always hypervigilant. Especially in touristy places.

[@DaMazzaf97]

Not trusting and not paying attention are two very different things

[@uacbpa]

@@DaMazzaf97 True. So let me rephrase: I don't pay attention to people because I don't trust anyone. If I don't even pay attention to people, leave alone trusting them. I hope this clarifies it for you.

[@Potatoman1578]

When I was in Rome, one of these scammers came to me and was like " do you speak English"? And I said with a perfect English accent " no, I don't speak English" and walked away. The face of that scammer was soo hilarious! He looked like he wanted to choke me lmao!

[@Sawrattan]

In Rome they also pretend to sell "VIP tickets" to the Colloseum. He tells you it will cut your waiting time but actually the queue is pretty fast

[@awatson16]

Haha I go the other route. If they speak French to me I say I can't understand in English. If they switch to English I go to French instead. I'm usually gone by the time they get over the initial confusion ;)

[@DianaRoseYanni]

😂😂

[@rutter1ify]

😂👌👍

[@zoickn]

That is brutal.

[@maticbukovac6966]

OMG the "did you lose this?" happened to me in Catania, Sicily; while exiting the post office someone found a 50€ bill in front of me and asked me if it's mine... I took it at first to check my wallet, but guess what? I gave it back immediately after that. Lucky escape I guess. I had a bad dream about picking things up from the floor and for some reason it stuck with me when I left for Sicily. Always trust your dreams, your instincts, your visions, your gut feelings.

[@robertbrandywine]

Why not just "Yes, I did, thanks!" and pocket it and walk off.

[@turanlaborator7274]

@@robertbrandywine because the money bank note in 100% of cases will be counterfeit and while you will be distracted, they will steal your real money

[@mancubwwa]

@@robertbrandywine because it's obviously forged money that can get you in trouble?

[@kindmulberry7196]

If you speak Italian you can avoid this scam altogether since they'll not want to try the scam on you.

[@bizzihead4631]

Excellent information Mark. As a tour coach driver across Europe I always gave similar advice to my passengers before disembarking at tourist hotspots. My advice was if a stranger approaches you they are not your friend, don't speak to them or make eye contact and walk on.

[@martinchagnon1119]

Can'´t call this vacancy. paying much money to visiting a country and speaking to people .... no , spending you vacancy to be aware of everything

[@jonsmith8582]

Try and use the ATM in the Bank itself rather than on the street

[@Earle96]

YES do not use the ATMs that say EURONet, their exchange rates are terrible and they make you take a large sum.

[@travelvideos]

That is true. I observed that local banks don't block larger withdrawals, but global bank branches have limits forcing customers to withdraw smaller amounts.

[@patax144]

True, but in Paris most ATMs are outside in my country there in outer ATMs there are doors like is a little cabinet if it is in the street only in malls they are just the ATM or inside the bank or institution

[@farahmazloum7885]

yes!! my brothers friend had someone hold a knife to his neck and force him to withdraw money from the atm

[@PS3DJ09]

Had a dud stand wayyyy to close to be begging while I was at the ATM in La Defense a few years back. I offered him a pastry and he said no and walked away (even though he claimed he needed money for food). He then followed us to the train station sizing us up. My wife noticed him and alerted me. I turned and started to approach him and he finally ran off. Had we walked down any place with no people we would have likely have gotten robbed at knifepoint.

[@Dhamian]

I was in Paris for 2 days and I feel like I've seen every single one of those. It's amazing the amount of golden rings they find at Jardin des Tuileries

[@siddharthaneupane3721]

Hoping you had an amazing time. I'm working on an app that wants to help tourists prevent and detect scam/fraud attempts. Would you be interested in answering some questions?

[@dougbaker868]

Or on the Champs Elysees....the scammed was most displeased when we wouldn't give him money for the ring he "found"

[@jessicaandtrains7768]

why aren't they doing something about them? FFS!

[@demimishiev5358]

@@jessicaandtrains7768 cause they pay taxes

[@barbaraatger]

​@@jessicaandtrains7768 I think "they" are already working on it, but if you have the perfect solution, send "them" an email. I'm sure they'll be gratefull.

[@bobbypaluga4346]

Always great stuff I’d like to see a series based on what you need to do beforehand to prepare for visiting Paris or France or any destination . This would include info on visa’s, booking services, renting cars, mistakes that people make. You could speak to dress, how not to dress in a way that entices scammers, preparing for the weather, when you need to dress up etc.

[@angryattackkittens1934]

I have a mean face and a bad attitude. Nobody ever approaches me 😄

[@nikonfan2407]

The organised beggars are a huge problem here in Berlin too. They actually share the kids between the beggars, so the the adult begging almost certainly isn't the real parent of that child. The also drug the children to keep them calm as they're usually out with different beggars from early morning til late at night. On my way to work one morning, I actually saw a group of the "deaf/mute" beggars having a meeting with their gang boss to work out tactics and locations for the day. Best advice: If someone comes up to you whilst you're in a foreign city and immediately speaks English, just firmly say "NO!" and walk away.

[@anna_m59]

Apollo Mead they are Roma’s from Romania

[@Bilbojack4]

@@swandivemori I'm sad to hear about that.

[@tomlaureys1734]

We have these type of organized scammers in the US also. They actually rent a child from somebody so that they can claim to be a family unit with children claiming political asylum at the Mexican border. Then someone brings that child back across the border to rent to somebody else to repeat the process. Our border patrol has reported that this is occurring. There's no way to know whether they are really the parents of the child other than doing a blood test right there at the border. The central Americans all know about the loophole in our political asylum law. But Congress refuses to pass a bill to close the loophole.

[@nikonfan2407]

@@tomlaureys1734 Successful asylum cases in the US have fallen from 90k annually to under 20k since 2016, so it would seem any loopholes were closed some time ago. Plus asylum is very rarely granted to those coming from South and Central America. This region accounts for the vast majority of immigrants to the US, but actually accounts for the lowest numbers of asylum cases by a long way. The vast majority of asylum cases into the US come from Asia and Africa and they all come by plane. So I'm not sure where you're getting your information from. Do you have any credible source links?

[@tomlaureys1734]

@@nikonfan2407 that's exactly the point. Asylum is rarely granted to people from Central America. So the vast majority of the Central American migrants coming here to claim political asylum are making fraudulent claims just to get into the country. They are taking advantage of the loophole in the law that lets them stay in the country while they're waiting for their hearing. Then they never show up for their hearing and stay illegally in the country. Our immigration department says that a very small fraction of them actually show up for their hearing. I heard the acting head of ice say that on the news recently. I forgot the actual percentage that he said show up for the hearing. You can look that up.

[@Grovel007]

Don’t forget the Eiffel Tower scam. Some guy sold it to me twice.

[@ProfessorWolters]

Ha ha ha!!!

[@CoCoFantastique]

Twice tho??? LOLOL

[@JohnCrichton]

Lol

[@drpoundsign]

HINT: it looks like a phallic symbol. I'm still paying off the Empire State building

[@MalteseKat]

@@ProfessorWolters He bought the warranty too!

[@a.m11558]

When I went to Paris in 2019 there were a few scammers that came up to me. Some young guys outside the Louvre that said they were giving free tickets or something, but when you take one they get really aggressive and pushy. I never got far enough into their scam to find out how it would end because I just chucked the ticket and kept going. Also I was right in front of Notre Dame when it burned down so that whole trip to Paris was a bit problematic lol

[@jean-claudelol563]

I encountered that petition scam in my last trip to Paris in 2019. I said I'm not from here, I don't vote here, I'm a tourist, I'm not from here, as I kept walking away, I never stopped. Even as I am still walking away, they are trying to convince me to stop and sign their petition saying "Oh it doesn't matter, you can sign petition." I just kept walking away, putting more distance from them saying no, no, thanks, no... They were persistent.

[@manisubba5460]

The easiest way to escape from scam is “me no English”

[@barrylenihan8032]

Why would you say that in Paris. You do know Paris is in France, where they speak French.

[@shadowbandit3975]

@@barrylenihan8032 Because they expect you to be a navie tourist

[@linahamidouchi4739]

Why did this make me laugh 😂🥴

[@MrLedeberg]

just saying non in a rude parisian way makes it clear too

[@marj329]

I tried that. They started speaking to me in French and then in Spanish

[@MQHNATYTC8262]

They giving you free friendship bracelets? Tell them “I have no friends” and walk away

[@rock3tcatU233]

**Alexa, play some sad violin music as I walk away**

[@daisydooandmoomantoo6467]

Brilliant

[@checkcheck1579]

I only wear bracelets made from the bones of my enemy.

[@TheKing60210]

Mood

[@Peppermon22]

I would say “ wow!!! Thanks so much!!! Thank you!!!” And walk away

[@FrenchingAround]

"Your signature doesn't really matter" haha I think that's pretty universal

[@trulahn]

My wife's wallet was actually picked out of her purse in the subway station for the Eifel Tower as we were leaving. Fortunately I messed up my ticket so I was lingering in the station looking for a station attendant to help me. The pick pocket gang didn't want to risk my wife discovering the missing wallet while I am getting help so they "found" my wife's wallet and returned it to her and "helped" me getting through the ticketing gate. It was quite a close call on our first day to Paris.

[@petersmith2040]

Asian tourists are specifically targeted because they are known for carrying large amounts of cash, wearing luxury watches, or carrying luxury designer handbags.

[@Prolix8]

I lived in Paris for 13 years. It's sad how the city is plagued with those scammers. Be careful people. Great video.

[@steve41557]

Sad how the Police and Politicians let it happen.

[@Monitor2023]

This scam, pick pocket ............. would make the Paris feel shame. How beautiful is this city and how dangerous to travel in it.

[@citrine65]

What do they usually look like? Are they French or foreigners?

[@Prolix8]

@@citrine65 In the Parisian metro, its teenagers. They are from Romania mostly. On the streets, it can be local youth or older men from Paris or its suburbia. Just be street wise. Keep your belongings in your front pockets, bags closed. Avoid the metro when it is crowded. When visiting tourist hotspot, don't interract with anyone outside of official buildings. One last piece of advice: Do NOT use the public toilets.

[@wenchy387]

@@Prolix8 why not use public toilets? Please let us know. Thank you in advance.

[@emermbiemer302]

If you’re from Eastern Europe you’re automatically suspicious when a gipsy is asking you sign petitions lol

[@drpoundsign]

Like Beavis&Butthead Trailer Trash "Gypsy." "Whaddya WANT Mac??...er...I am Madame ROMA!"

[@Belenor]

Were suspicious here in Sweden aswell. Every corner, every grocery store.

[@vincentrodriguez3420]

@@Belenor Ikr. They even try to steal people's stuff inside large stores that are full of security cameras.

[@footballmanager1905]

Chinese people protect Eastern European’s!!!!!!!!

[@jug2024]

@JustEnd where in Canada?

[@laurentpaumier3103]

Great video. I saw the same scams in Greece in Athens. In fact, it's everywhere, not only in France. Where the tourists are, the scamers are ! 😊

[@Kraliezec]

When I travel, I want to see museums, monuments, landscapes, buildings and galleries. I don't wish to be near anyone or talk to anyone, especially after Covid.

[@benrogers34]

We were in Spain and had a “deaf beggar” put his sign down on our table asking for money luckily we noticed it was on top of my mums purse he was planning on picking the purse up under the sign

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

Yes, watch out for scarves for sale being artfully draped over handbags even when the bag is over your arm. Hand slips into bag while you are distracted. Happened to my friend's wife in Rome, outside the Sistine Chapel. Romany gypsy.

[@dakotamatacchiero2771]

I would start sighing to find out if it real

[@emmamemma4162]

@@dakotamatacchiero2771 Keep your hands on your belongings instead. Sign language is different in different places.

[@Kharkovkid]

We were working the bar on Halloween in San Antonio. A costume party was in full swing, business was booming and the tip jar was stuffed. "Pancho Villa comes in and throws his sombrero up on the bar. Has a quick beer, puts hit hat back on, WITH THE TIP JAR UNDERNEATH IT!! It was a 300 dollar ruse. All we could do was call and warn the other bars further down the drag and we did...

[@cufflink44]

@@dakotamatacchiero2771 I'm not sure how sighing would help, but I guess it could express your sadness and frustration. 😉

[@bosnianswede]

You just described every major city in Europe ;)

[@Iris-Alice]

But Paris is really bad. The city is packed with scammers

[@arkiu-himikoi]

In the world

[@italianstallion9755]

@@arkiu-himikoi We don't have scammers in New Zealand or Australia

[@lafayettejones7458]

@@italianstallion9755 that's not Europe...

[@lafayettejones7458]

I haven't experienced much of this in Amsterdam, although I dont walk around with my guard down

[@mikehess4494]

Love it, Thanks for the info.

[@Cleanblue1990]

I found myself in a situation where a guy tried to give me a bracelet which would probably not be datachable once tightened. Luckily, I heard of the scam and didn't let him do his thing. The scary part was however that he wasn't alone but just left a small group of about 6 tall guys which probably were there to intimidate you if you start an argument. It is always best to get a feeling of your surrounding and always position yourself where any approach by a stranger cannot be by accident.

[@MathieuStern]

I have been wanting to do this video for years, and you made it perfectly, as a true Parisian I know every single scam and you listed almost all of them, you did some perfect researches on the subject, even better than some Parisian people I know. one scam you didn't add is the bad musicians in the RER train that goes to Versailles Castle, they play horrible music and have no right the play in the RER train, but I saw them pressurize Asian tourist to give money for their " show" and many are too shy to say no. one huge Scam are the Eiffel tower key chains ... street sellers sell them for 3 euros each ... I went by curiosity into the Chinese workshop that makes those small towers... you can buy a bag of 200 pieces for ... 6 euros. Another on are the small " car bikes" taxis ... you ask for the price for 2 people, they tell your 10 euros to go there, then when you arrive he tells you " 10 euros by person" and if you don't want to pay the extra, they call their scary friends to pressure you. Petition scammers are the worst, I saw some of them jumping on a poor lady like sharks on a seal ... I had to yell at them so she had a chance to leave the spot.

[@woltersworld]

Merci. I forgot about the musicians. So true. So bad I want to give money so they stop playing sometimes:) the bike taxi thing is growing too which is sad. I'm glad I could make you proud with the video :) I just love your city

[@RS-pb2se]

You get those beggars and so called Musicians on the London Underground all the time, pacifically the Circle and District Line where the trains are bigger. It's insane the amount of people that fall for them.

[@OnibiTeru]

it's so sad that these people have no shame. This is why we can't have nice things in the world.

[@SkillzorZ021]

the eiffel tower keychain is not really a scam, just overpriced tat.

[@fredpuntdroad8701]

It's true. They single out asian-appearing people because they believe they are non-confrontationally minded and will be easier to extort. Some of them get really agressive. My wife (Chinese) was pretty much backed into a corner by one insisting on money. Fortunately we know how that works and if there's one thing she hates, it's racists who assume "small asian lady" translates to target. She basically started punching him right off the bat, I didn't even really need to get involved. ^_^ Although those vultures do back down a lot quicker if a strong guy gets involved. They prefer to prey on women and children.

[@SLVperso]

I'm french, and I thank you for this video that will help our future tourist. We are really sorry about it.

[@r.brooks5287]

Not your fault, shitty people everywhere.

[@olive2292]

I'm French too, this video is all true ! ah one more thing, maybe the most important : check the "on strike" calendar ... 😁

[@pw6002]

J Sev Stupidest comment I have seen for a long time.

[@MetalMouse67]

Same thing in Brussels. I really don’t understand people still fall for those scams. It’s been going on for years.

[@DianaRoseYanni]

Why can't police put these scammers to jail? I believe this could be easily solved if your government would do something.

[@graceoconnor9701]

Thank you. Great video.

[@steve41557]

Thanks for posting!

[@Fredo63200]

I'm French and I never go to Paris without a pepper spray. You'd be surprised how loud those mutes can scream once their eyes are melting out.

[@shadowboxer2747]

😂😂😂

[@saxosaxo8851]

Well done!

[@da4127]

some mutes can scream, they don't have their full vocal cords, or have them damaged, or never learned to speak because they are also deaf, but that doesn't mean they cannot scream.

[@bag3lmonst3r72]

Uh I think you misunderstand the meaning of mute. They _can_ scream.

[@Zerg435]

I bet you go to jail if you use that on someone who just want to talk to you, before they even have robbed you.

[@copuis]

who on earth keeps their wallet in their back pocket in a place they are not a local, basic 101 travel tip right there

[@TheFunnyCamGuy]

Right. I dont do that period no matter if im at my home place or across the world.

[@smallsthetimelord4066]

I don't understand it either.

[@Amghannam]

Americans.

[@Poussindesdomtom]

Well... Japanese people for example. They're not used to people taking things that don't belong to them...

[@Amghannam]

@@Poussindesdomtom Sure, but this is about people being in a foreign place where they don't know the local cultures, peoples, etc.. Not when they're at home.

[@harrax1017]

When as a kid I went to Paris one of my favourite attractions was going to the stairs at Monmatre where you could watch the pickpockets at work. From this vantage point you could watch a 3 manTeam select a target, one person would go and stumble into the target ckimbing the stairs and while apologising the 2nd man would come up behind and tap his/her pockets, purse etc. Task accomplished they would seperate into the crowd transfering any goods to the third person. After a while the Team would regather and repeat the process.

[@sprintershepherd4359]

dont you mean you watched a oceans eleven or some other movie and are just crapping on for some reason

[@harrax1017]

@@sprintershepherd4359 the honest truth.

[@sprintershepherd4359]

@@harrax1017 and what , the police just couldn't be bothered if it was that easy to identify these people . or were they on the take ?

[@harrax1017]

@@sprintershepherd4359 I have great respect for the police, but when it comes down to it they can not be everywhere and if someone is keeping watch they must be relatively easy to avoid. This is just the kind of thing you have to up with in busy tourist traps.

[@sprintershepherd4359]

@@harrax1017 yep although it sounds like it is a scourge and something the council , tourism and police would want to eradicate if they are that easy to spot (the thieves ) its a wonder they dont t put pain clothes cops on the job every now and then

[@EndbossProductions]

My mindset at tourist places: Every stranger that interacts with me wants to scam me ... sad but mostly true :/

[@Zenith_95]

I always made up my own language when they approach me. Their faces are priceless. They say something to eachother in their native language which I could take an educated guess at.

[@rajadhirajmaharaj]

u work for cia?

[@NewEngland721]

I make up sign language

[@Zenith_95]

​@@rajadhirajmaharaj maybe I do... Maybe I do 🧐

[@bag3lmonst3r72]

Next time some "deaf" guy walks up to your table asking for a handout, Tarzan-yell right in his ear. It's a miracle how fast he will get his hearing back.

[@JohnSmith-qq6wi]

Then scam him back a fee of restoring his hearing XD

[@UBZUKki]

URRRRRROOOOUUUURRRRGGHHHHAAAAAAARRFR

[@swaldron5558]

Or screams FFFFUUUCCCCKKKKOOOFFFF!

[@MarySmith-lv3mo]

@@swaldron5558 LMAO :D

[@rohitbhushan8855]

Or will really get deaf.

[@herickmota9357]

Great video, thanks for exposing the various scams that happen in the city.

[@justayoutuber1906]

Thanks for the great tips!

[@QuintusGaius]

Be aware of people bumping into you and then dropping their "expensive " phone and asking you to pay for the damage.

[@houssammehfara4771]

french person: h- this guy: JUST SAY "NON" AND WALK AWAY

[@marshan1226]

Houssam Mehfara 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@marshan1226]

Sublime203 why just those groups

[@jqd5]

@@marshan1226 because if you go to any major European city that's who it usually is.

[@marshan1226]

Justin D that’s too harsh you can’t realllyyyy say it’s just those

[@jqd5]

@@marshan1226 I said "usually." I wasn't trying to be harsh. This is just my experience travelling to 15 countries in Europe. Rome was probably the worse I've dealt with so far. Almost ruined my trip.

[@winwincsk]

Thank you for the useful information 👍

[@slobodanmezei2891]

Thank you my friend! Really helpfoul!

[@mattloveohiost5]

my dad berated us about watching wallets on the paris metro, so we were very cautious. sure enough, ten minutes after arriving in paris, waiting for the metro, hes the one who gets pickpocketed 🤣

[@exelmans8855]

mattloveOHIOST5 AH AH

[@online_rahul]

If u r watching something on u regularly u r giving its location n importance to d thief.

[@t-squared6406]

not watchful enough

[@benmartin1727]

I had a deaf mute passing through a barn at a local fair. It was fun watching his reaction when someone yelled "loose bull"

[@Mrstealth93]

I bet he jumped really well.

[@thecat6688]

Thank you for very useful information.

[@alexmendez9627]

Extremely useful video for any tourist in any country 👏

[@KimmiiTays]

My mum had the map scam tried on her at a Cafe in Paris. The woman placed the map on my mums handbag which was on the table in front of her. As the woman was asking quick questions about finding the eifel tower, she had her other hand under the map riffeling through mums bag! Be careful!

[@akoww1000]

2:37 I had someone give me a card saying they were deaf, so I started to sign to them :P they walked away fast

[@madlad847]

sign or sing

[@seananderson5334]

To be honest sign language isn't universal so they could not have understood you. But in reality they were probably scammers lol.

[@NicoleMichelChannel]

@@madlad847 😂 I bet they meant sign lol

[@faithlesshound5621]

@@seananderson5334 American Sign Language is said to be based on French Sign Language, so they may well have understood, IF they were French and deaf...

[@jamesmcinnis208]

"they"

[@paytowin8468]

just imagine having some broken glass in your bag and someone tries to quickly steal from you. They'il regret it

[@Rig0r_M0rtis]

or a handful or razors

[@TheSandkastenverbot]

Great idea :D

[@Aaron-pv8vm]

I guess we looked too poor, since I never got approached by anyone doing these scams in Paris

[@boutiflet]

I'm Parisian if you need help, you can ask policemen (or policewomen), soldiers, any shops and French Peoples (easy to find they walk fast). Please be carefull and enjoy your stay. ;-) PS : I work in Gare du Nord.

[@boutiflet]

@@toddboothbee1361 We walk fast because the life in Paris is stressfull. :-P

[@njcamocutie7085]

@@boutiflet its stressful? why?

[@boutiflet]

@@njcamocutie7085 Generally the Frenchman is stressed. In french culture you can not fail. It's forbidden. Society really puts forward an elitist system and not to be part of it is seen as a failure. But ! The problem is much more complex than that. I am not an expert. Don't take my "science" like something truthful ;-)

[@Nature_with_Peter_Kane]

Gare du Nord...I was there couple of months ago!! That whole district is just full of beggars and shady men walking around looking to swipe your suitcase..Full of migrants too!!

[@HaiNguyen-lh7xm]

Thanks Walter. I watched many of your videos on this subject but I was still a victim of those scams. I was physically harassed on the steps leading to Sacred Coeur in April 2019 while traveling by myself. Three guys (black in the late teens or early 20s) surrounded me and one guy wanted to put a tiny string on my wrist while another guy signaled with his fingers demanding money. I said NO then one guy grabbed my left wrist. I screamed really loud NO in his face and yanked my arm back and walked away fast. I could have hit the guy with a selfie stick had he did not let go my wrist. I flagged a police car a few minutes later to report the incident. I was so disappointed that a policeman said that he would only investigate if I was hit by those young men. It happened to me in Milan as well but was not as serious. Those tourist places in Europe are not safe especially for solo tourists. You can't relax on your vacation anymore unless you go to an exclusive vacation resort.

[@BassComb]

I'm from Paris and I approve this message. First additional advice (that you might already know): if you don't need them to rent something, etc., instead of taking with you your passport/ID card/driving licence, take photocopies with you and leave the originals at the place where you stay. Second advice: remember that the young romani pickpockets are quite easy to spot, unlike the pro pickpocket who usually look like an accountant going to work. His tie and shoes will dupe you.

[@designereats3661]

Thanks for the tips

[@franco7928]

Great video, thanks.

[@Alchemist37]

My initial view of Paris was "wow what a beautiful city....." that changed after 24 hours to " I'm never coming back here ever again " Luckily we never got scammed but the constant presence of scammers everywhere you went just wore us down !!

[@sep0834]

Alchemist37 I felt the same way.

[@EverlastGX]

Its not for pussies

[@tomlaureys1734]

Most of these scammers and beggars are not French. They speak less French than I do if they speak any French at all. This is my own observation. I'm happy that I went to Paris in 1985 before the Eurozone and before the immigration wave. In 1985 Paris was a beautiful city without any of these type of scammers in the tourist sites. There were only French people and tourists in the city. It was very safe and clean. The next time I went in 2002 it was a completely different situation. The Eurozone had already been in effect for several years. There were Gypsy type people begging from me relentlessly as I sat in a sidewalk Cafe to have a coffee. There were other foreign people trying to sell me trinkets in the streets. There were foreign people who set up tables to sell things in the streets. One-time I saw the police come by and shut down one of those Street table vendors. It's hard to give you an image of what I saw with words. But you get my point which is that these are not French people. Like you I vowed never to go back. Now I go to Central and Eastern Europe. It's beautiful there. Warsaw Prague Budapest St Petersburg are beautiful cities and don't have 1:100000 of the street hustlers of Western European cities.

[@Sawrattan]

Paris has been massively ruined by the "new people" coming along since the 1980s. In fact "Frexit" would be even better than "Brexit" but sadly the French are too haunted by World War 2 to give up on open borders.

[@lynnmark1724]

I hugged my bag everywhere i went .....

[@GravityBoy72]

I've experienced the found gold ring scam in Paris. Also found (crappy) watch. Clip boarders as well. Muslim woman on crutches. The string around the wrist nonsense. People just lying in the middle of the pavement semi-asleep waiting for someone to "help" them. ... Why don't the Police just round them up? They are easy to spot. Very tiresome.

[@BrCarla]

GravityBoy72 because once they know that have laws to protect them they can do non stop anywhere unfortunately the problem was politicians that made people from France feel good in help immigrants now the joke is on them

[@razr7r531]

there are a group of woman that are dressing up as muslims but not actually muslim. keep an eye out for that

[@kristossantorini1342]

Thanks for sharing this...

[@woltersworld]

You are very welcome

[@tovarproductions_]

Are those petitioners behind you at 3:17?? LOL Thanks for the info!

[@totallyrock]

My mom almost got robbed at the metro gate, luckily she noticed someone touching her back and she turned around and slapped that thief hard 😂 He was shocked and ran away.

[@superdrinkerb6432]

How to get rid of scammers: cough hard at them. 🤣🤣

[@MarySmith-lv3mo]

LMAO! :D

[@TheButterMinecart1]

They don't give a shit about covid though.

[@Stonk5331]

Then they spit on your face. You: "pikachu face"

[@GholaTleilaxu]

@Johan Nilsson And you go to jail for beating up a random person on the street.

[@GholaTleilaxu]

@Johan Nilsson "We"?

[@colmacjames8424]

Good advice. Thanks.

[@babass71620]

You can also say "je connais le truc" (I know the drill) to get instant peace. It's effective generally... x)

[@jeromejarny8598]

As a French man living near Paris, I totaly confirm everything said in this video

[@maximes4428]

3:17 petition scam girls walking in the background lol !!

[@charcolatier]

3:20 one of them sneezed because HES TALKING ABOUT THEM SCAMMERS HAHAHAHA

[@peterlee9691]

Well spotted, I had them come up to me at the Sacred Heart Basilica stole my pen off my front pocket when I refuse to partake.

[@sarasangiorgio9899]

I was once wallkin with a friend in Paris, and this couple told my friend about a donation for a "random deaf person association", I was a bit far from her but I couldn't notice that they were very passive aggressive (speaking really close to her/completely invading her personal space). Then I saw my friend trying to give them like 4 or 5 euro (at this point it was just to make them go away) but the lady of the couple asked more and raised her voice. Then she literally GRABBED my friend's wallet to take more money and my friend tried to take it back. I noticed they were fighting and I immediately ran to them and yelled them to leave, they left immediately screaming at us. Luckily my friend took her wallet back! The guy of the couple was actually a huge man but luckily he was not too close to us so we went away before anything bad could happen.

[@sastrysarikela2457]

You are so helpful man.

[@sahilanant123]

Just put your wallet in the front pocket or say “Swiper no swiping!”

[@edlawn5481]

"Oh, Man!"

[@jwenting]

and a loaded mousetrap in your back pocket :)

[@patli445]

Lol

[@sahilanant123]

Retendo some jeans got front pockets. Side in most cases

[@rnb8328]

There should be a t shirt of that in French with an X over a pic of swiper wearing a beret you can wear around. Or would that be too rude?? 😂😂😂

[@annabelvb]

I lived in Paris for 6 years and can confirm this is very accurate. I’ve also been chased and kicked by the petition scammers, so the clearer you are from the moment they approach you the better.

[@bufaloguerreiro7573]

Lmao

[@dimitrygornomelikov3146]

Pfff you call this a scam? Louis vuttion charges 2000x more for than what the product costs to make! And ends up going out of fashion in a month. Now that’s what I call a French scam!

[@psirvent8]

If you find Louis Vuitton stuff too expensive, no one will force you to enter the shop let alone buy it. Scams mentioned in this video are more like you're casually walking in the street and someone stops you and begs money from you if they're not stealing your wallet or phone from your pockets ! See the difference ?

[@Chu_Strums]

When I was there this guy offered to bring us on a "tour" of an area near Notre Dame. When we rejected he instantly turned vulgar. Knew it was a scam cuz he was really friendly for a Parisian.

[@AT-oo8tw]

Lmao trueee! Nothing shadier than a friendly Parisian 🤣🤣

[@jjmbeausoleil]

With my 8 month old strapped to my chest I got pick pocketed on the metro. They got a decoy wallet full of Canadian tire money.

[@redragna3648]

That's pretty funny actually. I am going to get a decoy wallet.

[@hsw2437]

lol. In Asia, we have heaven money. It can only be use in heaven, and we have to burn it to send it there. It will be more surprise for them if they got one.

[@pte_n0vember]

I was legit lassoed by some man on my holiday in Paris. XD I was just walking minding my own business and out of nowhere I'm roped in by my wrist with coloured string. I tried to shake lose and walk away but he just started braiding it with me still attached while talking fast in French. I was a teenager at the time and my parents were walking some distance ahead of me, so I was a bit panicked. They ended up paying him something for the bracelet when they realised where I was. They initially blamed me thinking I had asked him for a bracelet or something. We also encountered the golden ring scam a lot. So often it was comical actually. My dad one time plucked the ring from the person's hand saying "oh yeah that's mine! Thanks for finding it!" and walking away.

[@JPMJPM]

Your dad is awesome!

[@naillijseer]

Wow! You may have been being kidnapped. Are you blond? Happened to me but luckily my massive black boyfriend was right behind me and was a little peeved.

[@CaptainDangeax]

Some woman tryed the golden ring scam with me under the eifel tower, I was sitting with my russian born wife who had already spotted the game. I took the ring stood up and walked towards the police always somewhere... The woman fleed away like a frightened sparrow

[@saxosaxo8851]

Bien joué !!!

[@FactStorm]

You're awesome man :)

[@EnergeticWaves]

the world would be so much nicer without bums and crooks.

[@ludastout2852]

M H@ Those Eastern European were not that poor until they intered EU. Poland is the most stable country now.

[@beniteztheconman]

but who would run the US and UK then?

[@pw6002]

EnergeticWaves The world would be so much better without people making others become bums and crooks....

[@EnergeticWaves]

Pierre-Antoine Winter-Samary did the world make you a crook? Is that your reasoning for being a crook? Not my fault right.

[@pw6002]

EnergeticWaves Ok my bad, I am not native English speaker and mixed up « crook » and « crippled » (which I am not either ). Crooks are in fact a nuisance. But you put bums and crooks in the same basket, and I don’t think that is right.

[@suzzi1961]

Your advice is sound...We had the gold ring scam in Paris...The Petition girls were everywhere, what I noticed is that the girls were aiming for the men. I just snared at them and told them in Croatian to take a hike. Berlin was a interesting. Beggar with one leg at a set of Traffic Lights begging for money. We continued on with our walk when we saw the same beggar at a coffee shop with a phone and his leg grew...It was a miracle I tell you lol...

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

As someone famous said "What! No wooden legs? " on seeing many crutches left behind in Lourdes grotto.

[@julosx]

That reminds me that guy I once saw putting on his beggar disguise just before boarding the métro.

[@jk-qf3lt]

Maybe it wasn't a scam? Maybe a tourist gave him a new leg?

[@beantrader4723]

This is good & needful info. Thanks. It could all have been said in sixty seconds.

[@josedacunhafilho]

I have lived in Rio de Janeiro for 40 some years, and in New York city for 19 years. The only place I was ever pickpocketed in my life was Paris. I have visited several times, and every time I experienced people trying to scam me. The 'golden ring' is so pathetic, ridiculous and ubiquitous in Paris, it amazes me anyone could fall for that.

[@awhiskybond8545]

Paris is by far the worst place for scams and pickpockets! I saw a women’s bag being dipped and it was terrifying. I was approached by begging kids, people with petitions and someone attempted the Gold Ring scam all on the Champs-Élysées! Fantastic video!

[@nedread6700]

A guy tried to scam me on the streets of Paris, I played along as he was quite good, in the end I gave him one euro for the entertainment value. The look on his face was priceless when I asked for the dollar back when he insisted more money. Best dollar I ever spent.

[@hassanalihusseini1717]

Nice done, Sir! Did once a similiar thing in Bangkok, Thailand with a Tuk tuk driver. His face was priceless!

[@peachbooks3199]

@@hassanalihusseini1717 isn't tuktuk a legitimate service.... what happened? i hope you didn't underpay the poor guy bcs you "think" you are getting scammed

[@hassanalihusseini1717]

@@peachbooks3199 No, I was actively searching for such a scam as I had read a lot about it on the net. And I have to admit it took me long time to find such a scammer tukyuk driver who wanted to show me sights in BKK for 20Baht (around half a pound or Euro). It was so funny because this man did nearly exactly that what I had read before on a website about Thailand. I had a hard time not to burst out with laughter, and at the end of the tour I gave him 100 Baht instead.

[@azurazdandaridae9158]

When you mentioned at the beginning about the petitions my first thought was I wouldn't want some unknown people to even have my signature. It could be used to forge documents or something.

[@nirz63]

Most of these are common scams across the world... Thanks for this video.