Beware of pickpockets, motorcycle thieves, and ATM scams in France. In Paris be especially careful in tourist spots, department stores, and subways. Pickpockets are common in Paris. At the airport, watch your baggage when you are at the ticket window and avoid placing your wallet on a cashiers counter.

The accidental bump and take technique is popular on the subways. This same concept is used for robberies by people on motorcycles or sometimes the perpetrator just sneaks up on you.

Also, ATM scams where your card seems to get stuck in a machine or where scammers use a microchip to read your pin number can occur.

Finally, if you travel to the Paris’ adult district, Pigalle, you might get amazingly overcharged for drinks and forced into paying the bill.

• Galeries Lafayette
• Printemps
• Gare du Nord train station
• #1 Subway Line
• RER Railink to De Gaulle
• Pigalle

Hungary

In Budapest, tourists should watch out for bar billing and fake police money changing scams. Some bar owners will Ghastly overcharge tourists and use physical intimidation to get you to pay. Not only will these establishments switch menus on you, but they also commission taxi drivers and attractive women to steer you to their bars.

The money changing scam usually involves three people. The first person approaches you and requests to change money. Do not do it because you will get an extremely bad rate. If you refuse, two fake police will come and ask to see your belongings. They will show a badge, but not be uniformed; they will conveniently remove large bills from your wallet.

Bad Budapest Bars:

• Varoskozpont
• La Dolce Vita
• Nirvana Night Club
• Diamond Club
• Pigalle Night Club

Places to Avoid:

• Chain Bridge

Italy

In Italy, visitors should make sure to keep a close eye on their wallets. Pickpockets are a main concern here. No city experiences crime like Naples.

This Southern port has the highest unemployment rate in the country, nearly 25% and has a large underground mafia. So, be careful in airports, stores, and subways.

Spain

In Barcelona, tourists should watch out for pickpockets, good samaritans, fake police, and internet scams. Pickpockets work in groups and use distractions such as spilling something on you to get to your wallet. Sometimes they will even pretend to be police and confiscate your belongings.

Good Samaritan scams involve a local pretending to help you, but really robbing you. In one instance, a scammer purposely flattens your car tire, stops to help youand then robs you.

Finally, a growing area for scams is the internet. Mass emails tell foreigners they just won the Spanish lottery, El Gordo, and the emailer asks for an advanced fee to claim the winnings for you.

Places to be Vigilant:

• Picasso Museum
• Palau Musica

Turkey

When dining out or going to bars in Istanbul, tourists should make sure that they see the menu prices for all items and that the establishments are crowded.

Be weary of meeting someone on the street who invites you to a bar. Many people work on commission to take you to bars, and then they dramatically overcharge you for drinks.