Paris Street Scams Near the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre
Paris has a small number of highly practiced street scams concentrated around the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur, and the Louvre. They are not violent and not particularly sophisticated — but they are persistent and effective against visitors who don't recognize the setup.
The Petition Scam
Groups of people, often young women, approach tourists near major landmarks with clipboards asking you to sign a petition for a charitable cause. While you read the petition, others reach into your bag or distract you. The petition is fake. Do not stop, do not make eye contact, keep walking.
The Gold Ring Trick
Someone "finds" a gold ring on the ground near you and offers it as a gift, then asks for money for food. The ring is worthless brass. This operates near the Pont des Arts bridge and along the Seine. Simply keep walking.
Friendship Bracelet Weavers
Men near the steps of Sacré-Cœur tie a bracelet on your wrist before you can pull away, then demand payment. They become persistent and sometimes block your exit. Keeping your hands in your pockets near Montmartre neutralizes this.
The Three-Card Monte
Shell game operators set up near tourist areas with small folding tables. The game is fixed — participants are shills. Onlookers who bet always lose.
Metro Pickpockets
Lines 1 and 4 (connecting major tourist sites) and the RER B (Charles de Gaulle airport to central Paris) have elevated pickpocket risk. Keep bags in front and zipped on crowded carriages.
Key Habits in Paris
- •Walk with purpose past anyone who approaches you near major landmarks
- •Keep your phone in a front pocket and bags zipped and worn in front
- •On the Metro, be alert when doors are about to close — a common moment for bag snatches
- •Ignore anyone who drops something near you or who tries to put something in your hands
Paris Scam Guide
10 documented scams with full details
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