BIGGEST TOURIST SCAMS IN PARIS (and how to avoid them)

If you're coming to Paris, then you probably want to avoid being scammed or pickpocketed! In this video, I detail all of the top tourist scams in Paris, as well as how to avoid them.

Here are some of the scams we cover in the video:
- how to avoid being pickpocketed (and what to buy to avoid having your phone stolen)
- scams in the métro
- fake petition
- fake taxis
- gold ring scam
- friendship bracelet scam
- 'free portrait'
- cup and ball scam
- rose scam

What to watch next 👇

Read my blogs

Social media

Support my work:

[Clivestravelandtrains]

I was in Paris in April, and was short-changed in a café by €10 when paying for a coffee with a €20 note. I immediately challenged the guy, and could tell from his reaction that it was deliberate. Short-changing tourists is quite common in Paris.

[pilotlounge]

As a former world traveler my advice is do not accept any one who approaches you first ever

[alisonhope]

I only use anti-pickpocket bags with straps and sides that can’t be cut, and pockets that zip close, with zipper tabs that clip for use in crowds. I buy Travelon brand but there are others. The pink bag in this video looks much less secure.

Also, instead of dangling my phone in plain sight like that, I keep mine in a special closed pouch attached to my purse strap, and use my wrist strap when I need it as I walk around.

Finally, I recommend getting a smart watch that mirrors your phone for following directions or taking calls etc. so you pull out your phone the least possible.

It’s all about making yourself less of a target and using your street sense. (I’m a 74-year-old woman and travel alone, including to Paris, and haven’t been robbed yet, knock on wood!)

[Solarlube]

Great advice, I was presented with a gold ring and then asked for money in return for keeping the ring. I said no and she was insistent that she did not have a passport and needed money to get back to her own country. I had to place the ring on the back of her hand as she refused to take it back. The other one was, I was across the way from Moulin Rouge when approached by a Madam??? She was VERY PERSISTENT but when I said oh look a police car she was like a magician poof disappeared and I mean she was gone just like the Phantom. Great Video Thank you.

[rolandblack]

Yes - thanks for the video. I got caught with the gold ring scam about 6 years ago. Still feel foolish and annoyed about it. My son had his pocket picked too but he could see it happening - he has a black belt in Aikido and gave the pickpocket a lesson in consequences. That could have been a problem though. Same kind of stuff happened in Prague where a couple of bogus ticket inspectors made big threats until I handed over a "fine" for a supposedly dodgy tram ticket. Sad that beautiful cities like these are being polluted by such rubbish.

[bawhitham]

Nice job touching on the many scams of Paris. I would just add, always be polite But FIRM when you say no thanks. As for pickpockets, and how to avoid being a victim, yours are all great ideas that everyone should follow. Cheers!

[PastaSauce.]

They nearly got me with the ticket scam. He was dressed very well and appeared very friendly. Just like a typical commuter. When he tried to hand me a ticket my gut told me this was strange and I just quickly walked away and went into the nearest shop.
It was quite scary as I wasn’t sure if he was in a gang.
My biggest tip in this situation is to not saying anything and quickly walk away and walk into the nearest store or cafe.

[billywalik]

Warning! If you are renting an apartment with street views, chances are you are renting a known apartment that just might be under watch by the bad guys, waiting for you to leave for the day! Fully secure the door and be creative where you put your valuables!

[joebloe]

I have been going to Paris since I was young as I live in Germany - plus I'm half french and speak French since birth. Never had any issue anywhere. But then again, the Paris that is spoken about in film and books doesn't exist anymore. Paris has become little Bahrain.
The best way to not be targeted is to not look like a tourist, don't look up and around everywhere, don't look at street signs all the time, and don't fall for art scams and other rubbish souvenirs.
Ever since the bohemian life left Paris, it has been nothing but a tourist trap and has lost so much of its sophistication and class. But to each their own..

[agritech]

My sister was given €3000 by a scammer to buy a Gucci bag under the pretence that the shop had refused to sell them the bag and they really wanted it. So my sister agreed but when she got up to the counter to buy the bag, the money was gone. The scammers were waiting outside the shop and were going to accuse her of stealing the money so luckily my mother asked the shop assistant to ring the police, the police arrived and whisked my sister and mother to the police station and after some interrogation released them without charge and far away from the scammers 😃

[brumplum]

Surely all of those apply to pretty much every major city throughout Europe ? Wherever there are tourists there are scams, and most of them are just variations on each other.

[scottklepner]

the string wrist scam thing at the base of the sacre couer is a very dark and unwelcome thing

[ifqnirb]

Fantastic video! Excellent tips to avoid pick pockets. Loved ❤ it! Thank you Sophie!

[remiau]

Paris taxis always want an outrageous fixed price no matter where you are. I gave up on them as they always refused to turn their meters on. I just used Uber in the end.

[karlapolina]

One of the recent scams is when staff at a cafe where you order and pay at the counter add a tip without asking if you wish to tip (and why would you??). It's not losing a few euros that would annoy me, it's the fact that someone stole it from me and got away with it.

[commonsense]

You have totally convinced me. I now have no desire to go to Paris, or other major cities in Europe, where such things frequently happen. MORE THAN JUST SAYING...

[holy_trinity_GP_legends]

Thanks for the tips. I'm pretty street smart but a refresher was welcome as I'll be in Paris soon. Had the pick pocket attempt in the Rome subway, got pinned in the corner at the doors by a gang then felt someone trying to unzip my pocket. I just called out "PICKPOCKET"! then charged out off there bumping them and pushing then out off my way. They swore at me in Italian then they all got off at three next stop. They had my pocket zip half opened before I caught them.

[jimmy_with_a_K]

I have been to paris once, they have the most beggers and scammers i had ever seen.
I did not like it there, they take away all the joy from a citytrip, you never feel relax.
I will never ever go there a second time.

[jhors]

Thank you for posting this helpful video

[tbcbrfn]

Years ago, while in Paris, I was walking along, and a car stopped by the curb. The driver leaned out with a map and tried to ask me, a tourist, directions to some place. He was rather rough looking, as was his male companion. I figured they were going to do a watch and bag grab, so I merely stayed out of grab range and commented how did they expect an obvious tourist to know where they wanted to go was. To say the least, their reaction was rather negative, and they rapidly drove off. Ah, yes, the adventures of being a tourist in Paris. Now let me tell you about Rome. Once while walking . . . . .