Couple Travel To Italy, Are Flabbergasted When They Fall For Obvious Tourist Traps 2 Times Within Hours
Italy is a land of many faces. Incredible architecture, nuanced food culture, perfect weather, and a landscape that you’ll always remember. It’s all there. No wonder it got fourth place in 2021 in the number of international tourist arrivals.
But sadly, because of this, the country has also become a breeding ground for scammers preying on gullible travelers. And one TikTok user and her boyfriend got to experience it firsthand.
On one of their recent trips, Shauna and her partner went to Milan, where they expected to have a good time and relax. However, they immediately fell into a few local traps, designed to lure away their money.
Continue scrolling to learn what happened to them, and don’t miss the conversation we had about staying safe abroad with writer, adventurer, and creator of the travel blog Vicky Flip Flop.
More info: TikTok
TikToker Shauna and her boyfriend recently visited Milan, Italy, and were targeted by tourist scammers two times in just a couple of hours
Image credits: shaunacoade
So she made a video about it to warn everyone to be careful
@shaunacoade Scammers in Milan #scammers #milan #travel #beaware #scam #touristtrap ♬ original sound – S
For many hundreds of years, the Italian peninsula has seen waves of tourists and newcomers from wealthy countries. It was a prime destination for men and women from aristocratic families on a continental Grand Tour. But for the past six-or-so decades, young people from abroad have been doing their own low-budget version of this rite of passage, with roving backpackers in shorts and hiking boots strolling through every city, large and small.
But when visitors display money – paying for a coffee with a credit card, buying expensive watches or shoes, and eating in overpriced restaurants – someone is likely nearby, viewing them as easy pickings.
“City centers and popular tourist attractions are bad for tourist scammers,” Vicky Flip Flop, a trained journalist who has been to over 75 countries, told Bored Panda. “But I’d say the worst places are transport terminals. Scammers know that when you arrive at a new destination, you’re tired and desperate to get to your accommodation and you don’t get to know the lay of the land. You’re vulnerable. You need to mentally prepare yourself, when you exit the bus/train/boat, for any and all kinds of scams.”
Shauna also shared the pictures the scammer took for which he wanted 30 euros
Image credits: shaunacoade
Image credits: shaunacoade
Image credits: shaunacoade
Image credits: shaunacoade
Image credits: shaunacoade
There is no shortage of scams at all scales. For example, you have minor annoyances like the guys in Rome dressed as gladiators who are eager to take pictures with you, only to then insist upon ten euros for the privilege. But you also have online listings of houses that don’t reveal the extent of earthquake damage and want a top-drawer price.
Most importantly, thieves and scammers know they are likely to get away before being discovered. Or the victim won’t know how to find the police and report it. Or even worse, the police will respond but with shrugged shoulders. So they continue running their schemes.
In fact, Vicky has even experienced scammers in Italy herself. She had the “pleasure” of meeting them in Florence at the Duomo. “We gave a skinny female beggar some money and a pizza as we felt sorry for her. Then we watched from the steps as she went and delivered it to a fat old man sitting on the other side of the piazza,” the traveler recalled. “He tucked into the pizza while she went back to asking the tourists for more money. He seemed to have quite the operation going on!”
“If they’re being really pushy, that’s a sure sign,” Vicky said on how to notice these individuals with malicious intent. “Asking for money or offering a service you didn’t ask for is another one. Not leaving you alone or trying to convince you to come with them is another.”
“If you feel in any way uncomfortable or intimidated, you need to get out of the situation ASAP. Say a clear ‘no’ or even better if you can do it in their language. Don’t smile and give stern and closed-off body language. Tell them to go away and that you’re not interested.”
To avoid such situations, Vicky urges you to “do your research beforehand and have directions and important info printed or written out so you don’t have to have your phone out all the time, distracting you.”
That way, you will be able to enjoy everything Italy has to offer with far fewer headaches. And there’s a lot to see and experience. To start preparing for the trip, check out Vicky’s texts 22 Amazing Places to Go for a Long Weekend in Italy and 10 Awesome Stops on an Italy Road Trip You Need to Do.
After realizing what happened, the couple went on with their trip
Image credits: shaunacoade
But soon got entangled in another scheme
Image credits: shaunacoade
According to the travel blog The Stupid Bear, the most common scams in Italy include:
- Pickpocketing;
- Gladiator photo scam;
- The designer coat;
- Roses and bracelets;
- Museum ticket scams;
- Romeo rats;
- Out of menu;
- Helping scam;
- Fake police;
- Taxi drivers.
Here’s what people said after hearing their story
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I can't stop rolling my eyes at this, because they must not be the sharpest tools in the shed to fall for such basic scams, not once, but twice and then post this online. Did they live under a rock before they traveled to Italy, because I know those particular scams aren't even uniquely Italian, they can be found all over the place from Mexico to Nepal and in the age of free, boundless information, there's really no excuse for not knowing this.
I'm Italian. I know the supposed scams those two tourists were subjected to. They are easily avoidable in two simple ways. You just say no. I don't want your photo, I don't want your bracelet and so on. Or you don't pay what they are asking for. You give them a reasonable amount if you are willing or you give them nothing and if they are stirring troubles, go find a cop. There are always cops in those touristic places, like the Duomo of Milan or the Castello Sforzesco. They can't do what they are doing and they are going to run like hell. And I'm not saying that what those people are doing is right, but come on. You can't be so gullible to not know that touristic places, and not only in Italy, are a really a good places for this kind of things. You are going to find scammers and pickpockets, so maybe being a little bit more careful and don't trust random strangers would be a good idea.
The OP was probably on their first big trip and if you don't know you don't know. What you say is good advice though, along with something like "oh, for that much I need a written receipt". That said, there is sort of a reverse to these scams which is that one of the best ways to avoid them is to just keep your phone and camera put away (unless you are a professional or researcher) and enjoy actually being somewhere. If you are alert and enjoying the actual destination, (and maybe acting a little bit like "don't bother me I am not here for you") then you are less likely to be targeted by scams, you won't irk people who didn't want to be in your pictures anyway, and you might actually take something personal away from the visit. Also, I think it's worth reflecting for a second on who is really getting scammed, by which I mean I bet enough people watched and commented on their video that they earned over €40 on it.
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Sorry, not a lot of sympathy here. It takes very little to look into it ahead of time and find out what scams are prevalent and how to avoid scams in general. One time "DoInG yOuR Own ReSeArCh" actually pays off.
If you have never been scammed and haven't heard of this kind of thing, you deserve no sympathy? Sounds like victim blaming to me.
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What’s the one thing that could make Scammers go away for good? Don’t give them any money! Here’s a radical thought: Do not give strangers any money. Period.
Person gets scammed twice. Makes a tiktok to get attention. Fixed the title. (Also AGAIN I ask you to stop posting this low quality tiktok content. You are setting your readers up to get their identity stole, their data mined, and their contacts shared all over the internet. It's dangerous and not worth a few clicks.)
Yep... If tik tok is in the title, I just scroll on cause I know it's probably c**p....
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Popular one in Mexico - if you stay at an all inclusive resort the locals know all of the bracelets (the ones you have to wear on the resort to prove you are staying there). You walk down the shops and restaurants and all of these men will yell at you "I know you - you stay at 'insert resort name here' - I was your waiter last night! Come into my shop/restaurant!" I had no less then 37 waiters one day walking down the shops in Playa de Carmen.
another one is if you travel by train and a guy on tge station offers you help with your luggage then he asks for money. in some countries it is considered polite to help ppl with luggage ( like to elderly or a man to a woman) so you can fall for it. but be careful. they are not being nice, they are scammers. also italy, but probably other places as well
Yes, and sometimes you have to be forceful because they will grab your bags and help immediately hoping you’ll feel obligated to pay them. Happened to me in Bangladesh. I could see the disappointment in the guys face when I gave him basically Pennies because it’s all the cash I had and I did NOT ask for help and was too slow and polite to stop him.
Load More Replies... I've never traveled abroad and still am familiar with these scams lol. Also the way they are dressed indicates why they were targeted! "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" ie you don't wear jeans, leggings, or shorts. Dress like the locals, who wouldn't be caught dead in torn up jeans. I have jeans that are more pins than pants but don't wear those even to a restaurant or store much less while travelling.
I lived in Italy, plenty of people dress exactly as they did.
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yeah surely it can happen in any touristy place... is this news?? lol i remember outside the colosseum there were guys dressed as gladiators who would trick you into posing with them, try to charge for the pics and then get super aggressive if people didn't pay... i've seen pickpockets in paris... sketchy cab drivers in mexico... just be smart & safe out there people!! :)
Some people live in places where you don't have to look out for scams every 2 seconds. So I don't blame them for not expecting it. Scammers is one of the big things Italy is known for. It's basically all I ever hear from it now. I'm not sure what's going on there, but Italy, you have a problem you need to figure out.
The rose thing and the bracelet thing happen in Times Square in New York City a lot as well. But there you can be rude to them about leaving you alone and no one bats an eye. You can also ignore them and keep walking. Making eye contact with any of those people also makes them target you. Im American, but I would feel bad being rude to someone in another country (I always feel like I have to be I'm on my very best behavior in other countries). But if they harass me, I will DEFINITELY get rude quick!
Do not stop for peddlers! Anywhere at anytime. Once a perfumer in the mall or a clipboard stranger on the street gets you to stop and listen to them you have just made the decision that THEIR TIME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOURS and are therefore the EXACT RIGHT PERSON TO SCAM OR SELL. Nod and move away without even a pause.
I live in Milan, and I can say these 2 obvious things. 1. You dress like bait. 2. Let them take the pictures, and accept the bracelet with pleasure, then when they ask you to pay, you turn that around and charge them to pay you. I do this a lot just for fun, they get annoyed and walk away. You need to be very aggressive with these gypsies, because they are literally human garbage. If they threaten by saying they will call the police, you tell them to go right ahead. You will wait for the police and tell the police you tried to take my purse and watch.
I'm kinda impressed. I'm pretty naive and trusting, but even I don't fall for those scams. Besides, all of the ones I've run into will leave if you tell them you have no cash. They also respond to a firm no.
Duomo is like this beautiful place to take pictures?!? The ignorance of some people.
Some guy walked up to my bf in the grocery store and managed to convince him to buy the guys “new album”. Yup, he paid $5 for a blank cd 🤦♀️ like, I’ve literally told you about someone trying to pull that same scam on me before. But he wanted to help out a fellow musician and it didn’t occur to him that this person could just be lying about the whole thing
Those Short shorts were a dead give away that you're American - no European women would wear those during the day. You look like a tourist
Imma teach y'all the secret Italian phrase to get scammers off your a*s: Fratelo mio, non sono un stronzo va fanculo. Roughly translated its: look buddy, I'm not stupid so go get f****d in the a*s
I have been to various parts of Italy and have never been scammed, possibly because I use the word no and tourist police.
The only people I will just randomly accept what they are giving me are my mother, my fiancee, and any of the random kids under 11 I've been in charge of over the years. But having the camp counselor "just give it to me and I'll put it in my pocket" vibe doesn't fly with people and cities you don't know
I'm know it's not Italy but I went on holiday recently and was mugged be careful out there it's not a nice world we live in
Same not much sympathy here either, it doesn't even have to be traveling just everyday occurance you should know not to trust strangers. This is like going to a bar a stranger pass you a drink and say no charge my treat. Next thing you know you woke up in an alley with body parts missing. I know it such harsh but in todays world you just can't trust any strangers anymore.
I can't stop rolling my eyes at this, because they must not be the sharpest tools in the shed to fall for such basic scams, not once, but twice and then post this online. Did they live under a rock before they traveled to Italy, because I know those particular scams aren't even uniquely Italian, they can be found all over the place from Mexico to Nepal and in the age of free, boundless information, there's really no excuse for not knowing this.
I'm Italian. I know the supposed scams those two tourists were subjected to. They are easily avoidable in two simple ways. You just say no. I don't want your photo, I don't want your bracelet and so on. Or you don't pay what they are asking for. You give them a reasonable amount if you are willing or you give them nothing and if they are stirring troubles, go find a cop. There are always cops in those touristic places, like the Duomo of Milan or the Castello Sforzesco. They can't do what they are doing and they are going to run like hell. And I'm not saying that what those people are doing is right, but come on. You can't be so gullible to not know that touristic places, and not only in Italy, are a really a good places for this kind of things. You are going to find scammers and pickpockets, so maybe being a little bit more careful and don't trust random strangers would be a good idea.
The OP was probably on their first big trip and if you don't know you don't know. What you say is good advice though, along with something like "oh, for that much I need a written receipt". That said, there is sort of a reverse to these scams which is that one of the best ways to avoid them is to just keep your phone and camera put away (unless you are a professional or researcher) and enjoy actually being somewhere. If you are alert and enjoying the actual destination, (and maybe acting a little bit like "don't bother me I am not here for you") then you are less likely to be targeted by scams, you won't irk people who didn't want to be in your pictures anyway, and you might actually take something personal away from the visit. Also, I think it's worth reflecting for a second on who is really getting scammed, by which I mean I bet enough people watched and commented on their video that they earned over €40 on it.
Load More Replies... Sorry, not a lot of sympathy here. It takes very little to look into it ahead of time and find out what scams are prevalent and how to avoid scams in general. One time "DoInG yOuR Own ReSeArCh" actually pays off.
If you have never been scammed and haven't heard of this kind of thing, you deserve no sympathy? Sounds like victim blaming to me.
Load More Replies... What’s the one thing that could make Scammers go away for good? Don’t give them any money! Here’s a radical thought: Do not give strangers any money. Period.
Person gets scammed twice. Makes a tiktok to get attention. Fixed the title. (Also AGAIN I ask you to stop posting this low quality tiktok content. You are setting your readers up to get their identity stole, their data mined, and their contacts shared all over the internet. It's dangerous and not worth a few clicks.)
Yep... If tik tok is in the title, I just scroll on cause I know it's probably c**p....
Load More Replies... Popular one in Mexico - if you stay at an all inclusive resort the locals know all of the bracelets (the ones you have to wear on the resort to prove you are staying there). You walk down the shops and restaurants and all of these men will yell at you "I know you - you stay at 'insert resort name here' - I was your waiter last night! Come into my shop/restaurant!" I had no less then 37 waiters one day walking down the shops in Playa de Carmen.
another one is if you travel by train and a guy on tge station offers you help with your luggage then he asks for money. in some countries it is considered polite to help ppl with luggage ( like to elderly or a man to a woman) so you can fall for it. but be careful. they are not being nice, they are scammers. also italy, but probably other places as well
Yes, and sometimes you have to be forceful because they will grab your bags and help immediately hoping you’ll feel obligated to pay them. Happened to me in Bangladesh. I could see the disappointment in the guys face when I gave him basically Pennies because it’s all the cash I had and I did NOT ask for help and was too slow and polite to stop him.
Load More Replies... I've never traveled abroad and still am familiar with these scams lol. Also the way they are dressed indicates why they were targeted! "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" ie you don't wear jeans, leggings, or shorts. Dress like the locals, who wouldn't be caught dead in torn up jeans. I have jeans that are more pins than pants but don't wear those even to a restaurant or store much less while travelling.
I lived in Italy, plenty of people dress exactly as they did.
Load More Replies... yeah surely it can happen in any touristy place... is this news?? lol i remember outside the colosseum there were guys dressed as gladiators who would trick you into posing with them, try to charge for the pics and then get super aggressive if people didn't pay... i've seen pickpockets in paris... sketchy cab drivers in mexico... just be smart & safe out there people!! :)
Some people live in places where you don't have to look out for scams every 2 seconds. So I don't blame them for not expecting it. Scammers is one of the big things Italy is known for. It's basically all I ever hear from it now. I'm not sure what's going on there, but Italy, you have a problem you need to figure out.
The rose thing and the bracelet thing happen in Times Square in New York City a lot as well. But there you can be rude to them about leaving you alone and no one bats an eye. You can also ignore them and keep walking. Making eye contact with any of those people also makes them target you. Im American, but I would feel bad being rude to someone in another country (I always feel like I have to be I'm on my very best behavior in other countries). But if they harass me, I will DEFINITELY get rude quick!
Do not stop for peddlers! Anywhere at anytime. Once a perfumer in the mall or a clipboard stranger on the street gets you to stop and listen to them you have just made the decision that THEIR TIME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOURS and are therefore the EXACT RIGHT PERSON TO SCAM OR SELL. Nod and move away without even a pause.
I live in Milan, and I can say these 2 obvious things. 1. You dress like bait. 2. Let them take the pictures, and accept the bracelet with pleasure, then when they ask you to pay, you turn that around and charge them to pay you. I do this a lot just for fun, they get annoyed and walk away. You need to be very aggressive with these gypsies, because they are literally human garbage. If they threaten by saying they will call the police, you tell them to go right ahead. You will wait for the police and tell the police you tried to take my purse and watch.
I'm kinda impressed. I'm pretty naive and trusting, but even I don't fall for those scams. Besides, all of the ones I've run into will leave if you tell them you have no cash. They also respond to a firm no.
Duomo is like this beautiful place to take pictures?!? The ignorance of some people.
Some guy walked up to my bf in the grocery store and managed to convince him to buy the guys “new album”. Yup, he paid $5 for a blank cd 🤦♀️ like, I’ve literally told you about someone trying to pull that same scam on me before. But he wanted to help out a fellow musician and it didn’t occur to him that this person could just be lying about the whole thing
Those Short shorts were a dead give away that you're American - no European women would wear those during the day. You look like a tourist
Imma teach y'all the secret Italian phrase to get scammers off your a*s: Fratelo mio, non sono un stronzo va fanculo. Roughly translated its: look buddy, I'm not stupid so go get f****d in the a*s
I have been to various parts of Italy and have never been scammed, possibly because I use the word no and tourist police.
The only people I will just randomly accept what they are giving me are my mother, my fiancee, and any of the random kids under 11 I've been in charge of over the years. But having the camp counselor "just give it to me and I'll put it in my pocket" vibe doesn't fly with people and cities you don't know
I'm know it's not Italy but I went on holiday recently and was mugged be careful out there it's not a nice world we live in
Same not much sympathy here either, it doesn't even have to be traveling just everyday occurance you should know not to trust strangers. This is like going to a bar a stranger pass you a drink and say no charge my treat. Next thing you know you woke up in an alley with body parts missing. I know it such harsh but in todays world you just can't trust any strangers anymore.
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