Is Paris Safe in December 2026?

Fraudulent websites mimic official booking pages for the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Palace of Versailles, and other Paris attractions, selling counterfeit tickets, invalid QR codes, or hugely overpriced "skip-the-line" packages. In February 2026, French authorities arrested ten people — including Louvre employees — over a decade-long €10 million ticket fraud scheme targeting Chinese tour groups. Beyond this organised operation, independent fake-site operators continue targeting individual tourists searching Google for tickets. The US State Department and multiple travel advisories name fake booking sites as one of the top digital scams in Paris.

How to avoid: Always book directly from the official museum website (louvre.fr, musee-orsay.fr, chateauversailles.fr). Do not click on paid Google ads for museum tickets — these frequently lead to reseller or fraudulent sites. Check that the URL ends in the official domain before entering payment details. If tickets fail at the gate, report to museum security rather than the seller.

Con artists posing as plainclothes police officers approach tourists on the Metro or near major landmarks, flash a fake or real-looking badge, and demand to inspect wallets, phones, or bags for "counterfeit currency." Accomplices watch nearby and distract or block exits while cash and cards are stolen or switched. Victims are often too intimidated to refuse. Multiple TripAdvisor threads and the US State Department advisory confirm this as an active and ongoing scam in Paris.

How to avoid: Real French police (Police Nationale) always wear uniforms when stopping members of the public on the street or Metro. If someone in plainclothes claims to be police, insist on going to the nearest police station (commissariat) to resolve any issue. Never hand over your wallet — offer only your passport or ID card. Call 17 if you feel threatened.

Operators run a three-cup (bonneteau) game near the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, and the Champs-Élysées, inviting tourists to guess which cup hides a small ball. The game is rigged using sleight of hand — the operator always controls the outcome. Shill players in the crowd win visibly to lure victims, and lookouts alert the group when police approach. A viral 2025 TikTok and multiple Reddit and TripAdvisor reports confirm this remains one of the most persistent street scams in Paris.

How to avoid: Never stop to watch or participate. The game is mathematically impossible to win — any visible winner is a paid shill. Walk directly away; engaging even as a curious spectator can lead to pressure or pickpocketing by surrounding accomplices. Report to police at 17 or the nearest gendarmerie if you witness it.

Near the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, groups of young people approach with clipboards asking tourists to sign a petition for deaf children or similar causes. While attention is on the clipboard, accomplices pickpocket bags and pockets.

How to avoid: Do not stop for petition collectors near tourist sites. Keep bags zipped and in front of your body. A simple "non" while walking is sufficient. If surrounded, move toward a shop entrance or police presence.

Organized pickpocket gangs operate heavily on RER B from CDG airport, Metro lines 1 and 6 (tourist lines), and at Châtelet-Les Halles. They target distracted tourists with luggage and phones out.

How to avoid: Keep bags in front of your body on the Metro. Put your phone in a zipped pocket. Be especially alert at heavily-used transfer stations. On the RER from the airport, sit in the middle of carriages and keep luggage between your feet.