From the bustling Las Ramblas to Rome’s Corsica, these major hotspots draw millions of tourists every year – but with them comes the risk of unscrupulous scammers specifically targeting tourists.
There are plenty of piggybacking scams happening in Europe, from charges for fake services to pickpocketing, but there’s one scam that travel experts are warning is currently all the rage.
Jessica Dante, travel expert and founder of Love and London, spoke to Express.co.uk about some signs to look out for for travellers “the bracelet scam that’s sweeping Europe.” Bracelet swapping has become something of a phenomenon recently, thanks in part to Taylor Swift’s world tour, but you don’t want to get caught up in a bracelet scam.
Jessica explained: “We’ve all heard of the rose and flower scam where someone hands you or your loved one flowers in a restaurant, and the flowers become an eye catcher for pickpockets.
“But another scam that’s popular in European cities uses the same principle, but the scammer tries to wrap a bracelet around your wrist.”
The experts at The Points Guy recently named the “friendship bracelet scam” as one of the most common scams in Europe, especially in cities like Paris and Milan.
Jessica continued: “Couples need to be more vigilant because cheaters exploit romantic feelings by making one partner feel obligated to be in a relationship and avoiding rejecting romantic acts lest they hurt the other’s feelings.”
“But the bracelet scam is just another scam to distract people and steal their belongings. People are aware of the rose scam tactics.”
“So it’s best to distance yourself and reject him then and there. If you want to prove your relationship, go to the store on your own terms and choose a bracelet together.”
While this scam may be commonplace now, it’s actually been around for years in cities like Paris. Anonymous travelers shared their experiences on Reddit, saying, “In the spring of 2012, three guys attacked me at the foot of the Sacré-Coeur and tried to put a bracelet on me. I ducked out of the way and ran as fast as I could.”
“I refused three times, thinking he was a regular salesman, but the third time I was polite and he caught me.” [SIC]
Another traveller who visited Rome last year shared a similar anecdote on Reddit, explaining: “I was visiting Castel Sant’Angelo today and got grabbed by one of the many salesmen on the bridge just outside the castle.
“He was a very nice guy, very chatty and offered me and my wife ‘free’ bracelets. I politely declined but he ended up putting bracelets on both our wrists and demanding (quite aggressively) 10 euros, plus 5 euros for each bracelet.” [SIC]
Scams occur more frequently in certain cities than others, so it’s very important to research your destination before you travel. Luckily, in the age of social media, this is very easy.
“[You can] “Do a search on TikTok to see what scams are trending because people often share scams to watch out for in their city,” Jessica advised.
