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Scams in Paris are all over social media. There is no day without a report of someone who got pickpocketed, bought a false metro ticket, or lost his travel budget in a crooked betting game.
It is scary and if you are wondering if Paris is really a safe destination to travel to, you are not alone. And truth be told, I genuinely understand it. There’s nothing worse than feeling vulnerable, especially when you are already outside your comfort zone.
That’s why I created this guide for you. Paris is overall not a dangerous location, and if you know about the common scams and how to avoid them, you are significantly reducing the risk of becoming a victim. Hence, in this article, I present you with the most annoying and frequent scams, so you know what to watch out for.
CHECKLIST for your Paris Trip
Scams in Paris: Is it really that bad?
I don’t know if it’s a post-pandemic plague, an inflated impression due to social media, or if there are really that many scammers and thieves in Paris. But it is an undeniable fact that many travelers and Parisians alike get taken advantage of daily.
However, don’t worry about violent attacks and robberies. Typical scams in Paris include discrete thefts, creative cons, and swindles, but nothing that would harm you physically. It’s annoying and a total bummer, yet, you can protect yourself.
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This being said, Paris is not more of a scammers’ paradise than elsewhere. When you are traveling to a metropole, you can be sure that scammers and thieves are already there waiting for you. Paris is no different, even though it’s generally a pretty safe city.
Read on for some tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of scammers and swindlers in Paris.
Also read: 15 mistakes you should not make when visiting Paris
Where do you find the most scammers in Paris?
Most scams in Paris happen in the tourist hotspots: The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Montmartre, Disneyland, and the Champs Élysée. However, scam artists are operating as well on markets, bars, and, of course, on public transportation.
For more info on where to watch out for which scam, check the 13 most common Paris scams below.
The most typical Paris tourist scams and how to avoid them
Scammers are annoying, and a stolen phone can easily ruin your trip. Let alone a stolen wallet with your papers in it. Your best tactic to avoid becoming a victim of a con artist is to know about their tricks, to be informed, and know what to watch out for.
Here are the most frequent scams and swindles you should be aware of when traveling to Paris:
#1 Paris Scam: Pickpockets
A metropole classic and, of course, no stranger to Paris. There are plenty of pickpockets in Paris and tons of things are stolen every day, but do not get paranoid and believe that everyone wants to steal from you.
Pickpockets are usually in crowded areas and in places where people are distracted: public transportation, tourist attractions, bars, markets, theme parks… you name it.
The best advice to avoid being a victim of theft is: be aware of your things and your surroundings, don’t get distracted, keep your valuables close. Pickpockets are not violent, they are discrete scammers that are searching for the occasion, rather than creating one.
NEW pickpocket scheme in the Parisian Metro:
Since this year, there are many reports from travelers that got pickpocketed in the metro by a group of girls. They create a situation of pushing and jostling when entering the Metro, their hands hidden behind a bag or a jacket. They steal a phone or a wallet and pass it quickly on to another girl, who removes the cash.
Funny enough, they often return the wallet to the owner before quickly leaving the Metro at the next station.
Where are you at risk of getting pickpocketed? Sadly everywhere, but mainly around tourist attractions, markets, transport, and crowded areas.
How to avoid it? Take care of your belongings, be aware of your surroundings, and have your items safely stored. Don’t store money or other valuables in easily accessible pockets.
#2 Cell Phone Theft in Metros
This is a very popular scam in the Metros that happens every day, plenty of times—to locals and tourists alike. While riding the Metro, most passengers are checking their phones; reading the news, browsing Facebook, or playing games.
Being off guard and distracted, you won’t notice the person casually walking through the carrier. And – just when the alarm announces that the doors will close and the Metro is about to leave the station – grabbing your phone and running off with it.
The doors are closed, your phone is gone, and you’ve got no chance to catch the thief.
The best way to avoid it is obviously not using your phone on the Metro. Especially if you are standing or sitting close to the doors. However, personally, I often do use my phone when riding the Metro and I got a little cell phone grip
Where to find this scam? In public transportation.
How to avoid it? Don’t use your phone, and don’t get distracted.
#3 Fake Taxis at Airports and Train stations
When you arrive in Paris by plane, you will be approached by someone in the arrivals area asking if you need a taxi or a private driver to Paris. Chances are that you do indeed, and how lucky you are to have found one right away. Do not ever take a ride except from the official taxi stands.
Read more: 5 ways to get from Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris – THE complete guide!
Even if those guys will most likely deliver the service they offer, they are NOT legitimate taxi drivers. In France, it is prohibited for drivers to approach customers and every time someone asks if you need a ride, they are acting against the law.
And most important; they charge you whatever they want and usually, it is outrageously high. Just walk by, ignore them, or politely decline the offer.
Official taxis accept guests at the indicated taxi stands (just follow the signs), have a light on the roof of their vehicle, and will charge you a fixed price into town. (between €55 and €62 from CDG, and €35 and €34 from Orly)
If you would rather not ride public transportation upon arrival or are unsure about finding a taxi, you can also hire a private driver before your trip. Depending on your party size, it can be even cheaper than a regular taxi. Click here to see all offers and availabilities.
Where to find this scam? In airports and train stations, it can happen in other places, too.
How to avoid it? Don’t accept a ride from someone who is approaching you.
Good to know! Most scammers in Paris are part of a bigger organization and rarely act alone.
- If someone asks you to sign a petition, and you give them some coins, their accomplice might observe the scene and steal your wallet later, now knowing where you stored it.
- If you hear an announcement on the Metro that pickpockets are around, don’t check if your wallet is still in its place. Someone might observe the platform for exactly this gesture to find out where you’re keeping it.
#4 The Fake Petition Scams in Paris
The fake petition scam is a simple one. A person with a clipboard and a ballpoint pen asks you to sign a petition. If you sign, they’ll then ask you for money to help a charity, which they’ll pocket for themselves. These people can be very persistent, following you until you give them something to make them go away.
Often they will surround you, look in your wallet and pressure you into giving more.
But alas, that’s not all. The petition-bearer is usually part of a gang of pickpockets who will swipe your wallet or mobile phone whilst you’re distracted by the petition. Even if they don’t do it right away, they’ll know which pocket you keep your wallet in, making it easier for them to target you later on.
I took a walking tour of Paris and our tour guide drew our attention to these scammers outside the Louvre but said that you can spot them all over the capital.
Where to find this scam? Around all popular tourist places, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre, Montmartre. I also saw them at the Palais Garnier.
How to avoid it? The easiest way to avoid these scammers is just to say no, repeating as many times as is necessary or ignoring them altogether.
Experienced by Jenny from Cruise Mummy
#5 The Paris Ring Scam
The creators of Wandering Wheatleys experienced this scam:
My husband and I were walking along the river near Notre Dame on a cold December afternoon in Paris when a man sped past and then bent down to pick something up right in front of us. He stopped us with a smile, so we could admire what he’d just found lying on the sidewalk: a gold ring with an inscription of 18k!
We smiled and told him congratulations on the lucky find (but sad for whoever lost it) and started off again on our stroll.
He stopped us once again to show us his attempt to put the ring on his finger – sadly it didn’t fit him. He had me stick out my hand, so he could try it on and what do you know, it fit like a glove. Finally, he gestured to me that I could have it and I thought “wow, what a nice guy!”, still completely oblivious to the scam.
We started to walk away again, me with my newfound treasure, when he stopped us once again, this time to request a small payment for his generosity – “just €10 to buy a sandwich”. My husband and I gave each other a knowing glance – we’d just been had.
We tried to return the ring, but he insisted that we keep it. We ended up giving him €2 and keeping the ring as a memento of our first (and hopefully only) Parisian scam.
Where to find this scam? Around all popular tourist places, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre, Montmartre…
How to avoid it? Simply by knowing about this scam and not accepting the ring.
#6 Friendship Bracelets Scam in Montmartre
Visiting Montmartre is a must-do in Paris. If you are interested in learning more about Paris, this will be a great place to do so, as it’s home to some of the most famous French landmarks. As you head up there, make sure you stay alert as it’s known to be a place with many scammers.
One of the most common scams takes place at the Sacre Coeur. Once you get to the bottom of the stairs, you will notice that a lot of people are wandering around with bracelets. They will approach you to try to sell one of these bracelets. So far there is nothing wrong with this however it’s the way it’s done that is questionable.
They can be very persistent, and before you know it, they tied the bracelet around your wrist. The only way to remove it now is by cutting it, which means you’re left with no other choice than to pay for it.
Where to find this scam? In Montmartre, mostly on the bottom of the stairs at Sacre Coeur.
How to avoid it? The best way to avoid it is to keep an eye on people with bracelets in their hands. If they try to come closer, make sure to walk away and not give your hand or arm. As much as you are going to try, they sometimes manage to put it on without you really noticing.
If that happens to you, the best way out of this situation is to meet them halfway. Give them 1 euro (no more than that) and call it a day. By doing that, you will manage to get them to leave you in peace whilst not losing too much money. As much as you can argue the fact that you shouldn’t be paying at all, it will probably not be worth the argument, annoyance, and waste of time.
submitted by BeeLoved City
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#7 The “Poor Fellow Drops some Items” Trap
This nasty scam happened to a friend of mine while riding the train from the airport into town. While sitting there minding her own business, a man walked by and dropped – seemingly accidentally – a box with small items. Just some knick-knack that spread all over the carrier floor.
My friend went, of course, ahead and helped him pick up his belongings. While she was doing so, an accomplice stole her purse that she left unattended for a minute while helping.
Where to find this scam? On trains, but it could be anywhere else as well.
How to avoid it? Don’t ever leave your belongings unattended.
#8 The Con(e) Game Paris Scam
As you are walking around some of Paris’ famous sites, you will see many street acts and street performances going on. Some are genuine people trying to earn an honest wage, but be cautious as there is one particular trick that is a well-known scam.
You will see one man, with three cups and a ball underneath. We saw this several times right underneath the Eiffel Tower, a place crowded with tourists, and the scammers know that tourists have money to splash.
The trick seems easy, as the person who keeps playing and gambling losses their money every time to the host. What people don’t realize is that their 6–8 onlookers creating a scene are all part of the gang.
The only way to avoid it is to just walk on and not even make eye contact with anyone around the game. They will see your interest in what is going on and try to lure you in. We tried to stop somebody from gambling their money as we quickly picked up what was happening, but 2 members of the gang shoved us away and followed us out of the park to ensure we didn’t cause them grief.
Where to find this scam? Close to the Eiffel Tower and the Trocadero
How to avoid it? Don’t play because you will certainly lose.
Manpreet K from Your Vegan Adventure
#9 Cheap Entrance Ticket Scam in Paris
You find this swindle in Paris often close to exhibitions, fair trades, concerts, public transport stations, and events.
It’s pretty simple: someone approaches you and offers an event ticket for a cheaper price. Typically these tickets are bought as group tickets that are cheaper in a bundle, sometimes the tickets are just counterfeit or regarding Metro Tickets – already used. In any case – don’t buy anything if not from a valid source.
Where to find this scam? Potentially everywhere.
How to avoid it? Don’t buy anything from strangers that are approaching you and offering a seemingly good deal.
Experienced by Deb from The Visa Project
When doing TESOL training in Spain, I visited Paris more than a few times and came across gullible tourists being approached by scammers. While I was able to escape the gold ring or rose scams, a friend and I got ripped off at a gelato shop near Montmartre artist square.
We had been walking around all day and made a snap decision of buy a couple of cones and two cokes. And made the mistake of not even checking the price. While usually, gelatos cost five dollars or so, the cashier quoted us fifty euros.
We tried to reason with him in broken French, but he simply shrugged and we had to pay. So, a menu without a price is a strict no. Variations to this scam are giving you a special “tourist menu” with much higher prices, giving you change in coins that are not euros or charging you for items you didn’t order.
Where to find this scam? in tourist areas
How to avoid it? Always check the menu before ordering – they are usually displayed outside the bar/restaurant.
#11 Tuk-Tuk rides with Hidden Fees
Exploring a city in a tuk-tuk is all fun and games, that’s for sure. But to be on the safe side, always arrange your ride in advance through a trustworthy company. Because once in Paris, you will notice TukTuks that are waiting in front of the famous sights.
No matter how tempting it might be to take the occasion to get quickly and easily to your next sightseeing point, don’t do it. While the tuk-tuk will most likely bring you to your destination, the price keeps a costly surprise.
More often than not, the driver will show you upon arrival a little byline on his pricing sheet that the fee is per person, not per ride. Of course, when accepting the ride, the byline is hidden behind a piece of paper and there is not a mutter about this important detail.
Where to find this scam? in tourist areas
How to avoid it? Don’t take a tuk-tuk
#12 Expired Tickets at the Metro Station
This seems to be a fairly new scam in 2023, so better watch out for it. I received quite a few reports from travelers that got scammed when attempting to buy tickets at the ticket vending machines in a Metro station.
The scam goes like this: A person who looks like an official due to their lanyard approaches you at the machines. For one reason or another, they will help you buy your ticket. Every so often, they request cash instead of credit card payments. However, they will hand you out a ticket, claiming it’s a day ticket or a tourist ticket, while in fact, it’s a simple one–way ticket that you paid €20 for.
You will notice the mistake only way later because the ticket the person hands you will open the turnstiles and let you ride the Metro. But only once.
Where to find this scam? In Metro stations
How to avoid it? Buy your tickets only yourself or at the counter.
#13 “Tips are required in France” Scam
Tipping in Paris is probably one of the topics, that stirs up the most controversy on social media. Firstly: Tipping is NOT obligatory in France, and neither is it utterly rude not to tip, but it is appreciated, of course.
Waiters earn minimum wage like many other employees in Paris and are not paid through tips like in the US, for example. If you want to tip, greatl, but 10% is more than generous.
Now about the scam. Some waiters in tourist areas try to take advantage of tourists from countries with a big tipping culture. Instead of just letting you leave a tip or not, as you please, they will outright ask you: how much tip do you want to add? Some even go ahead and add the tip directly to the bill.
If you act surprised, they will try to make you believe that tipping is customary in Paris and you are expected to do so. It is not. Point.
Good to know: You might notice “service included” or “service compris” written on your bill. This doesn’t mean that a part of your bill goes to the server and tipping is unnecessary.
Also good to know: If you see TVA % on your bill, it is not an attempt to scam you to leave a tip. It is the tax that is included in your overall bill, and that the restaurant has to pay to the state.
3 common issues in the Metro that are NOT a scam
Scams are an issue in Paris, but not every mishap is a scam. I often come across reports from travelers that leave Paris with the sour taste of feeling scammed. They feel that they got taken advantage of or were targeted. In most of these cases, they simply did not play by the rules because they didn’t know better.
To prevent you from experiencing the same, here are 3 common problems tourists face, that are not a scam.
#1 Getting fined for having the wrong ticket in Metros
If you don’t have the correct Metro ticket when being controlled, you will have to pay a fine, and there is no way to get around this. They will not listen to your excuse, don’t care if you are a tourist, and they will not be empathetic with your specific situation.
This applies if your ticket requires a photo and your name, and you didn’t add it, if you bought the wrong fare, and also, if you trash your ticket before leaving the station. The controllers are not targeting tourists, they target everyone.
#2 Getting fined for having your feet on the seat
If you are on a train, a Metro, or a bus and your feet touch one of the seats, you will have to pay a fine. It is against the rules of transportation and here again, it’s not targeting tourists, it is just the way it is.
#3 Asking you to pay a fine in cash
If you get caught without a ticket or your feet on the seat, you can pay your fine on the spot, even in cash. They are not pocketing it, it is just one of the ways how you can pay your fine.
They will probably tell you to either pay €35 now, or €65 later. This neither is a scam. The amount of the fine rises the longer you wait for the payment.
Quick Tips: How to avoid falling for Paris Scams?
It depends, of course, on the kind of scam, but as a general guideline, try to follow those tips:
- Don’t get distracted in crowded places. Typical situations are when exiting the Metro or looking for a street or a building. Know where you need to go beforehand, check your itineraries, and if you are unsure, find a more quiet place to check your map than the Metro platform.
- Keep your bags closed. I know that sounds like obvious, but you would never believe how many people I see every day in Paris that aren’t closing their bags properly.
- Ignore everyone that approaches you randomly. This is just never happening without a malicious reason. Very often, this person’s sole job is to distract you, while their accomplice is stealing your things.
- Don’t leave your bag or phone on the table or seat next to you. Especially (but not only!) when eating/drinking outside. (when I am with a backpack or should bag, I usually put it on the ground or seat but loop the shoulder strap around a leg of the chair or my arm)
- Don’t accept anything from strangers. No rose, no ring, no ticket.
Voilà, these are the most common scams in Paris that you should know about. But please don’t get paranoid about this. It’s likely you will not see and hear any of this, but enjoy Paris to the fullest. Just keep in mind to not accept rides, don’t buy from strangers, and make sure your valuables are safely stored.
Bon voyage !
I have lived in Paris since 2005, and I am happy to show you around. Join me on Facebook for updates and news about Paris.
PS: Check out these posts, they will help you plan your trip to Paris
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FAQ: Paris Scams
The most common tourist scams in Paris are pickpockets, fake petition scams, bracelet scams, and the popular cone game.
The best way to avoid tourist scams in Paris is to be alert and attentive to your surrounding, and not to engage with strangers who are approaching you on the street. Make sure you stay informed about prices and directions, so you appear confident in public.
Keep your valuables close and make sure your bag can be closed by a zipper. Don’t wear your wallet easily accessible. If you happen to be in a crowd, hold your bag tied and don’t get distracted.
The most common crimes are petty theft like scams and pickpockets. Tourists don’t need to fear being violently attacked or robbed.
