Street Scams in Cinque Terre, Italy

How it works

The regional trains running between La Spezia Centrale and Levanto — and specifically the stops at Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso — are among the most overcrowded in Italy during peak season. Organized pickpocket teams of three to four individuals exploit the crush of passengers boarding and disembarking at each stop, using jostling and distraction to lift wallets, phones, and small bags, often without victims noticing until they are off the train. The situation is worst from June through September and on bank holiday weekends.

How it works

Individuals posing as park representatives sell unofficial or counterfeit Cinque Terre Cards near trail entrances and ferry piers, charging inflated prices — sometimes €25–40 for a card that should cost €7.50–18.20 depending on the trails selected. The fake cards may look convincing but are rejected by park inspectors stationed along the Sentiero Azzurro, leaving buyers to purchase a legitimate card again or face a fine. Official cards are personal and require the buyer's name written on the reverse — vendors who skip this step are a strong indicator of fraud.

How it works

During busy periods, individuals near Sentiero Azzurro entrances claim that a specific section of the trail is "closed today" or "requires a special permit not included in the standard card," then offer to guide tourists to an alternative route — for a cash fee. The Cinque Terre trails do have legitimate closures due to weather and maintenance, but these are always communicated through official park signage and the park website. Unofficial individuals have no authority to redirect hikers and are exploiting the trail's real history of closures to extract money.