10 Tourist Scams to Avoid in ITALY | Things to Know Before You Visit Italy

Planning a trip to Italy? Avoid these 10 common Tourist Scams that could cost money, waste time, or worse!

Italy is a WONDERFUL destination, but there are a number of scams visitors need to watch out for when visiting Italy. Don't miss out on these essential travel tips before you visit Italy!

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⏰ Timecodes ⏰
0:00 10 Worst Tourist Scams in Italy
1:10 Italy Scam #1: The Petition
1:59 Italy Scam #2: Rose Scam
2:45 Italy Scam #3: Fakes and Impersonators
3:45 Italy Scam #4: Imitation Gladiators at the Colosseum
4:21 Italy Scam #5: Paintings on the Ground Scam
5:00 Italy Scam #6: Restaurant Prices
6:10 Italy Scam #7: ATM Scams
7:29 Italy Scam #8: Public Wifi
9:11 Italy Scam #9: Fake Leather in Florence
10:19 Italy Scam #10: Pickpockets

#scams #italy #touristscams

[blakew]

The petition scam is ridiculously common.

Just returned from a 18 day Europe trip. Had a woman try this on me in Berlin, and noticed it happening in Paris as well.

[Tamara-julh]

I'm so glad I'm the "gtfo of my face" type. Like I stepped on your painting? Shouldn't have put in on the literal street.

I did really well in NYC with this mentality haha

[jd]

1. Petition scam is also in other countries; I have seen this in France.
2. Rose scam/free gift: also in other countries, such as France. Dropping the ring is common in Paris.
4. Gladiators - similar to characters in many other countries, too.
6. Restaurant prices - avoid any restaurant that has multiple menus in an array of languages.
7. Skimming is worldwide.
10. Pickpockets! Oh, yes! By all means, get a belt to wear under your shirt or pants.

[hayleyscomet]

Greeting from Sunny Cape Town South Africa, we just spent 21 days in Rome Florence Milan Venice. A great video, but some of these scams are a little outdated. we used the Metro rail, bus and trams extensively and I must say we felt very Safe compared to previous years.

[anarr]

Thank you, traveling to Italy later this week. Signed up for Surfshark, thank you

[janice]

Great vid thanks for your information !

[shakeelahmed]

In Paris, , Pick Pocket Gang in Rush Area. Specially while travelling in Rush Hours in Metro.

[richardcoben]

I really enjoy your videos on YouTube. I’m glad I found you guys.

[LeannaRuthJensen]

Getting referrals from locals you have had good dealings with is very successful. A scam I helped someone avoid was car insurance. A repair shop was pressuring someone we had met to get insurance. They found an employee who spoke French and had him call me so that I could ask questions for them. Long story short they passed on the insurance.

[LU-jojz]

I just came back from Italy and nothing even similar happens. !

[lostinadmiration]

Very useful! Scams get more and more creative so it is good to know these things before you go! Thanks for making the video!

[acbc]

I was touring Anfield stadium in Liverpool and after that I looked for a pub to chill and have a beer . Some good looking dude approached me and tried to carry my backpack saying that it looked heavy and stuff . As a solo female traveler I said : No, lad ! He was relying on his good looks and he could have gotten all my cash, my credit cards, passport and GoPro and camera . No, lad ! Not on this trip . Boy, did he try or what ?

[RogerHammond]

another scam in Florence that I saw were people in parking lots, guiding people in and charging them money. It was a public holiday and the signs were pretty clear and I could read that it was free parking, so we just parked further away and headed out of the carpark away from the scammers.

[TheBourbonWrench]

Had a guy come up to me in Rome asking if I've ever been to Africa. Just trying to make small talk. He then threw a bracelet at me which I just let hit the ground. He swiftly picked it up and moved on to the next person. I'm guessing he'd have demanded money even if he literally threw it at me.

[kenplummer]

SAW PAINTINGS ON THE GROUND IN vancouver cANADA

[darlenehundal]

I was in Greece and the menu had no prices on it. The waiter smoozed us and we ate out meal he kept bringing items we kept saying no then we had enough and said check please the meal was $700.00
They wouldn’t let me leave til we paid, we had no choice but let’s just say our budget after that was pita and hummus!

[rickmitchell]

Love your content! I have friends who were ripped off in Rome with a restaurant charging for some menu items by the gram. Their lunch was over $500+. Do you have any suggestions on how to avoid this? Thanks!

[celinedionfan]

Had a version of the Rose scam happen to me and my mom in Washington DC. Guy walks up, asks us where we're from (we're from Ohio) and say's he in a city not too far from us. Proceeds to go on about how he was homeless until he started working with the group he's representing and how he wanted me to have a free hat and my mom a bracelet. We take the items as a kind gesture and start to walk away. He then asks that as a nice gesture for those items that we make a donation. We give the items back and continue on our way. He moved on to another target and just out of earshot we heard "Hi there. Where are you from? (Target says a state that isn't Ohio.) Oh I'm from a city not too far from you. 🙄

[Janika-xjbv]

I've read something about decoy wallets somewhere. Fill them with scraps of paper with a "I hope you die of cancer" note for the pickpocket.

[regf]

In Romania (but I’ve heard this is a popular scam) a taxi driver took my bill then dropped it on the floor and showed me a smaller bill saying that’s all I gave him & I owed more. Since I’d seen this in videos prior to my trip, I looked on the floor and told him, “No, there’s my money, but thanks for the change.” And then to the smaller bill he was holding up. Always settle your taxi bill when you & the driver are either but in the car or both outside, and when you’re fully attentive. (Not while you’re piling out and distracted with bags.)

Maybe change the title of this video because it makes it sound like this is all about Italy, but you continually say that it’s not just in Italy.