Question 1

What is the "Three-Card Monte at Alexanderplatz" scam in Berlin?

Accepted Answer

Street hustlers run fast-paced card games near Alexanderplatz and Brandenburg Gate, using shills who fake wins to lure in tourists. The ball is palmed and the game is unwinnable; a lookout signals when police approach and the crew vanishes instantly. Never bet money on street games. No matter how easy it looks, you cannot win.

Question 2

What is the "Pickpocket Gangs on the U-Bahn" scam in Berlin?

Accepted Answer

Organised groups use distraction techniques on crowded U-Bahn trains and at busy stations — bumping, asking for directions, or staging arguments — while a partner lifts wallets and phones from bags and pockets. Keep valuables in a zipped front pocket or inner bag. Stay alert in crowded transit hubs.

Question 3

What is the "Fake Charity Clipboard Collectors" scam in Berlin?

Accepted Answer

Well-dressed individuals with clipboards claim to collect donations for deaf or disabled children. Once you sign, you are pressured for cash donations; the charity is invariably fictitious. Decline all unsolicited street petition requests. Donate only through verified organisations online.

Street Scams in Berlin

Three-Card Monte at Alexanderplatz

Pickpocket Gangs on the U-Bahn

Fake Charity Clipboard Collectors

Experienced a scam here?