This happened to me in Paris. I was walking toward the Louvre with my husband’s law partner when a man walking toward me grabbed my crotch. Stunned, I whipped around and saw him leer at me with the smug satisfaction of one who hates women. That episode still replays in my head making me wonder how I could have prevented it.
Another time – same trip – we arrived at a museum to find several rag-tag children looking destitute and wandering with people who, presumably, were their parents. The youngsters held open-newspapers in front of them seeming to entreat tourists to donate money. The scam was an old one; you fumble removing your wallet to put currency in their newspaper, while an accomplice grabs your purse, wallet or camera.
While I probably couldn’t have anticipated the former episode, I should have foreseen the second by educating myself about tourist scams and petty thievery techniques, both of which are getting more ingenious.
Rick Steves, America’s most respected authority on European travel, explains in Rick Steves Travel Tips, some of the more creative schemes that thieves use to separate tourists from their money and how to avoid them:
Such a Deal! If a bargain seems too good to be true…it’s too good to be true.
The “Friendship” Bracelet: A vendor approaches you and aggressively asks if you’ll help him with a “demonstration.” He proceeds to make a friendship bracelet right on your arm. When finished, he asks you to pay a premium for the bracelet he created just for you. And, since you can’t easily take it off on the spot, you feel obliged to pay up. (These sorts of distractions by “salesmen” can also function as a smokescreen for theft — an accomplice is picking your pocket as you try to wriggle away from the pushy vendor.)
Switcheroo — You Lose: Be careful when you pay with too large a bill for a small payment. Clearly state the value of the bill as you hand it over. Some cabbies or waiters will pretend to drop a large bill and pick up a hidden small one in order to shortchange a tourist. Get familiar with the currency and check the change you’re given: The valuable €2 coin resembles several coins that are either worthless or worth much less: the 500-lira coin (from Italy’s former currency), Turkey’s 1-lira coin, and Thailand’s 10-baht coin.
Talkative Cashiers: The shop’s cashier seems to be speaking on her phone when you hand her your credit card. But listen closely and you may hear the sound of the phone’s camera shutter, as she takes a picture of your card. It can make you want to pay cash for most purchases like I do.
Room “Inspectors”: There’s a knock at your door and two men claim to be the hotel’s room inspectors. One waits outside while the other comes in to take a look around. While you’re distracted, the first thief slips in and takes valuables left on a dresser. Don’t let people into your room if you weren’t expecting them. Call down to the hotel desk if “inspectors” suddenly turn up.
We want to hear from you, so feel free to share tips, ideas, and resources for seniors with Grannybooster. Email me, Maris Somerville, at info@grannybooster.com
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