Paris Scams

Paris is a beautiful city, however, it is also home to many scammers and pickpockets that prey on tourists. I have unfortunately experienced these firsthand but was lucky enough to be aware of it so I never got scammed. Hopefully, by sharing these tips, others can be aware of it as well.

1. Sacré-Cœur Bracelets

A common scam in Sacré-Cœur is the string around the wrist. Scammers are known for stopping visitors on the steps leading up to the top of Sacré-Cœur and tying a string on their wrist. After they do, they will claim that it was a bracelet and expect money for their service. A way to avoid this scam is to use the funicular to get to the top of Sacré-Cœur. This funicular is a quick and easy way to ascent to the top.

2. False Activism

While I was walking in the Tuileries Garden, I was approached by a group of people asking for my help to sign a petition. The group was wearing organization shirts and appeared to be legitimate. I am usually always down to sign a petition for change but as they were talking to me, I noticed that another member of their team was peering into the bag that I was carrying. It didn’t take long for me to realize that this was a scam. Luckily the bag that they were peering into was an empty shopping bag, so I didn’t lose out on anything.

3. Aggressive Vendors

While I was walking near the Eiffel Tower, I saw many people selling little Eiffel tower trinkets. I am a person that respects the hustle and they were giving a great sales pitch. The prices were decent and so I gave it a go. However, once they realized that I was showing interest in buying their items, they got aggressive. I was instantly turned off by this and politely declined their offers and walked away. All would have been fine except they started following me as I walked getting more and more aggressive with their sales pitch. They only backed down when I assertively told them that I wasn’t interested in their items.

4. Pickpockets

Paris is one of the worst places in the world for pickpocketing. They have elaborate systems of pickpocketing, one of which is roadside shows. There is usually a performer that pulls in and distracts an audience while the rest of their team pickpockets said audience. I luckily didn’t have too much experience with pickpockets (that I know of). I think that I was able to get away pickpocket free because of the bag that I was using. When I travel my preferred bag is a Travelon. These bags have extra security measures embedded in their design. They have extra clips, zippers, RFID blockers, and slash-resistant wires in the bag straps. These bags are much harder to steal from than a standard bag which is why they are marketed as anti-theft.