Thank you so much for watching our video! 🙏😊 We hope you found our experience with the Rome Subway Scam at Termini Station helpful and eye-opening. Have you ever encountered a travel scam or had a close call while traveling? We'd love to hear your stories and tips in the comments below! Don't forget to LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE to Midlife Travel Bug for more travel adventures and safety tips. Safe travels, everyone! 🌍✈❤ #MidlifeTravelBug
Never were these girls americans! I bet a certain ethnic group from romania.. that do most of begging and picpocket crime in italy/Germany/Austria/Spain.
No disrespect, but the first red flag for me would have been that a young girl out of nowhere "cares" so much about you and worries that you might miss your train. How could she even know where you were heading to...
Last year we went to the French Riviera and we read even before going, on different groups, that a group of 3 young girls were running all kind of scams on tourists in Nice and surrounding cities. We didn't encounter them, but we were warned in a train station, by the staff, to be aware of our belongings, because they saw the girls on the platform, waiting for the train. We were shocked that everybody seemed to know about them and yet they were still out and about doing their thing...
My husband and I have been to Rome a few times. Love it. One time we were on the train going to the Colosseum. We were seated and looking around. There was a a couple of locals standing up in the middle of the doorway area. There were other commuters getting on and off and standing in the middle. I noticed the first 2 people were looking around especially at women with their bags. I then noticed the first 2 people also were surreptitiously making signs to another group of people regarding the commuters. I told my husband I thought they were up to no good. We had to get off at our stop. When we were returning I saw same group of people in our carriage still standing up where everyone was getting on. They started surrounding a woman who was standing near them who was not concentrating and on her phone. I got up and let the lady know to be careful as they were looking at her bag. They all moved away and got off at next stop. Traveller beware!
Wow, good for you for letting the lady know. Too many just move on with their day and don't want to get involved. we love Rome and Italy too, it will not sway our thoughts on Rome, it can happen anywhere in the world. Thank-you for sharing. Stay safe, Cheers Chris and Jim
Yes, in certain cities, heroic people, upon seeing pickpockets in action, will shout and point " Pickpocket! Pickpocket!" to warn everyone within earshot.
That's great! Who would expect that they've been singled out? It's also interesting that others probably observed the same things and said/did nothing.
yeah a lot of people assume that the folks in other countries are nicer than folks at home. Treat any crowded area with the same care that you would in any big city.
@@duncansmith7562 who said we know it all? We don't, we just encounter scammers, thieves and shady people daily so there is a hypervigilance that we learn early in life. Everybody has a different skillset based on where they're raised. Get over yourself
I was just in Rome last week. Heading to the airport from Termini station, the easiest way to get there is to get on the Leonardo Express. Nonstop service to FCO. 14 Euros and you don’t have to worry about escalators, elevators, or anything. It’s on the Main Street level and super straight forward.
Yes, thank you. We used it to get into Rome, We were leaving from termini to the other airport to our next destination in Greece. It’s very handy. Thanks for sharing 🙏 Cheers 🍻 Chris and Jim
I was targeted by a pickpocket team in Venice many years ago. It was my second trip to Italy and my second visit to Venice. I had been doing some specific sites for a few days and felt like taking a stroll. I decided it would be nice to walk down the one main "street" in Venice that starts from the train station. I had not seen this part of the city before. I'm walking along at a normal pace carrying just my cross body purse. Suddenly a short little guy in painter's overalls approaches me, keeps pace, and says he wants to paint my portrait. He's talking very fast, gesturing wildly, and speaking in a heavy French accent. I kept saying no thank you and he kept on walking with me. As we walked, I noticed a nicely dressed man leaning up against a building facing the street and reading a newspaper. He stood out because he was dressed much nicer than anyone else around in a navy blazer, collared shirt, and ivory slacks and he was tall with black hair. I figured he was waiting for his wife who was shopping. Meanwhile the annoying guy was still trying to get me to go with him even though I kept saying no. Finally I had enough and yelled at the top of my lungs at him "Basta"! and made a big angry sweep with my arm. He took off so fast if was funny. Now that I was rid of him, I continued walking but immediately saw the tall man again. He was looking in a shop window, still with his folded newspaper. A little further on I saw a perfume and bodyworks shop and stopped in for a look. Guess who was in there? The navy blazer man standing to the side and reading his newspaper again. I knew he was following me so I stepped back against the wall and stared at him. He never looked up, but I'm sure he knew I was staring at him. I watched to see if he was with a woman and many women came and went. Some made purchases, but he never spoke to any of them. I kept staring at him. Finally he left alone! After a bit, my fun walk ruined, I left and kept an eye out for him. I walked quicky to Piazza San Marco watching for him, but didn't see him again. Jerks.
In short you actually think that pickpockets dress to stand out and not to be invisible. And you are so paranoid that you can't even think that the "well dressed tall guy" could tell the exact same story but with you as the possible pickpocket. Any lawyer would tell your story this way: "Nothing happened, but Karens are Karens".
1st thing is to disregard your ideas on what a pickpocket looks like. There are no age limits, being well dressed or poorly dressed, male or female or locations that are pickpocket free zones. Anyone can be a pickpocket. Any location is prime for being pickpocketed. Be unapproachable in public. It isn’t being rude. Your safety is of utmost importance. Very seldom do they work alone. Keep walking. It’s more difficult to hit a moving target.
Yes this is true, the guys was probably in his 60's and well dressed. maybe this is why it threw us off. Yes we will work on the unapproachable for sure. Thanks for the tips and sharing, cheers Chris and Jim
I see where you're coming from and agree with you. It just makes me sad because as a traveler myself, I've had to reach out for help for one reason or another and I've been blessed by people willing to help me. If everyone masters the art of making themselves unapproachable in public, the honest people would not have anyone to help. Sadly, it's the world we live in.
This brings back sweet memories of glory. While standing in a bus in Naples the guy casually sitting next to the place where I was standing was trying to open the side pocket of my shorts. At first I didn't notice, but when I did, I grabbed him by the throat with just one hand and lifted his face (and the rest of his body) next to mine, telling him he was lucky that I didn't hit him. He took of a the next stop. It must be common in Naples, because the rest of the bus acted like nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Naples is notorious for pickpocketing. The Circumvesuviana, the train that goes to Pompei, has a reputation for being one of the worst in Europe. When I''m on it, I look alert, clutch my bag and scowl the whole time.
I travelled a lot in Europe and I know by now that you simply need to ignore anyone who approaches you, most likely it’s a scam. If they persist I just tell them to f**off in their language.
I had something similar happen to me in Berlin. A young couple tried to engage me in conversation regarding directions. Specifically, they tried to get me to help them by using my phone to access a map. Why would they ask a tourist? That made no sense to me. Spider senses started tingling and I kept moving and tried to direct them to someone else. They gave up. For what it is worth, I try to memorize my route before I go out so that I don't have to have my phone out for directions. And by using my earphones, I can get verbal instructions from the app and thus not have to expose my phone. To add, these robbers have one important skill they have to develop and that is sizing people up to identify their targets. And they rarely work alone. This is their full time job and unfortunately, with travel numbers up, they are getting a lot of practice.
@@midlifetravelbug Americans do it too and it's infuriating...they're not gentlemen and calling them such just lightens the situation and as being something inconsequential when they're nothing but criminals.
I noticed that too. I would have been calling him "the dude" at the maximum politeness. If I was pretty sure he was involved, I would have been calling him "the likely scammer".
Hi, thanks for sharing! Anyone asking directions , or asking you where are you going or sign a petition is definitely a red flag situation…..just think, everyone has googlemaps theses days . These pick pockets almost always work in groups and I’m sure the so-called gentleman was part of the scam. My wife had her mobile phone stolen last year in Venice. It was in the back outer pocket of her backpack……definite no go. By the way, I am also a Jim , who almost always listens to his wife😅….as children we were taught, don’t talk to strangers……
I appreciate you for sharing this experience. We are going to Rome in October and I hope I’m prepared for any such events. My husband is a very friendly guy by nature, and innocent as to people who may have bad intentions. I feel I’ll need to be extra wary to not get caught by “friendly, helpful” people. It’s a shame we have to be suspicious, but better safe than sorry. I’m glad you got out of that situation as well as you did. Pays to listen when bells go off in our head!
we were in Rome in 2022. the taxi drivers have scam too, they will switch your money to a lesser amount , so watch out for this. I was staring and counting my 30 euros for 15 mins of drive. when I paid the taxi driver ( we got this justoutside the The Vatican. he switched my 30 euros to 15 only, I told the driver, I saw his fast hand doing this trick but I just let it go. the driver stopped atthe mdiddle of the street and my family already got out so I just let it go
Thank-you for your comment! We really didn't have any problems until then, but I think our over confidence caught up to us. We hope you have a wonderful trip and stay safe, and honestly most people are so amazing. Make sure you take all the safety steps and you should be just fine. We also never carry much cash if possible. Maybe when we head to and from the airports we might consider a taxi even if it is more costly. Someone mentioned a bus. Yes our gut feelings can be super helpful. Thanks for watching, Cheers Chris and Jim.
Our biggest problem in Rome was the people at the famous sites who want to "give" you a gift like a flower or a bracelet and then demand money. You have to be extremely firm/borderline rude and do not engage at all. Say "no" and walk away. Other than that Rome is amazing and I hope you love it as much as we did. 🙂
please get him to watch all the pickpocket videos on youtube. They are all the same whether its Barcelona or Paris or Rome etc. There is a great 5 min video called Pickpocket Huntress of Barcelona.
Thanks for sharing that! I'm headed to Rome in the fall and one thing I've heard is that if you're loaded down like you guys were, best to take a taxi and stay off mass transit just for those reasons you listed. Glad you escaped and thanks for the lesson!
Yes we were lucky, hope this helps you out. Yes a taxi would be nice but sometimes it’s just not in the budget. It’s about 50 euro from the airport. Wishing you a wonderful trip! It’s such a wonderful place.. even with a few bad apples. Cheers Chris and Jim 🥂
I’ve gone back and forth to the airport with luggage in Rome several times using mass transit with no problem. These kinds of scams unfortunately happen, but I wouldn’t avoid mass transit because of them. That said, pack light. Most people take way too much stuff. It’s far easier to get around with less stuff.
even they scam you! I was quoted a huge amount at the taxi line at Rome Centrale - a huge arguement developed when I refused that amount and didnt get into the taxi - until a female taxi driver arrived, told them to shut up, and took me to my hotel. I had my young daughter with me. She charged me far less than the scamming taxi driver. Also never ever pay for the taxi until you have your bag OUT of their boot/trunk. Else they drive off with your bag if you disagree about the cost. Another thing in Naples a hotel offered me a voucher to pay the taxi driver with. He didnt know I had the voucher and seemed to take an eternity to get to the airport. When we got there I duly waited for the bags to be taken out of the boot/trunk and only then did I present the voucher. He turned into the Incredible Hulk and had the biggest tantrum I've ever seen in a adult. I said thanks and off I went.
@@thedavidguy01 - we learned the pack light thing on our first trip to London getting of a cruise! We started in Rome and ended up in London and we struggled hard with our bags. Between public transit, the cobblestone streets, narrow stairways, no lifts in the buildings, and needing to get bigger cars for transport, UGH!! After that trip years ago, we're working on mastering the art of packing light. Still a work in progress but we're getting there!
I am a 78 year old woman who travelled solo through Italy with no problems. Be aware of surroundings, especially if someone approaches you. You don't have to respond.
Happy travels! We have not had too many problems and we are usually on point, but we let our guard down. We thought we would share to remind others of how quickly things can happen when we make poor choices. We were lucky. We are happy to hear you have been safe and wish you continued happy travels. Cheers Chris and Jim
Yeah, I am 73, female, and was on a solo trip to Rome this year. Stayed away from public transportation for fear of being pickpocketed. Never got close to anyone. Termini is notorious. Preferred to pay €50 for a taxi to my hotel from Fiumicino than hassle with trains and Termini Station.
@@chronic2023 BRAVO, i am 72 and considering going Rome this week from canada last minute- i am terrified of all the bs that happens tho how fun can it be always worried about getting robbery and scammed everywhere you turn
I travel solo. Anyone asks if I speak English my response is a quizzical look & a shrug. Learn how to speak yes or know in the language where you visit with the native accent. A SCOTTeVEST & PackSafe items are fabulous. I use a door stop & portable door lock available on Amazon. Look at street maps & familiarize yourself with landmarks & major streets. There are good tutorials on YT on travel safety & scams. Budget more to use safer transportation. I wear a RoadSafe bracelet with data for 1st responders and use an AirTag to allow a designated person to track me. If you’re from the USA locate & download our embassy phone number & location in the country of travel. Also use their warning travel system. Depending upon the country local police may not be safe or of assistance.
@@downieduck2414 My first trip to Italy, I had several random 'helpers' when trying to buy train and metro tickets. DO NOT take advice, or offer your attention to them longer than to say no thank you/no grazie. One guy almost talked me out of the line at the train station and I would've lost my spot. He claimed to know a better way. He was some random African guy not in uniform.
My husband and I travel to Europe every year on vacation. We keep it simple ‘no talking to strangers’ no matter what! For information we ask at the hotel or tourist information Center! We travel trains and subways we do our homework in advance even checkout the train station and platform the day before. When we arrive to travel we know the route. I also carry a small keychain alarm with me purchased on Amazon and the noise is deafening!
I hear you completely, however...not talking to anyone at all in your travels makes you miss out on a significant, and often memorable aspect of visiting a new place. But I hear ya. I've had things stolen in Europe - twice. Both while moving from one place to another with all our stuff. Both were my own stupidity. Be hypervigilant to the point of paranoia when you are going to or from the airport as you have everything with you. But while you're there, go out with nothing,,.... and engage! I put $50 worth of cash in my pocket, and some backup cash and card/ID in a pouch I wear inside my pants. That's it. TBH I am a lot more afraid of losing my phone now that it does literally everything include ID'ing you back to your bank after you get robbed (doh!). I grip it for dear life when it's out. Sorry for the ramble. Travel is 90% awesome, the other 10 is this stuff and airports - but don't let it stop you from engaging the locals, most people are not out to get you.
On our way to Termini at another station, my husband and I had our luggage on the way to the airport. As we tried to board the train, two girls, mid-teenage age, stretched out their arms to restrict us from getting onto the train, whilst their two partners in crime, came from behind trying to grab whatever they could from us. Thankfully we used our luggage as battering rams, as the girls ran off the train.
Oh geez, that’s aggressive, so glad you were ok. So crazy how quickly things can get out of hand. Thanks so much for sharing your story! They definitely have teams and with the ability to text now days it’s so much easier. Stay safe, Cheers 🥂 Chris and Jim
My wife and I Travel a lot, and we have a couple of code words we can use to alert each other to possible bad situations, which could be ‘Hey we are being overcharged” up to ‘we are about to get ripped off’. We mostly use PURPLE in a sentence, like ‘I can’t stop thinking about that purple dress we saw’. We also use ‘Eyes On’ and ‘LockDown’ for some other situations. It is very good to be able to communicate to each other without alerting the enemy.
Thanks so much for watching, yes still smiling. Hopefully a little wiser..lol.. all we can do is laugh at our mistakes and learn from them. Cheers Chris and Jim
Thanks for the video. We were in Rome years ago, and I bought a fake LV backpack, ( a pretty good one) from one of the many street vendors. It had two openings. Both zippered. One to open the entire backpack and one to access a wallet. We boarded a bus to take us to the Vatican and as the bus was crowded, we stood. A group of young children boarded at the next stop and squeezed their way through the standing passengers. One of them got behind me and had almost unzipped the wallet section of my backpack before a seated passenger stopped her. I was so lucky and never wore that backpack again. You really cannot be too careful. Tourists are so vulnerable and be vigilant always!
Wow, we are glad you made it out ok. Good for whoever stopped it. Thanks for sharing. It's so sad that kids are doing this instead of having fun like kids should. Stay safe, Cheers Chris and JIm
Great discussion. There are pickpockets in all major cities, including Rome, Paris, and New York. We had no issues the last time we were in Rome. Fingers crossed our luck continues.
New York has a lot of problems, but I've never seen pickpockets there or heard of them. If there are, they are far less skillful than the European ones which are "professionals" - often have been taught to pickpocket since a very young age. I had no issues in Rome either, or Barcelona or Lisbon, but I have a habit of holding my purse as if any person next to me can be the one out to steal from me.
Going to Rome next week. Thank you so much for your honesty! I am now going to have eyes wide open and will remember to just take a step back and regroup if i feel confused. Thank you!
Have a wonderful trip! Thank you for your kind comment. We were back last week and everything was good, but we were definitely more pro active 😂. Cheers have a great time!! Chris and Jim
Your video is informative. I live in Rome and use public transport on daily base but NEVER NEVER use bus or metro to travel to and from train station when travelling. A taxi run within the city center may vary form 9 to 20€. Patiently queue when arriving at the train station and download the taxi app to call it when leaving or when needed. Thanks for sharing your experience.
That bag is often called a sling pack. I've been to Rome several times and have taken the Da Vinci Express train to the airport several times. I've also taking the subway out past the Vatican. The subways are in a separate section of the station. Good advice to ask the police or people that are obvious workers for directions. The "you're the only people that speak English" is BS as well. I found it rare to find someone in Rome that did not speak English.
When I was in Paris around 10 years ago a woman came up to me said she found my wedding ring. I told her no and walked away. She tried to follow but I just kept walking.
Hopefully you made it out ok? Thank-you for sharing. We hope for conversations will help others. Thanks for watching and stay safe! Cheers Chris and Jim
My husband,daughter & I recently traveled to Italy for the 3rd time. We have steered clear of the subway & chose to take a white cab for 50 euro into Rome & right up to the front door of our hotel it was well worth the 50 euro, the Leo express train is 14 euro per person each way & you will arrive in Termini another popular pickpocket area then you still have to get to your destination in Rome by walking or public transportation, by the time you add up the cost you might as well just take a cab to begin with. Some folks might say it’s too expensive but so replacing stolen items. We had a lady (not Italian) come up to us in Tuscany in the city of Orvieto, she figured we were waiting for a tour of the underground & started a conversation about where we needed to stand to get the correct tour (which they had Italian speaking tours & English) but she just kept trying to engage us in conversation & I was getting very irritated but my husband for some reason wanted to keep a dialogue going 😩. She knew I was irritated & said to my husband “oh she is mad or pissed”. That’s when I looked directly at her & said F off & told my husband watch your stuff & walked away. My husband was mad but I didn’t care, he eventually walked away from her.
Thanks 🙏 guys. Yes we have too, this was really our first experience and we’re lucky for sure. Most places we have felt really safe, but the big cities seem to have a few more crafty ones 😝have fun in Vietnam 🇻🇳
You’re are a lovely couple with beautiful minds thank goodness you used your own wisdom for getting out of that situation. Thank you so much for sharing this information with us ❤
On a subway platform in Madrid 3 years ago, I noticed a group of young women watching us. I mentioned it to my husband, who had his wallet in his cargo shorts leg pocket. Not a good place to put it! These young women all boarded the same crowded train with us. When we got off about 4 stops later, one of the women handed my husband his wallet and said, “You dropped this.” We thanked her. Then…I asked my husband, “Did you check your wallet? Is everything there?” Luckily she’d only taken the cash, about €100. (Why she gave us the wallet back is perplexing.) It's so important to trust your intuition. If it feels wrong, trust that feeling! It almost happened again a year later in Rome. Same method, a group of girls (gypsies) watching us, studying us; such a very uncomfortable feeling. I think in the future I would spend the money on taxis, it’s very nerve-wracking knowing thieves are everywhere.
Oh wow, so sorry to hear this. I actually just watched a documentary on the subject and apparently they don’t even get into trouble when caught. So they are able to do it over and over again. Scary and sad really. I am heading to Rome soon again and then Madrid. I will have to be much more careful. We were lucky 🍀 but I feel bad for those who aren’t so fortunate. Stay safe, thanks for watching! Cheers Chris and Jim.
Good morning! It's happening to many people, sad...This Gipsy tipe...everywhere, they have different mentality.. Sad,that policy not doing much. Thanks for the story!
Glad you guys came out of it alright. I was in Rome and Italy for the first time in June. Termini station is massive. Besides the above ground platforms that go literally a kilometer or more (I know because I had to walk all that distance to catch my train), there's the underground areas that go for blocks. It can be very daunting and confusing. With so many people coming and gowing, the crowds can be intimidating. I certainly had to ask for directions multiple times. Fortunately, I didn't encounter any scams but I was keenly aware of that possibility as well, having watched several YT videos about it before my departure. Lesson being, besides always being on guard, trust your instincts!!
Thanks for sharing!! I’m glad you guys got out of the situation okay! I’m heading to Rome soon. And I’m a little worried to be traveling alone but I’m trying to prepare myself and your video helps!
Thank-you, exciting for your upcoming trip for sure! Just take all the steps to protect yourself. All you can do is your best. We have never had any problems before and travelled all over Italy and many other countries. Most people are kind. We have never really felt unsafe, but we are usually more careful. This is why we choose to share to help others. Thank-you so much for watching, and wishing you a safe trip! Cheers Chris and Jim
We were in Barcelona and at a park bench waiting for our room to be ready. Right across the street, a woman was walking by, and as soon as I spoke English she turned and came back and sat next to us on a bench. My gut told me to leave as she was texting on her phone. I nudged my husband and went into the hotel lobby. We wear the sack you can order online that is big enough but goes under your clothing. We kept close to us through out our trip. Through Barcelona and France. I don't trust anyone.
Great story telling. I love how you complete each other's perspective while giving each other an equal amount of time to speak through out the whole video. Fun, good chemistry
A few years ago my wife and I went from Athen to Rome, We booked a limousine to take us to a small Hotel near the Vatican for 40 Euro . Was much more convenient then subway and Taxi from the train station. When you are in a strange city and you travel 2 or more persons its cheaper and safer then public transport. Christof in Toronto
Good advice! The metro or buses is the most likely place. Had my purse ripped off my shoulder and lost everything but my passport as my husband had it!! Spent the whole evening and next day cancelling cards and I had just beforehand exchanged money ($250) and I was being watched when I bought tickets for the train. It was a family with kids who surrounded us while we stood reading maps on the metro wall. They had been watching us for several minutes beforehand. They were well-practiced. Now I never carry a purse in the metro and always step far away of people seemingly crowding me. You must be assertive and pro-active! These people make a good living. Always stay alert and never, never appear confused like you don’t know where you are going.
In Barcelona two goons followed my wife and I down a narrow street. The situation didn’t feel right and I pulled my wife to the side and made eye contact with the goons. They proceeded down the alley without incident.
Yes, again as we state our poor choices put us in this situation for sure. Sometimes easy when you are jet lagged and tired. But lessons learned. Cheers Chris and Jim
Thank you for sharing. I watch these videos and feel like I know what to look for, but this is a good reminder to not get too cocky and always hold tight to your belongings.
Thank you for your support, sometimes we just think people are kind and friendly and forget to have our travel wits about us. Stay safe, cheers 🥂 Chris and Jim
As Rick Steves says: when in Europe never carry anything with you that you can't afford to have stolen"! It is worth it to take a van to and from the airport. Especially if you have a lot of stuff. But having a good situational awareness is always important.
I was in Rome six months ago. I hated using the subway it was always packed with weird people. If you’re going to the airport from Rome it’s usually from the railway station in Termini
WOW! Great advice. We just came back to the states from Rome but didn't use the metro while in Rome, opting for public buses given the locations of our AirBnB and destinations. While we had our guard up and nothing happened with us, you never know how they'll come at you.
When traveling I use a safety pin on any zipper that holds anything of value or importance. Just pin the zipper to the fabric of the bag or pocket. I was in Rome last year when someone tried to unzip my bag but it only had hand sanitizer and napkins in it. I told the guy, "You're not very good at this and if you need some hand sanitizer I am happy to share." If someone approaches requesting help in a crowded area they are usually up to no good particularly when everyone has a phone that is much better at directions than a person. Glad it worked out for you.
Jim sounds like he had very little in the way of Awareness in this instance Ignorance is Not bliss - pays to suspicious and aware of everyone around you ! You can be open and friendly , but Uber aware !! Especially at night… lesson learned I hope !
lol.. this is true. We are working on Jim.. 🤣 yes definitely lesson learned. We are usually more aware but we’re not on our best behaviour this time. We wanted to share how fast things can change and hopefully help others. Thank you for sharing and watching, Cheers 🍻 Chris and Jim
Here in Europe, we don't talk to random people on public transport. We also speak several languages here. People who study different languages learn a lot of cultural things in addition to just the language. Speaking English in a non-speaking country is a scammer's dream. Scammers know that many native speakers of English do not know other languages, so it is easy for them to fake trust. . In addition to this, if you speak with a strong American or Canadian accent, scammers know that many of these people do not use public transport often but usually go by car. The scammer can only ask you where in America you are from. If you answer that you are from, for example, Arizona, Nevada or Texas, they will immediately know that you are not familiar with public transport. Then they can pretend to be friendly, but are really trying to cheat. It's better to be the one who talks to random people, but if someone else comes to talk to you, that's a red flag, all theater, what happens after that doesn't matter. Well ofcourse you can lie that you are from NYC. Scammer in Europe may know that in NYC people use public transport daily. . Experienced travelers also know that Rome is not only one of the worst tourist spots in Europe, but one of the worst touristbaths in the whole world. . Enjoy your travels in Europe!
As an Aussie, I have been to Italy many times, on my own. I have not been scammed, but I have had people very close to me when buying a train ticket, asking if they can help. I guess the trick is, try to look like a local. thanks for the video
That good that you have been safe. We have never had any problems until this time, but were lucky. Yes I am sure looking like a local would help. Cheers 🥂 Chris and Jim
Most big cities are filled with low life scammers. I have lived and worked in NYC for over 50 years. I have pretty good trouble radar. In NY, if someone comes up to me and I sense anything out of the ordinary I immediately walk away. If they offer “help” I say, no thanks and start moving. One time in Mexico City a guy in a suit came up to me and said I had a stain on the back of my sleeve. He offered to direct me to a men’s room where I could wash it off. It took me a moment and I realized he was trying to get me to an isolated area to rob me. I said, thanks, I have to run and was off.
Oh geez, thank-you for sharing. We are glad you were safe! Good to know what scams are out there, it helps to be prepared. Most people have been amazing in our travels but there a alway a choice few for sure. Stay Safe! Cheers Chris and Jim
Heading to Italy with my wife, I got a cross body bag that locks and a backpack with a lock as well. Appreciate your story. I'll leave my Minnesota nice behind when it comes to anybody approaching us.
Similar situation happened to me and my husband! It’s all very well orchestrated and even some staff/police/security looking people are in on it. If you’re going to ask for help, ask a worker behind a desk/counter, better yet take cab to airport even if expensive.
sadly some of the workers are now in on it...I watched a different youtube video where the girl had her designer purse stolen from the train attendant. Part of travel is to budget in transportation as you mentioned expensive or not.
@@DebeNicole One can learn all about buying tickets even before going to a place. They all have an option for English. There are videos about various popular tourist cities and countries on how to buy tickets. I always watch those and google before going to a place. I speak Italian - was majoring in Italian language and literature in college, but my friends who don't had no issue using the machines in Italy. It's not rocket science.
There is also Leonardo Express that takes you from the airport to Termini. I don't believe there are pickpockets there, it's a train not subway. It's more expensive than subway and is probably not worthwhile for pickpockets to use as it's not crowded. Everyone is seated. I've been to Rome a few times. The last couple of times, I reserved a hotel in a walking distance from Termini station. I find it more convenient as you often need to be at the airport early. Even if your hotel is elsewhere, you can take a taxi from the Termini station. One time we stayed near Piazza di Spagna with friends. We took a taxi to Termini, then Leonardo Express. I don't know if the police is on it, I've read it's difficult to catch them in the act, and then, it's considered a misdemeanor, not to mention they are all underage or pregnant.
@@jewelmarkess confused about your reply to me. I simply stated that even the train attendants are sometimes involved in robbing tourists and that when traveling abroad if you are too nice, think of budgeting in taxi or hire a car to get you to and from your destination to avoid these type of scams.
@@DebeNicole You made good points. I just said there is another option in Rome specifically when getting from the airport into town other than a taxi or metro in case you or people who read your post and comments don't know. Leonardo Express is a dedicated train from Fiumicino to Termini. It's part of Trentitalia and not the metro system, not as crowded. The machines are easy to use. I think getting to/from the airport is the riskiest part as you have all of your cards, money and passport on you, as well as the luggage.
My go to transport in Rome is Stefano's Rome Cabs. They are also great for tours. I have worked too hard to be in public transport and especially if my husband is not with me. My husband and I have been very lucky that we plan our trips with safety in mind.
Thanks for this video Glad you are safe Yes, lots of scams all over and this one was easy to get caught in It’s easier to steal than work for lots of people
Thank-you, yes it's too bad. We were lucky and have never had any issues before, just wanted to share in hopes of protecting others. Cheers Chris and Jim.
I’m extremely sorry as a Roman that our tourists have their trips ruined by those “people”, it’s been a real problem for months but nothing has changed. For some reason pickpocketing has exploded in many European cities all at the same time
Thanks for your comment. It's not your fault and we definitely won't stop visiting Italy we love it, but we will sure be more careful. It sadly happens in many cities. Thanks for watching, Cheers Chris and Jim
This is also why I decided decades ago to do everything I can to avoid looking like an obvious tourist when traveling abroad. One of the first things I dumped was a "fanny pack" or a "man-purse" or a backpack. I found carrying those types of things set you off immediately as an easy mark. When I'm walking around Rome, for instance, why do I need to carry a backpack? The most I carry is a phone (for photos and communication) and a very slimmed down wallet (an ID, insurance card, and a couple of credit cards), while I leave my passport in the hotel safe. That's it. Nothing more. And I carry these things in interior pockets that are either buttoned or zipped shut. I've never found a need to carry half of my suitcase around with me on day hikes around cities. I have never had an issue with thievery once I made these simple changes. Travel light and don't look like you just stepped off the plane from Des Moines.
@@jabow1878 So I gather your point is that wearing a fanny pack or a backpack on the Paris subway is a better option than carrying your wallet in a zipped front pants pocket? Odd story. Especially since I've never been robbed, ever, in Paris or any other major city I've traveled to, in over 60 years of traveling.
I'm so glad you came out on top this time. The lesson is to take care of yourself first and help along the way. Your first mistake was to go with someone after you already researched and knew where you were going. We lived in Italy over 8 years and Madrid under four years. Americans are always targets. They second quess themselves because of the language barrier, it's understandable. Thank you for sharing to warn others. There are so many scams and women are the big part of it.😢
Thank-you for your comment, we agree. We just hope to help others, we are from a small area that does not have metros, trains and public transit is rarely used. Stay safe, cheers Chris and Jim
Pacsafe travel bags and wallets are what I usually travel with, as they not only have slash resistant straps and materials, they also have RFID protection. Cross body are safe, with sores on the straps to avoid most slash type actions and zippers have a lock mechanism, to help avoid slick hands of thieves. It pays to pay extra, to have the best chance of NOT losing personal items, especially wallets/cash/jewelry/passports! Never show signs of affluence during travel, esp in known high theft areas, to help avoid being a target. Dress down in public and hide jewelry.
About 15 years ago my elderly parents in law were in Rome. They got out of their taxi at the train station and a man offered to "help" them to their train. He told them to get on their train and he would pass up their bags. When they got on board he said they needed to give him $50US (a lot at the time) or he would run away with their bags. They paid him. It was a real eye opener. Now that I'm older I don't travel with anything I can't carry myself and I refuse anyone, firmly, who tries to assist me. Sad but necessary.
So sorry to hear this. It's so sad that people pray on trusting and honest people. I now have my Mom doing this, carry-on, or what you can carry only. Thanks for your comment. Stay safe, Cheers Chris and Jim
Wow, what a tale of a woman listening to her intuition. Chris! Good for you! DO NOT EVER LET someone talk you out of what your intuition is telling you! Jim, you seem like a nice man but please, do not ever dismiss a woman's intuition. We are dismissed way too much and it makes us doubt ourselves and it makes us listen less to our intuition which is NOT good for us. Women particularly (because of the excessive amount of violence against women in this world) need to keep their trust in their intuition high, and they need to keep it fine-tuned and this harder for women to do when they are dismissed and when their intuition is dismissed.
When traveling, stay alert and watch your surroundings. When you see something just a little bit off, that’s when you notice them. Trust your instincts and don’t be afraid to “ hurt their feelings “. Try it! You will see everything clearly once you understand this. I did, and had a lot of fun in Paris! From the guy wearing a red baseball cap crossing the street in front of the Eiffel Tower, the lady wearing hot pants in the Metro ( then seeing her running for her life after the first train stop 😂), the old lady getting close to me when I was washing my hands and the restroom was empty, etc… You will notice them.
Yes, it's sad but a reality for sure. we had the coin one in Paris and other smaller ones , but this one could have been much worse. Just happy to be lucky and hope others stay safe. Thanks for watching, Cheers Chris and Jim
Also do NOT ever leave your cellphone on a table top, people will come by with clipboards asking you to sign a petition, lay their board over your cell and steal it. Don't have your cellphone in your hand while boarding or leaving public transit. Pickpocketers will grab it while the door is about to close. We've bought cellphone cases with the lanyards to wear crossbody while traveling on public transport in Europe. Mini carabiner style clips to use on backpacks and purses & Murses! 😂 It at least will slow them down. 😕
This is exactly what happened with the husband of my cousin in Berlin. He isn't a tourist there, he is German and a native Berliner, but got careless. Maybe he only expected these things to happen when he travels. He was sitting at one of the tables by the river, using his cellphone which was on the table next to him. The girl came to him with a petition, while he read it, his phone disappeared. He run after her, called a policeman, but she had nothing on her. He said they steal your phone and quickly give it to someone else. They put up a sign there for people to be aware of people with petitions.
Even being an experienced traveler, I am aware of Taxi scams and still fell for one. The rotten sod tried to charge me 150 euros to go just a few miles. I was so mad at myself for that. I was recently in Rome and thankfully didn't run into any scammers. This was a very helpful video
Thank you so much for sharing! We were hoping to open up the community conversation about this.. we felt embarrassed but wanted to share anyway to hopefully help some poor suckers like us. Glad you were safe the last time! Cheers 🥂 Chris and Jim
I have a cross body bag I bought on Amazon which has an additional layer of security. All the zippers for the various compartments can be hooked onto a ring at the end of the zipper. So, they have to unhook it to open the compartment. It won’t stop someone, but it’ll slow them down. They go for convenient, quick & easy thefts.
You “almost” fell for a scam at Roma Termini. For months, I’ve been watching videos of people on New York City subways suffering FAR worse than what you experienced. P.S. Brief interactions with strangers needing help make sense, but to ALLOW people to herd you around?
It happened to my husband and me at the Termini station as well. We were getting on our train with our suitcases and suddenly these three "very helpful ladies" start telling us that we need to get in to a different car than we were getting on and trying to hurry us along. They tried to physically separate my husband and me by putting themselves between us. Everything was rushed too - they kept trying to get us to hurry as though the train was going to leave and we needed to hurry to our seats. My husband moved ahead and one woman tried "helping" me with one of my bags but I held on to it. The two ladies tried to get me to walk between them as they held the train door open (the train door that connected the cars). I didn't want to be so close to them so I waited. As I walk up the train aisle, I see my husband reaching to put a bag up on the top rack, as the lady told him he needed to do, and I see the third woman trying to reach into his pocket. I immediately whacked her arm and yelled "Pickpocket!" ... in a split second, I turn around and they are gone! They vanished into thin air. I looked at my pickpocket proof bag (that I forgot to lock!) and the zipper was unzipped midway and my phone wallet was partially lifted up!! They did it when they were trying to get me to squeeze between them in the doorway. It really shook us up too! The whole train ride down to Civitavecchia we went over the situation and talked about how horrible that would have been if they actually got my phone wallet. I had my ID and credit cards in my phone wallet and we were just starting our trip. I am a firm believer in karma and those gypsies will get theirs. The funny thing is that I was prepared and knew all about "the gypsies" being pickpockets. I had asked my husband before we left on our trip, "How do I know what a gypsy looks like?" I know now and I will forever be leery and more aware. Thankfully it was a lesson learned without the huge cost that could have been! I'm so glad they failed with you guys too. Safe travels!!
Wow, thanks so much for sharing. We are so glad you were safe in the end, but definitely hard to wrap you head around when you realize what was happening. We think it's great to share these experiences, I know we felt embarrassed and weren't sure we should share for getting criticized but glad we did. You can be so prepared and before you know it you are in a crazy circumstance. Stay safe, and thanks so uch for watching, Cheers Chris and Jim
Very sound advice. We always ask officials if we are stuck and need to ask someone but that is usually rare. Backing up to a wall is a great way to re group too. Stops that 'being surrounded' situation 👍 Was in Italy last year and while at Rome's main train station I spotted a scout at the train station with no luggage scanning the crowd for a mark. We made eye contact and he left but reappeared soon after doing the same thing. While everyone was looking at the overhead timetables he was looking at people instead. He was obviously not alone either and I was aware of that but once they know you have noticed them they will focus on someone who is unaware. Stay safe and never accept help from strangers offering it when in a foreign country as they are the scammers.
Good advice, it's crazy how brazen they have become. Glad you were safe and aware! Thanks for your comment on your experience. Good to share. Cheers Chris and JIm
Maybe you could come up with a code word so if one of you is suspicious and the other hasn't noticed anything, it's your signal for "Hey, I think something's up. We need to evaluate what's going on here."
My husband and I are traveling to Italy soon. We've been many times and though we've never been pickpocketed, I've seen it happen to others. We decided that if one of us gets suspicious, to call the other by their given name, not their nickname, as a heads up.
Geez. I spent 3 weeks working in Rome for a company and spent much time in 3 weekends (as there was no weekend work) and had absolutely no issues. And I used both the metro and walked down lane ways at night. Never felt unsafe. Never felt followed. Never approached by scammers.
Yes I am sure, we have never had any problems all over the world. Sadly this time we did, but we were lucky. Just hoping to help prevent others from making poor choices like we did in this event. Thanks for watching, Cheers Chris and Jim. What a great opportunity to stay in Rome!
An adult moving around alone, especially if male and not particularly old is not an easy target, even if foreigner. A family is a target because when traveling with kids you need to carry more things and more vulnerable as you always have to keep at least an eye or an hand on your children.
I was traveling my train from Sorrento Italy to Naples bytrain, in front of me standing was an older gentleman later 60s holding onto the pole with his luggage in front of him we stopped and a young well dressed man by himself gets on the train and before the doors closed he walked around the older man and then steps off the train and the doors closed, the older man then checks his back pocket and says loudly I have just been picked pocket. It happened so fast that I didn’t even see it happen.
I would be curious to know if these "girls" were gypsies? I am shocked that an American male was taking part in the scam (Yes, he was definitely part of it all). Was he a true American or did he just speak good English? I was in Rome, in the early 90's, and a mother with 4 or 5 young kids tried to disorient us with a lot of distraction techniques. We were ready for this scam and it didn't succeed. The mother sneered at us when she knew she lost the battle. It was a stressful encounter, but we survived it. BTW, the mother and kids were gypsies and that is why I asked that question about your encounter. Glad all ended up well for you two.
Thank you for sharing your experience, glad you made it out safely. Yes I think they were gypsies. The man told us he was American but who knows if it was true. We just wanted to share and hopefully 🤞 help others out. We have been lucky and are not usually this naive but sometimes when we get rattled before we know it we are in a bad situation. Stay safe, cheers 🍻 Chris and Jim.
3 weeks ago we were at Rome train station to go to the port for our cruise. I bought the tickets online just didn’t know what track. As I opened my phone to see the tickets and look at the board a gentleman came up to us and said he could help us find the right track. He didn’t have the trentailia logo on his shirt so I immediately knew he didn’t work there. We told him we got this. 15 minutes later he came back to us and insisted on helping us. But we already found a ticket employee to help and we were just waiting. My husband got angry at him. He left. Now if I would have handed my phone to him to help us he would have ran off with my phone. Big scam.
Crazy, we are glad you are ok! Yes he probably would have, especially whe n people keep re-approaching. We have a had a few times where we keep seeing the same suspicious people, over and over. Stay Safe, Cheers Chris and Jim
This is not a way to live a life- I’ve been to Rome 20 times and never had any issue… sure I’ve had the Gypsy kids ask for $$ etc but it sure helps to pay attention at all times .. but to never interact with other people is missing out on more than the 20€ in your pocket
So why would a total stranger be concerned about you missing a train that leaves so frequently? And then a pack of six? To the "Gentleman" who wanted to go to the Vatican (to pray obviously 😂) he can figure that out by himself or find another victim, because I got a train to catch.... And without the slightest doubt he was the initiator of this gang of pick pockets.
Very true. Sometimes you are in it before you realize. We have an easier time looking back at it, seems obvious but things can change very quickly. Just hoping to help others. ..maybe he should pray..lol.. Thanks for your comment. Stay safe!
Well done, Chris! Thanks for sharing. Look, I'm Italian, so I come from an advantageous position. Last year, I was on my own, enjoying a month of Italy's natural wonders. At Termini, as I was getting my ticket from the kiosk for the Leonardo express to fly home, it happened to coincide with the end of the Roma soccer game. 2 men who appeared to be good Samaritans to the rescue wanted to help me with my purchase. The instant I began speaking in a Roman dialect, they were gone. Once I returned in a position of peace, a tall Canadian gentleman said he was about to shove both potential thieves out of the way. He commended me on keeping my cool. But yes, even if you are on your guard, accidents can happen to anyone. Constant vigilance is paramount.
Thank you 🙏 for sharing and your kind comment. I am glad you were safe and left to enjoy your time. Yes being on your toes is always good. Thank you 🙏 so much for watching Cheers 🥂 Chris
I have a man purse "murse" for travel to Europe. It has a zipper latch that has to be unhooked before the zipper will open. Would make covertly unzipping a little more difficult. It also has a cut resistant strap. Watch your cell phones in public as well. People will sneak up behind you on an e-bike, grab your phone and speed off. Consider a lanyard type of phone strap.
Thank-you! and yes were are from a small town in BC. We have actually felt safe most of our travels, probably why we were caught off guard. Cheers Chris and Jim
You two better have good insurance because if you are willing to follow strangers then you and your items will soon be separated. I can't believe how both of you were smiling while literally they could have done anything to you.
I have been reading the Comments. We used to travel and it was fun. Talking to people was part of the fun. Now -- "We keep it simple ‘no talking to strangers’ no matter what!" "Be safe. And be rude. Don’t talk to strangers. Trust no one." "Here in Europe, we don't talk to random people on public transport." What a sad world.
I am glad you are ok and things worked out for you. From the start of your story, there were big red flags. Never follow anyone. My husband knows to stick with me (the one paying attention to everything and on full alert majority of the time) and I will literally yell at him and cause a scene to keep him with me or to catch on to what is going on around us. Yes, it is a sad reality, but you have to be leary of all strangers and you must be on high alert at all times.
Yes we were lucky 🍀 . Yes there were way too many red flags. Sometimes before you know it it’s happening. But we wanted to share this because of how easy it can be at times to let our guard down and make poor decisions. Yes also Jim needs to be on board.. he is working on it. lol… 😂 we now have a code word.. and I don’t think he will ever think I am over reacting anymore. Thank you for your input and watching! Cheers 🍻 Chris and Jim
My wife and I have been all over Europe and seen all the scams. We've learned that you have to cultivate a steely hardness when dealing with strangers on the street. If anyone, regardless of their perceived kindness, English skills, dress etc, approaches you... you should immediately be on high alert and NEVER engage. Robert Young Pelton, author of Dangerous Places, wisely says that no matter how hard you try, as a tourist, you are never blending in with the locals. So the scammers just see you as a dumb tourist painted in $100BILLS. You need to have your hardest look painted in your face and eyes, walk with determination and never ever stop and stand around looking confused or in need of direction, the scammers will hunt you like lions looking at the edge of a herd of gazelles, seeking easy weak prey. Never be afraid to tell someone to F**CK OFF in your loudest voice and stare em in the eye when you do it. We've done it many times, they'll get the hint and move on.
I always use a Travelon cross body bag which has a slashproof strap, slash resistant material, little twist locks for all zippered compartments and RFI protection for the charge cards inside. In black, it would be fine for a guy. It is a recognisable bag which I think is also a deterrent, I never use it as a shoulder bag where it can be grabbed off the shoulder, always cross body!
Just be aware- bold thieves in some cities will grab your bag and drag you down the street. Small cross body inside your overblouse, on the “shop side” not “street side”. Those bigger Travleon bags are flashing lights…..
We traveled to Italy numerous times and never ran into pickpockets or scams because we always rented a car. Be aware of areas that are heavily populated including museums, shopping, and even car rental places😂 Italy, France, and Spain have pickpockets from Eastern European countries. They wear several large empty bags and they walk in groups. Lock your backpacks!
Thank-you for watching! Yes this is what we are thinking as well. We were lucky, but we also made mistakes that put us there...lol... we really hope this helps at least one person. Cheers Chris and Jim
I think taxi is always best for airport run when you have passports, laptops etc. as you are at your most vulnerable, otherwise when you are out and about in most tourist cities you will get pickpockets so be very aware but also trust your instincts, with two people you are safer as you can watch put for each other, you cannpt live your life thinking everyone is going to mug you
Yeah, the cost of the cab was €55 compared to €28 so that was behind our decision to take the train. We haven't had a problem before, but we know we let our guard down....we have felt completely safe throughout Italy and all of the other countries we have been too. 99% of the people have great intentions and that is the joy of travelling. Thanks so much for watching and commenting, we really appreciate it :)
Never allow your most sensitive bag with your passport etc to be placed in the trunk of a taxi. If you find yourself making this mistake never pay until that bag is removed from the trunk & in your hands. Often the bag will be held hostage until you pay an outrageous price. They’ll even take you to an ATM. Don’t do it! Keep that bag with you!
I live and work in Rome for 20 years now and I have also been a victim of pickpockets in my early years of stay here. Fortunately, they only got a few change. I try to avoid Termini station at all costs. My first advice to relatives and friends visiting is be very wary of pickpockets in every place where tourists are, especially when in the Metro (subways) and on the bus. It would be to "watch each other" and not to be distracted from the chaos of getting on and off the trains and buses. Pickpockets can also be in the waiting queue with the tourists. Despite these warnings, they have become victims and almost victims of pickpockets. I agree that, when in doubt, always ask the authorities who are around, and in their absence, rely on your Google maps direction.
Thank-you for your comment and tips. Sorry to hear you have been a victim, but good advice. We will definitely be more careful in the future. Stay safe and thanks for watching.
We have purchased "Pak safe" cross bags for our trip which has 2 additional locking systems, enabling you to add a padlock. We were sardined in a train in peak hour in Rome. Fortunately no pickpockets.
I follow the rule that if you need to approach a stranger to ask a question, they are nice and will try to help you, or at least won't hurt you. However, if someone approaches YOU, be suspicious. And now add to that, even if they are an American. And if they get agitated when you hesitate or reject their advances, your suspicions will be confirmed.
I was pickpocketed in Florence. Rookie mistake. I had both my hands occupied, eating fries, and not paying attention. Two guys intentionally bumped into me, joked that they almost tripped me by grabbing both my arms, while the other guy took my wallet from my front pocket. This all happened on a busy sidewalk in rush hour. Luckily, the financial police recovered my wallet a week later.
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Thank you so much for watching our video! 🙏😊 We hope you found our experience with the Rome Subway Scam at Termini Station helpful and eye-opening. Have you ever encountered a travel scam or had a close call while traveling? We'd love to hear your stories and tips in the comments below!
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Never were these girls americans! I bet a certain ethnic group from romania.. that do most of begging and picpocket crime in italy/Germany/Austria/Spain.
No disrespect, but the first red flag for me would have been that a young girl out of nowhere "cares" so much about you and worries that you might miss your train. How could she even know where you were heading to...
Last year we went to the French Riviera and we read even before going, on different groups, that a group of 3 young girls were running all kind of scams on tourists in Nice and surrounding cities. We didn't encounter them, but we were warned in a train station, by the staff, to be aware of our belongings, because they saw the girls on the platform, waiting for the train. We were shocked that everybody seemed to know about them and yet they were still out and about doing their thing...
@shapeoftimes Thoes bloggers are saying that they are experience travelers. And look what they did.
@@ellenh4984 ...and, of course, YOU are much too smart to ever be caught up in a scam - right? Sure!
My husband and I have been to Rome a few times. Love it. One time we were on the train going to the Colosseum. We were seated and looking around. There was a a couple of locals standing up in the middle of the doorway area. There were other commuters getting on and off and standing in the middle. I noticed the first 2 people were looking around especially at women with their bags. I then noticed the first 2 people also were surreptitiously making signs to another group of people regarding the commuters. I told my husband I thought they were up to no good. We had to get off at our stop. When we were returning I saw same group of people in our carriage still standing up where everyone was getting on. They started surrounding a woman who was standing near them who was not concentrating and on her phone. I got up and let the lady know to be careful as they were looking at her bag. They all moved away and got off at next stop. Traveller beware!
Wow, good for you for letting the lady know. Too many just move on with their day and don't want to get involved. we love Rome and Italy too, it will not sway our thoughts on Rome, it can happen anywhere in the world. Thank-you for sharing. Stay safe, Cheers Chris and Jim
Yes, in certain cities, heroic people, upon seeing pickpockets in action, will shout and point " Pickpocket! Pickpocket!" to warn everyone within earshot.
That's great! Who would expect that they've been singled out? It's also interesting that others probably observed the same things and said/did nothing.
Its pickpocketing not a scam. A scam is usually someone contacting you online. Dont talk to anyone in the street or on public transport!
Pickpocket scam because it was a calculated act
Growing up in NYC really prepared me for travel. 1. I can spot the scammers and 2. I have no problem telling people bugging me to leave me alone.
yeah a lot of people assume that the folks in other countries are nicer than folks at home. Treat any crowded area with the same care that you would in any big city.
Same for me
your arrogance at knowing it all will be your downfall at some point.
@@duncansmith7562 who said we know it all? We don't, we just encounter scammers, thieves and shady people daily so there is a hypervigilance that we learn early in life. Everybody has a different skillset based on where they're raised. Get over yourself
Will have a different result for you in Rome, you have no gun.
I was just in Rome last week. Heading to the airport from Termini station, the easiest way to get there is to get on the Leonardo Express. Nonstop service to FCO. 14 Euros and you don’t have to worry about escalators, elevators, or anything. It’s on the Main Street level and super straight forward.
the Leonardo express is pickpocket heavy too.
Yes, thank you. We used it to get into Rome, We were leaving from termini to the other airport to our next destination in Greece. It’s very handy. Thanks for sharing 🙏 Cheers 🍻 Chris and Jim
I was targeted by a pickpocket team in Venice many years ago. It was my second trip to Italy and my second visit to Venice. I had been doing some specific sites for a few days and felt like taking a stroll. I decided it would be nice to walk down the one main "street" in Venice that starts from the train station. I had not seen this part of the city before. I'm walking along at a normal pace carrying just my cross body purse. Suddenly a short little guy in painter's overalls approaches me, keeps pace, and says he wants to paint my portrait. He's talking very fast, gesturing wildly, and speaking in a heavy French accent. I kept saying no thank you and he kept on walking with me. As we walked, I noticed a nicely dressed man leaning up against a building facing the street and reading a newspaper. He stood out because he was dressed much nicer than anyone else around in a navy blazer, collared shirt, and ivory slacks and he was tall with black hair. I figured he was waiting for his wife who was shopping. Meanwhile the annoying guy was still trying to get me to go with him even though I kept saying no. Finally I had enough and yelled at the top of my lungs at him "Basta"! and made a big angry sweep with my arm. He took off so fast if was funny.
Now that I was rid of him, I continued walking but immediately saw the tall man again. He was looking in a shop window, still with his folded newspaper. A little further on I saw a perfume and bodyworks shop and stopped in for a look. Guess who was in there? The navy blazer man standing to the side and reading his newspaper again. I knew he was following me so I stepped back against the wall and stared at him. He never looked up, but I'm sure he knew I was staring at him. I watched to see if he was with a woman and many women came and went. Some made purchases, but he never spoke to any of them. I kept staring at him. Finally he left alone! After a bit, my fun walk ruined, I left and kept an eye out for him. I walked quicky to Piazza San Marco watching for him, but didn't see him again. Jerks.
You're just lucky you didn't meet the red-hooded dwarf.
Wow, thanks for sharing, sounds like you were lucky and saved the day! Good to trust your gut feelings for sure. Stay safe, Cheers Chris and Jim
In short you actually think that pickpockets dress to stand out and not to be invisible. And you are so paranoid that you can't even think that the "well dressed tall guy" could tell the exact same story but with you as the possible pickpocket. Any lawyer would tell your story this way: "Nothing happened, but Karens are Karens".
1st thing is to disregard your ideas on what a pickpocket looks like. There are no age limits, being well dressed or poorly dressed, male or female or locations that are pickpocket free zones. Anyone can be a pickpocket. Any location is prime for being pickpocketed. Be unapproachable in public. It isn’t being rude. Your safety is of utmost importance. Very seldom do they work alone. Keep walking. It’s more difficult to hit a moving target.
Yes this is true, the guys was probably in his 60's and well dressed. maybe this is why it threw us off. Yes we will work on the unapproachable for sure. Thanks for the tips and sharing, cheers Chris and Jim
I see where you're coming from and agree with you. It just makes me sad because as a traveler myself, I've had to reach out for help for one reason or another and I've been blessed by people willing to help me. If everyone masters the art of making themselves unapproachable in public, the honest people would not have anyone to help. Sadly, it's the world we live in.
This brings back sweet memories of glory. While standing in a bus in Naples the guy casually sitting next to the place where I was standing was trying to open the side pocket of my shorts. At first I didn't notice, but when I did, I grabbed him by the throat with just one hand and lifted his face (and the rest of his body) next to mine, telling him he was lucky that I didn't hit him. He took of a the next stop. It must be common in Naples, because the rest of the bus acted like nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Naples is notorious for pickpocketing. The Circumvesuviana, the train that goes to Pompei, has a reputation for being one of the worst in Europe. When I''m on it, I look alert, clutch my bag and scowl the whole time.
Wow, lucky you were able to scare him off. Stay safe, Cheers Chris and Jim
I travelled a lot in Europe and I know by now that you simply need to ignore anyone who approaches you, most likely it’s a scam. If they persist I just tell them to f**off in their language.
Yes, it's too bad but safety first.
I had something similar happen to me in Berlin. A young couple tried to engage me in conversation regarding directions. Specifically, they tried to get me to help them by using my phone to access a map. Why would they ask a tourist? That made no sense to me. Spider senses started tingling and I kept moving and tried to direct them to someone else. They gave up. For what it is worth, I try to memorize my route before I go out so that I don't have to have my phone out for directions. And by using my earphones, I can get verbal instructions from the app and thus not have to expose my phone.
To add, these robbers have one important skill they have to develop and that is sizing people up to identify their targets. And they rarely work alone. This is their full time job and unfortunately, with travel numbers up, they are getting a lot of practice.
The earphones for directions is a fantastic idea.
I always wonder why victims of crime call their perpetrator "the gentleman?" I am glad you guys didn't get hurt!
That's the Canadian in us I guess, lol....thanks for watching and commenting. Much appreciated!
That struck me too.
@@midlifetravelbug Americans do it too and it's infuriating...they're not gentlemen and calling them such just lightens the situation and as being something inconsequential when they're nothing but criminals.
I noticed that too. I would have been calling him "the dude" at the maximum politeness. If I was pretty sure he was involved, I would have been calling him "the likely scammer".
Hi, thanks for sharing! Anyone asking directions , or asking you where are you going or sign a petition is definitely a red flag situation…..just think, everyone has googlemaps theses days . These pick pockets almost always work in groups and I’m sure the so-called gentleman was part of the scam. My wife had her mobile phone stolen last year in Venice. It was in the back outer pocket of her backpack……definite no go. By the way, I am also a Jim , who almost always listens to his wife😅….as children we were taught, don’t talk to strangers……
And the lesson for Jim is for you listen to your wife next time.
@@TheMMAlegria she tells me that when I listen to her 100% of the time, I will always be right 100% of the time! 🤣 Now I know 😁
The wife is always right!!!
Weird thing is, my sisters are rarely ever right, But the wife, she is a whole other species. 😮😂🦘
Absolutely 💯 always work as a team❤❤
Absolutely 💯 team work
I appreciate you for sharing this experience. We are going to Rome in October and I hope I’m prepared for any such events. My husband is a very friendly guy by nature, and innocent as to people who may have bad intentions. I feel I’ll need to be extra wary to not get caught by “friendly, helpful” people. It’s a shame we have to be suspicious, but better safe than sorry. I’m glad you got out of that situation as well as you did. Pays to listen when bells go off in our head!
we were in Rome in 2022. the taxi drivers have scam too, they will switch your money to a lesser amount , so watch out for this. I was staring and counting my 30 euros for 15 mins of drive. when I paid the taxi driver ( we got this justoutside the The Vatican. he switched my 30 euros to 15 only, I told the driver, I saw his fast hand doing this trick but I just let it go. the driver stopped atthe mdiddle of the street and my family already got out so I just let it go
Thank-you for your comment! We really didn't have any problems until then, but I think our over confidence caught up to us. We hope you have a wonderful trip and stay safe, and honestly most people are so amazing. Make sure you take all the safety steps and you should be just fine. We also never carry much cash if possible. Maybe when we head to and from the airports we might consider a taxi even if it is more costly. Someone mentioned a bus. Yes our gut feelings can be super helpful. Thanks for watching, Cheers Chris and Jim.
Oh wow, thanks for the information, good to know. It's really too bad when these things happen.
Our biggest problem in Rome was the people at the famous sites who want to "give" you a gift like a flower or a bracelet and then demand money. You have to be extremely firm/borderline rude and do not engage at all. Say "no" and walk away. Other than that Rome is amazing and I hope you love it as much as we did. 🙂
please get him to watch all the pickpocket videos on youtube. They are all the same whether its Barcelona or Paris or Rome etc. There is a great 5 min video called Pickpocket Huntress of Barcelona.
Thanks for sharing that! I'm headed to Rome in the fall and one thing I've heard is that if you're loaded down like you guys were, best to take a taxi and stay off mass transit just for those reasons you listed. Glad you escaped and thanks for the lesson!
Yes we were lucky, hope this helps you out. Yes a taxi would be nice but sometimes it’s just not in the budget. It’s about 50 euro from the airport. Wishing you a wonderful trip! It’s such a wonderful place.. even with a few bad apples. Cheers Chris and Jim 🥂
I’ve gone back and forth to the airport with luggage in Rome several times using mass transit with no problem. These kinds of scams unfortunately happen, but I wouldn’t avoid mass transit because of them. That said, pack light. Most people take way too much stuff. It’s far easier to get around with less stuff.
even they scam you! I was quoted a huge amount at the taxi line at Rome Centrale - a huge arguement developed when I refused that amount and didnt get into the taxi - until a female taxi driver arrived, told them to shut up, and took me to my hotel. I had my young daughter with me. She charged me far less than the scamming taxi driver. Also never ever pay for the taxi until you have your bag OUT of their boot/trunk. Else they drive off with your bag if you disagree about the cost. Another thing in Naples a hotel offered me a voucher to pay the taxi driver with. He didnt know I had the voucher and seemed to take an eternity to get to the airport. When we got there I duly waited for the bags to be taken out of the boot/trunk and only then did I present the voucher. He turned into the Incredible Hulk and had the biggest tantrum I've ever seen in a adult. I said thanks and off I went.
@wildearthfarm4632 Yes take a white taxi 50 euro right to your destination in Rome, so worth it.
@@thedavidguy01 - we learned the pack light thing on our first trip to London getting of a cruise! We started in Rome and ended up in London and we struggled hard with our bags. Between public transit, the cobblestone streets, narrow stairways, no lifts in the buildings, and needing to get bigger cars for transport, UGH!! After that trip years ago, we're working on mastering the art of packing light. Still a work in progress but we're getting there!
I am a 78 year old woman who travelled solo through Italy with no problems. Be aware of surroundings, especially if someone approaches you. You don't have to respond.
Happy travels! We have not had too many problems and we are usually on point, but we let our guard down. We thought we would share to remind others of how quickly things can happen when we make poor choices. We were lucky. We are happy to hear you have been safe and wish you continued happy travels. Cheers Chris and Jim
Yeah, I am 73, female, and was on a solo trip to Rome this year. Stayed away from public transportation for fear of being pickpocketed. Never got close to anyone. Termini is notorious. Preferred to pay €50 for a taxi to my hotel from Fiumicino than hassle with trains and Termini Station.
@@chronic2023 BRAVO, i am 72 and considering going Rome this week from canada last minute- i am terrified of all the bs that happens tho how fun can it be always worried about getting robbery and scammed everywhere you turn
I travel solo. Anyone asks if I speak English my response is a quizzical look & a shrug. Learn how to speak yes or know in the language where you visit with the native accent. A SCOTTeVEST & PackSafe items are fabulous. I use a door stop & portable door lock available on Amazon. Look at street maps & familiarize yourself with landmarks & major streets. There are good tutorials on YT on travel safety & scams. Budget more to use safer transportation. I wear a RoadSafe bracelet with data for 1st responders and use an AirTag to allow a designated person to track me. If you’re from the USA locate & download our embassy phone number & location in the country of travel. Also use their warning travel system. Depending upon the country local police may not be safe or of assistance.
@@downieduck2414 My first trip to Italy, I had several random 'helpers' when trying to buy train and metro tickets. DO NOT take advice, or offer your attention to them longer than to say no thank you/no grazie. One guy almost talked me out of the line at the train station and I would've lost my spot. He claimed to know a better way. He was some random African guy not in uniform.
My husband and I travel to Europe every year on vacation. We keep it simple ‘no talking to strangers’ no matter what! For information we ask at the hotel or tourist information Center! We travel trains and subways we do our homework in advance even checkout the train station and platform the day before. When we arrive to travel we know the route. I also carry a small keychain alarm with me purchased on Amazon and the noise is deafening!
Thanks for sharing!! Those are some great tips! Stay safe! Cheers Chris and Jim
I hear you completely, however...not talking to anyone at all in your travels makes you miss out on a significant, and often memorable aspect of visiting a new place. But I hear ya. I've had things stolen in Europe - twice. Both while moving from one place to another with all our stuff. Both were my own stupidity. Be hypervigilant to the point of paranoia when you are going to or from the airport as you have everything with you. But while you're there, go out with nothing,,.... and engage! I put $50 worth of cash in my pocket, and some backup cash and card/ID in a pouch I wear inside my pants. That's it. TBH I am a lot more afraid of losing my phone now that it does literally everything include ID'ing you back to your bank after you get robbed (doh!). I grip it for dear life when it's out.
Sorry for the ramble. Travel is 90% awesome, the other 10 is this stuff and airports - but don't let it stop you from engaging the locals, most people are not out to get you.
On our way to Termini at another station, my husband and I had our luggage on the way to the airport. As we tried to board the train, two girls, mid-teenage age, stretched out their arms to restrict us from getting onto the train, whilst their two partners in crime, came from behind trying to grab whatever they could from us. Thankfully we used our luggage as battering rams, as the girls ran off the train.
Oh geez, that’s aggressive, so glad you were ok. So crazy how quickly things can get out of hand. Thanks so much for sharing your story! They definitely have teams and with the ability to text now days it’s so much easier. Stay safe, Cheers 🥂 Chris and Jim
My wife and I Travel a lot, and we have a couple of code words we can use to alert each other to possible bad situations, which could be ‘Hey we are being overcharged” up to ‘we are about to get ripped off’. We mostly use PURPLE in a sentence, like ‘I can’t stop thinking about that purple dress we saw’. We also use ‘Eyes On’ and ‘LockDown’ for some other situations. It is very good to be able to communicate to each other without alerting the enemy.
That’s great advice! We are working on some now for sure. Thanks for sharing we appreciate your input. Cheers Chris and Jim 🥂
Great video, you guys are still smiling and NOT robbed!
Thanks so much for watching, yes still smiling. Hopefully a little wiser..lol.. all we can do is laugh at our mistakes and learn from them. Cheers Chris and Jim
Thanks for the video. We were in Rome years ago, and I bought a fake LV backpack, ( a pretty good one) from one of the many street vendors. It had two openings. Both zippered. One to open the entire backpack and one to access a wallet. We boarded a bus to take us to the Vatican and as the bus was crowded, we stood. A group of young children boarded at the next stop and squeezed their way through the standing passengers. One of them got behind me and had almost unzipped the wallet section of my backpack before a seated passenger stopped her. I was so lucky and never wore that backpack again. You really cannot be too careful. Tourists are so vulnerable and be vigilant always!
Wow, we are glad you made it out ok. Good for whoever stopped it. Thanks for sharing. It's so sad that kids are doing this instead of having fun like kids should. Stay safe, Cheers Chris and JIm
wear a neck cord pouch close to your chest under your top.
Great discussion. There are pickpockets in all major cities, including Rome, Paris, and New York. We had no issues the last time we were in Rome. Fingers crossed our luck continues.
New York has a lot of problems, but I've never seen pickpockets there or heard of them. If there are, they are far less skillful than the European ones which are "professionals" - often have been taught to pickpocket since a very young age. I had no issues in Rome either, or Barcelona or Lisbon, but I have a habit of holding my purse as if any person next to me can be the one out to steal from me.
no pickpockets in NY. in NY, you will get killed for your purse. One can not compare Europe to the USA
Going to Rome next week. Thank you so much for your honesty! I am now going to have eyes wide open and will remember to just take a step back and regroup if i feel confused. Thank you!
Have a wonderful trip! Thank you for your kind comment. We were back last week and everything was good, but we were definitely more pro active 😂. Cheers have a great time!! Chris and Jim
Your video is informative.
I live in Rome and use public transport on daily base but NEVER NEVER use bus or metro to travel to and from train station when travelling.
A taxi run within the city center may vary form 9 to 20€.
Patiently queue when arriving at the train station and download the taxi app to call it when leaving or when needed.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thanks for the tips and the information! We will be back there in a couple of weeks and will look into this option. Cheers Chris and Jim
That bag is often called a sling pack. I've been to Rome several times and have taken the Da Vinci Express train to the airport several times. I've also taking the subway out past the Vatican. The subways are in a separate section of the station. Good advice to ask the police or people that are obvious workers for directions. The "you're the only people that speak English" is BS as well. I found it rare to find someone in Rome that did not speak English.
Good video. Appreciate you both publishing this.
Thank you so much 😊 🙏
When I was in Paris around 10 years ago a woman came up to me said she found my wedding ring. I told her no and walked away. She tried to follow but I just kept walking.
Wow, thats an odd one. Glad you stayed safe, thank-you for sharing. Cheers Chris and Jim
@@midlifetravelbug actually, the found ring and a real garbage bracelet are very common scams.
That’s a very typical scam that has been happening for decades. Just keep walking.
similar thing happened to me and my husband at the same station last year ,scary .glad you guys are safe.
Hopefully you made it out ok? Thank-you for sharing. We hope for conversations will help others. Thanks for watching and stay safe! Cheers Chris and Jim
My husband,daughter & I recently traveled to Italy for the 3rd time. We have steered clear of the subway & chose to take a white cab for 50 euro into Rome & right up to the front door of our hotel it was well worth the 50 euro, the Leo express train is 14 euro per person each way & you will arrive in Termini another popular pickpocket area then you still have to get to your destination in Rome by walking or public transportation, by the time you add up the cost you might as well just take a cab to begin with. Some folks might say it’s too expensive but so replacing stolen items. We had a lady (not Italian) come up to us in Tuscany in the city of Orvieto, she figured we were waiting for a tour of the underground & started a conversation about where we needed to stand to get the correct tour (which they had Italian speaking tours & English) but she just kept trying to engage us in conversation & I was getting very irritated but my husband for some reason wanted to keep a dialogue going 😩. She knew I was irritated & said to my husband “oh she is mad or pissed”. That’s when I looked directly at her & said F off & told my husband watch your stuff & walked away. My husband was mad but I didn’t care, he eventually walked away from her.
i think its becoming more and more necessary in big cities now.
Orvieto is in Umbria
Wow.. what a story. We're so glad you're safe and nothing was taken! We've heard a lot of similar incidents like this do happen in Europe!
Thanks 🙏 guys. Yes we have too, this was really our first experience and we’re lucky for sure. Most places we have felt really safe, but the big cities seem to have a few more crafty ones 😝have fun in Vietnam 🇻🇳
Sorry you had to go through that, but appreciate you sharing that!
Thank-you, we were lucky and hope we can prevent others from experiencing the same thing. Stay safe, Chris and Jim
You’re are a lovely couple with beautiful minds thank goodness you used your own wisdom for getting out of that situation. Thank you so much for sharing this information with us ❤
Thank you 🙏 for your lovely words and comment. We are so grateful that you enjoyed 💕 Cheers Chris and Jim 🥂
On a subway platform in Madrid 3 years ago, I noticed a group of young women watching us. I mentioned it to my husband, who had his wallet in his cargo shorts leg pocket. Not a good place to put it!
These young women all boarded the same crowded train with us. When we got off about 4 stops later, one of the women handed my husband his wallet and said, “You dropped this.” We thanked her. Then…I asked my husband, “Did you check your wallet? Is everything there?” Luckily she’d only taken the cash, about €100. (Why she gave us the wallet back is perplexing.)
It's so important to trust your intuition. If it feels wrong, trust that feeling!
It almost happened again a year later in Rome. Same method, a group of girls (gypsies) watching us, studying us; such a very uncomfortable feeling. I think in the future I would spend the money on taxis, it’s very nerve-wracking knowing thieves are everywhere.
Oh wow, so sorry to hear this. I actually just watched a documentary on the subject and apparently they don’t even get into trouble when caught. So they are able to do it over and over again. Scary and sad really. I am heading to Rome soon again and then Madrid. I will have to be much more careful. We were lucky 🍀 but I feel bad for those who aren’t so fortunate. Stay safe, thanks for watching! Cheers Chris and Jim.
@@midlifetravelbug Thank you and happy travels! :-)
Fortunately cash is needed less and less in Europe now. I used Apple Pay for almost everything recently.
Good morning!
It's happening to many people, sad...This Gipsy tipe...everywhere, they have different mentality..
Sad,that policy not doing much.
Thanks for the story!
Yes it is sad! But grateful we were lucky. Thanks again so much for watching 💕
Glad you guys came out of it alright. I was in Rome and Italy for the first time in June. Termini station is massive. Besides the above ground platforms that go literally a kilometer or more (I know because I had to walk all that distance to catch my train), there's the underground areas that go for blocks. It can be very daunting and confusing. With so many people coming and gowing, the crowds can be intimidating. I certainly had to ask for directions multiple times. Fortunately, I didn't encounter any scams but I was keenly aware of that possibility as well, having watched several YT videos about it before my departure. Lesson being, besides always being on guard, trust your instincts!!
Yes this is true! We have travelled many places and never had an issue until now. Most people have had good intentions. Cheers Chris and Jim
Thanks for sharing!! I’m glad you guys got out of the situation okay! I’m heading to Rome soon. And I’m a little worried to be traveling alone but I’m trying to prepare myself and your video helps!
Thank-you, exciting for your upcoming trip for sure! Just take all the steps to protect yourself. All you can do is your best. We have never had any problems before and travelled all over Italy and many other countries. Most people are kind. We have never really felt unsafe, but we are usually more careful. This is why we choose to share to help others. Thank-you so much for watching, and wishing you a safe trip! Cheers Chris and Jim
We were in Barcelona and at a park bench waiting for our room to be ready. Right across the street, a woman was walking by, and as soon as I spoke English she turned and came back and sat next to us on a bench. My gut told me to leave as she was texting on her phone. I nudged my husband and went into the hotel lobby. We wear the sack you can order online that is big enough but goes under your clothing. We kept close to us through out our trip. Through Barcelona and France. I don't trust anyone.
Good you trusted your gut. Thank-you for your comment, stay safe. Cheers Chris and Jim
Great story telling. I love how you complete each other's perspective while giving each other an equal amount of time to speak through out the whole video. Fun, good chemistry
Thank you so much for your kind words 🙏😊 we try… lol..thank you for watching! Cheers Chris and Jim
A few years ago my wife and I went from Athen to Rome, We booked a limousine to take us to a small Hotel near the Vatican for 40 Euro . Was much more convenient then subway and Taxi from the train station. When you are in a strange city and you travel 2 or more persons its cheaper and safer then public transport. Christof in Toronto
Yes that sounds much nicer for sure! Cheers from The Okanagan in Bc! 🥂
Good advice! The metro or buses is the most likely place. Had my purse ripped off my shoulder and lost everything but my passport as my husband had it!! Spent the whole evening and next day cancelling cards and I had just beforehand exchanged money ($250) and I was being watched when I bought tickets for the train. It was a family with kids who surrounded us while we stood reading maps on the metro wall. They had been watching us for several minutes beforehand. They were well-practiced. Now I never carry a purse in the metro and always step far away of people seemingly crowding me. You must be assertive and pro-active! These people make a good living. Always stay alert and never, never appear confused like you don’t know where you are going.
Oh wow, how scary. Thanks for sharing, and the good advice. Sorry to hear about your experience. Stay safe, Cheers Chris and Jim
These crooks know that Americans are naīve and gullible. Please try to be one step ahead of them.
Thank you for sharing this. Very kind of both of you to take the time to video your take on this incident. Thankfully you are both safe.
Thank-you. We were lucky for sure. We just hope it helps others stay safe. Thank-you so much for watching, Cheers Chris and Jim.. " stay safe "
In Barcelona two goons followed my wife and I down a narrow street. The situation didn’t feel right and I pulled my wife to the side and made eye contact with the goons. They proceeded down the alley without incident.
Wow, scary stuff, glad you are OK! Smart on your part for sure. Thanks so much for watching and sharing your experience, cheers Chris and Jim
If you are a season traveler it’s thing never get in an elevator with a bunch of people
Yes, again as we state our poor choices put us in this situation for sure. Sometimes easy when you are jet lagged and tired. But lessons learned. Cheers Chris and Jim
Thank you for sharing. I watch these videos and feel like I know what to look for, but this is a good reminder to not get too cocky and always hold tight to your belongings.
Thank you for your support, sometimes we just think people are kind and friendly and forget to have our travel wits about us. Stay safe, cheers 🥂 Chris and Jim
As Rick Steves says: when in Europe never carry anything with you that you can't afford to have stolen"! It is worth it to take a van to and from the airport. Especially if you have a lot of stuff. But having a good situational awareness is always important.
Yes good advice for sure! Thanks for sharing, Cheers Chris and Jim
I was in Rome six months ago. I hated using the subway it was always packed with weird people. If you’re going to the airport from Rome it’s usually from the railway station in Termini
especially weird after dark too
Yes we were heading out to the other airport for local flights. We left from termini.. stay safe!
WOW! Great advice. We just came back to the states from Rome but didn't use the metro while in Rome, opting for public buses given the locations of our AirBnB and destinations. While we had our guard up and nothing happened with us, you never know how they'll come at you.
When traveling I use a safety pin on any zipper that holds anything of value or importance. Just pin the zipper to the fabric of the bag or pocket. I was in Rome last year when someone tried to unzip my bag but it only had hand sanitizer and napkins in it. I told the guy, "You're not very good at this and if you need some hand sanitizer I am happy to share." If someone approaches requesting help in a crowded area they are usually up to no good particularly when everyone has a phone that is much better at directions than a person. Glad it worked out for you.
That’s a great idea! We are glad you were safe and nothing important was taken. Thanks for sharing! Cheers 🥂 Chris and Jim 🫶
Jim sounds like he had very little in the way of Awareness in this instance
Ignorance is Not bliss - pays to suspicious and aware of everyone around you !
You can be open and friendly , but Uber aware !!
Especially at night… lesson learned I hope !
lol.. this is true. We are working on Jim.. 🤣 yes definitely lesson learned. We are usually more aware but we’re not on our best behaviour this time. We wanted to share how fast things can change and hopefully help others. Thank you for sharing and watching, Cheers 🍻 Chris and Jim
Here in Europe, we don't talk to random people on public transport. We also speak several languages here. People who study different languages learn a lot of cultural things in addition to just the language. Speaking English in a non-speaking country is a scammer's dream. Scammers know that many native speakers of English do not know other languages, so it is easy for them to fake trust.
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In addition to this, if you speak with a strong American or Canadian accent, scammers know that many of these people do not use public transport often but usually go by car. The scammer can only ask you where in America you are from. If you answer that you are from, for example, Arizona, Nevada or Texas, they will immediately know that you are not familiar with public transport. Then they can pretend to be friendly, but are really trying to cheat. It's better to be the one who talks to random people, but if someone else comes to talk to you, that's a red flag, all theater, what happens after that doesn't matter. Well ofcourse you can lie that you are from NYC. Scammer in Europe may know that in NYC people use public transport daily.
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Experienced travelers also know that Rome is not only one of the worst tourist spots in Europe, but one of the worst touristbaths in the whole world.
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Enjoy your travels in Europe!
Thank-you for your comment and information😀 Cheers Chris and Jim
As an Aussie, I have been to Italy many times, on my own. I have not been scammed, but I have had people very close to me when buying a train ticket, asking if they can help. I guess the trick is, try to look like a local. thanks for the video
That good that you have been safe. We have never had any problems until this time, but were lucky. Yes I am sure looking like a local would help. Cheers 🥂 Chris and Jim
Most big cities are filled with low life scammers. I have lived and worked in NYC for over 50 years. I have pretty good trouble radar. In NY, if someone comes up to me and I sense anything out of the ordinary I immediately walk away. If they offer “help” I say, no thanks and start moving. One time in Mexico City a guy in a suit came up to me and said I had a stain on the back of my sleeve. He offered to direct me to a men’s room where I could wash it off. It took me a moment and I realized he was trying to get me to an isolated area to rob me. I said, thanks, I have to run and was off.
Oh geez, thank-you for sharing. We are glad you were safe! Good to know what scams are out there, it helps to be prepared. Most people have been amazing in our travels but there a alway a choice few for sure. Stay Safe! Cheers Chris and Jim
Heading to Italy with my wife, I got a cross body bag that locks and a backpack with a lock as well. Appreciate your story. I'll leave my Minnesota nice behind when it comes to anybody approaching us.
Have a wonderful trip! lol, most are nice just a few bad apples. The cross body bag is a great way to go! Jim loves his, Cheers Chris and Jim.
@@midlifetravelbugthe strap must be slash proof. This area of the world is horrid as a tourist we avoid it.
As extra precaution put zip ties where the handle joins the bag.
@@Ponkelina Not sure what u mean.
@@JayandSarahwe had a lovely time in Rome and the whole of the Mediterranean area from small towns to cities.
Similar situation happened to me and my husband! It’s all very well orchestrated and even some staff/police/security looking people are in on it. If you’re going to ask for help, ask a worker behind a desk/counter, better yet take cab to airport even if expensive.
sadly some of the workers are now in on it...I watched a different youtube video where the girl had her designer purse stolen from the train attendant. Part of travel is to budget in transportation as you mentioned expensive or not.
@@DebeNicole One can learn all about buying tickets even before going to a place. They all have an option for English. There are videos about various popular tourist cities and countries on how to buy tickets. I always watch those and google before going to a place. I speak Italian - was majoring in Italian language and literature in college, but my friends who don't had no issue using the machines in Italy. It's not rocket science.
There is also Leonardo Express that takes you from the airport to Termini. I don't believe there are pickpockets there, it's a train not subway. It's more expensive than subway and is probably not worthwhile for pickpockets to use as it's not crowded. Everyone is seated. I've been to Rome a few times. The last couple of times, I reserved a hotel in a walking distance from Termini station. I find it more convenient as you often need to be at the airport early. Even if your hotel is elsewhere, you can take a taxi from the Termini station. One time we stayed near Piazza di Spagna with friends. We took a taxi to Termini, then Leonardo Express. I don't know if the police is on it, I've read it's difficult to catch them in the act, and then, it's considered a misdemeanor, not to mention they are all underage or pregnant.
@@jewelmarkess confused about your reply to me. I simply stated that even the train attendants are sometimes involved in robbing tourists and that when traveling abroad if you are too nice, think of budgeting in taxi or hire a car to get you to and from your destination to avoid these type of scams.
@@DebeNicole You made good points. I just said there is another option in Rome specifically when getting from the airport into town other than a taxi or metro in case you or people who read your post and comments don't know. Leonardo Express is a dedicated train from Fiumicino to Termini. It's part of Trentitalia and not the metro system, not as crowded. The machines are easy to use. I think getting to/from the airport is the riskiest part as you have all of your cards, money and passport on you, as well as the luggage.
Thanks for sharing - always great to be reminded how quickly & easy these situations happen !
Absolutely! It happens to the best of us. Thank-you so much for watching, Cheers Chris and Jim
My go to transport in Rome is Stefano's Rome Cabs. They are also great for tours. I have worked too hard to be in public transport and especially if my husband is not with me. My husband and I have been very lucky that we plan our trips with safety in mind.
Thanks for sharing! We love to hear other suggestions for sure. Stay safe Cheers Chris and Jim
Thanks for this video Glad you are safe Yes, lots of scams all over and this one was easy to get caught in It’s easier to steal than work for lots of people
Thank-you, yes it's too bad. We were lucky and have never had any issues before, just wanted to share in hopes of protecting others. Cheers Chris and Jim.
I’m extremely sorry as a Roman that our tourists have their trips ruined by those “people”, it’s been a real problem for months but nothing has changed.
For some reason pickpocketing has exploded in many European cities all at the same time
Thanks for your comment. It's not your fault and we definitely won't stop visiting Italy we love it, but we will sure be more careful. It sadly happens in many cities. Thanks for watching, Cheers Chris and Jim
Really good! Thanks for this! They know you have everything with you when you are going to the airport! Great advice guys.
Yes they do, Thanks so much for watching! Stay safe, Chris and Jim
This is also why I decided decades ago to do everything I can to avoid looking like an obvious tourist when traveling abroad. One of the first things I dumped was a "fanny pack" or a "man-purse" or a backpack. I found carrying those types of things set you off immediately as an easy mark. When I'm walking around Rome, for instance, why do I need to carry a backpack? The most I carry is a phone (for photos and communication) and a very slimmed down wallet (an ID, insurance card, and a couple of credit cards), while I leave my passport in the hotel safe. That's it. Nothing more. And I carry these things in interior pockets that are either buttoned or zipped shut. I've never found a need to carry half of my suitcase around with me on day hikes around cities. I have never had an issue with thievery once I made these simple changes. Travel light and don't look like you just stepped off the plane from Des Moines.
Yes good advice. Stay safe, and thanks for your comment. Cheers Chris and Jim
A good friend just did that. A wallet in a zip front pocket. Robbed within 15 minutes on the first subway in Paris. Sadly.
@@jabow1878 So I gather your point is that wearing a fanny pack or a backpack on the Paris subway is a better option than carrying your wallet in a zipped front pants pocket? Odd story. Especially since I've never been robbed, ever, in Paris or any other major city I've traveled to, in over 60 years of traveling.
I'm so glad you came out on top this time. The lesson is to take care of yourself first and help along the way. Your first mistake was to go with someone after you already researched and knew where you were going.
We lived in Italy over 8 years and Madrid under four years. Americans are always targets. They second quess themselves because of the language barrier, it's understandable.
Thank you for sharing to warn others.
There are so many scams and women are the big part of it.😢
Thank-you for your comment, we agree. We just hope to help others, we are from a small area that does not have metros, trains and public transit is rarely used. Stay safe, cheers Chris and Jim
Pacsafe travel bags and wallets are what I usually travel with, as they not only have slash resistant straps and materials, they also have RFID protection. Cross body are safe, with sores on the straps to avoid most slash type actions and zippers have a lock mechanism, to help avoid slick hands of thieves. It pays to pay extra, to have the best chance of NOT losing personal items, especially wallets/cash/jewelry/passports! Never show signs of affluence during travel, esp in known high theft areas, to help avoid being a target. Dress down in public and hide jewelry.
I leave all jewelry at home including wedding rings. If it isn’t stolen going through airport security it will get you targeted at your destination.
Thanks for the comment and the tips. We will get some of these items for sure. Stay safe! Cheers Chris and Jim
I never wear jewellery when travelling for the same reason. Just one plain gold ring can set you up as a target
About 15 years ago my elderly parents in law were in Rome. They got out of their taxi at the train station and a man offered to "help" them to their train. He told them to get on their train and he would pass up their bags. When they got on board he said they needed to give him $50US (a lot at the time) or he would run away with their bags. They paid him. It was a real eye opener. Now that I'm older I don't travel with anything I can't carry myself and I refuse anyone, firmly, who tries to assist me. Sad but necessary.
So sorry to hear this. It's so sad that people pray on trusting and honest people. I now have my Mom doing this, carry-on, or what you can carry only. Thanks for your comment. Stay safe, Cheers Chris and Jim
Wow, what a tale of a woman listening to her intuition. Chris! Good for you! DO NOT EVER LET someone talk you out of what your intuition is telling you! Jim, you seem like a nice man but please, do not ever dismiss a woman's intuition. We are dismissed way too much and it makes us doubt ourselves and it makes us listen less to our intuition which is NOT good for us. Women particularly (because of the excessive amount of violence against women in this world) need to keep their trust in their intuition high, and they need to keep it fine-tuned and this harder for women to do when they are dismissed and when their intuition is dismissed.
Thank-you! I will be trusting it more than ever before. Thanks for your comment! Cheers Chris
When traveling, stay alert and watch your surroundings. When you see something just a little bit off, that’s when you notice them. Trust your instincts and don’t be afraid to “ hurt their feelings “. Try it! You will see everything clearly once you understand this. I did, and had a lot of fun in Paris! From the guy wearing a red baseball cap crossing the street in front of the Eiffel Tower, the lady wearing hot pants in the Metro ( then seeing her running for her life after the first train stop 😂), the old lady getting close to me when I was washing my hands and the restroom was empty, etc… You will notice them.
Yes, it's sad but a reality for sure. we had the coin one in Paris and other smaller ones , but this one could have been much worse. Just happy to be lucky and hope others stay safe. Thanks for watching, Cheers Chris and Jim
Yes i had an old lady up to no good on the underground train in Rome.
Also do NOT ever leave your cellphone on a table top, people will come by with clipboards asking you to sign a petition, lay their board over your cell and steal it. Don't have your cellphone in your hand while boarding or leaving public transit. Pickpocketers will grab it while the door is about to close. We've bought cellphone cases with the lanyards to wear crossbody while traveling on public transport in Europe. Mini carabiner style clips to use on backpacks and purses & Murses! 😂
It at least will slow them down. 😕
This is exactly what happened with the husband of my cousin in Berlin. He isn't a tourist there, he is German and a native Berliner, but got careless. Maybe he only expected these things to happen when he travels. He was sitting at one of the tables by the river, using his cellphone which was on the table next to him. The girl came to him with a petition, while he read it, his phone disappeared. He run after her, called a policeman, but she had nothing on her. He said they steal your phone and quickly give it to someone else. They put up a sign there for people to be aware of people with petitions.
Wow, crafty. Thanks for the tips! We really need to look into this. Thanks for sharing. Cheers Chris and Jim
Even being an experienced traveler, I am aware of Taxi scams and still fell for one. The rotten sod tried to charge me 150 euros to go just a few miles. I was so mad at myself for that. I was recently in Rome and thankfully didn't run into any scammers. This was a very helpful video
Thank you so much for sharing! We were hoping to open up the community conversation about this.. we felt embarrassed but wanted to share anyway to hopefully help some poor suckers like us. Glad you were safe the last time! Cheers 🥂 Chris and Jim
I use small carabiners on my day bags to clip the zippers closed. Easy for me to access but hard for thieves to unzip
Great idea! Thanks so much for sharing 🫶
When someone asks for help in a foreign place, direct them to the information desk. That is what they are there for.
Thanks for sharing this information!!!!
Thank you for watching, just hoping to make people aware of how easy we can make poor decisions when letting our guard down. Cheers 🍻 Chris and Jim
I have a cross body bag I bought on Amazon which has an additional layer of security. All the zippers for the various compartments can be hooked onto a ring at the end of the zipper. So, they have to unhook it to open the compartment. It won’t stop someone, but it’ll slow them down. They go for convenient, quick & easy thefts.
Thanks for sharing, that's a great idea! It's always good to be prepared when travelling. Thank-you for sharing! Cheers Chris and Jim
You “almost” fell for a scam at Roma Termini. For months, I’ve been watching videos of people on New York City subways suffering FAR worse than what you experienced. P.S. Brief interactions with strangers needing help make sense, but to ALLOW people to herd you around?
Yes thank-you! We were lucky.
Thank you for sharing. Very useful to be aware of this.
Glad it was helpful! Thank-you so much for watching! Cheers Chris and Jim
It happened to my husband and me at the Termini station as well. We were getting on our train with our suitcases and suddenly these three "very helpful ladies" start telling us that we need to get in to a different car than we were getting on and trying to hurry us along. They tried to physically separate my husband and me by putting themselves between us. Everything was rushed too - they kept trying to get us to hurry as though the train was going to leave and we needed to hurry to our seats. My husband moved ahead and one woman tried "helping" me with one of my bags but I held on to it. The two ladies tried to get me to walk between them as they held the train door open (the train door that connected the cars). I didn't want to be so close to them so I waited. As I walk up the train aisle, I see my husband reaching to put a bag up on the top rack, as the lady told him he needed to do, and I see the third woman trying to reach into his pocket. I immediately whacked her arm and yelled "Pickpocket!" ... in a split second, I turn around and they are gone! They vanished into thin air. I looked at my pickpocket proof bag (that I forgot to lock!) and the zipper was unzipped midway and my phone wallet was partially lifted up!! They did it when they were trying to get me to squeeze between them in the doorway. It really shook us up too! The whole train ride down to Civitavecchia we went over the situation and talked about how horrible that would have been if they actually got my phone wallet. I had my ID and credit cards in my phone wallet and we were just starting our trip. I am a firm believer in karma and those gypsies will get theirs. The funny thing is that I was prepared and knew all about "the gypsies" being pickpockets. I had asked my husband before we left on our trip, "How do I know what a gypsy looks like?" I know now and I will forever be leery and more aware. Thankfully it was a lesson learned without the huge cost that could have been!
I'm so glad they failed with you guys too. Safe travels!!
Wow, thanks so much for sharing. We are so glad you were safe in the end, but definitely hard to wrap you head around when you realize what was happening.
We think it's great to share these experiences, I know we felt embarrassed and weren't sure we should share for getting criticized but glad we did. You can be so prepared and before you know it you are in a crazy circumstance. Stay safe, and thanks so uch for watching, Cheers Chris and Jim
Very sound advice. We always ask officials if we are stuck and need to ask someone but that is usually rare. Backing up to a wall is a great way to re group too. Stops that 'being surrounded' situation 👍 Was in Italy last year and while at Rome's main train station I spotted a scout at the train station with no luggage scanning the crowd for a mark. We made eye contact and he left but reappeared soon after doing the same thing. While everyone was looking at the overhead timetables he was looking at people instead. He was obviously not alone either and I was aware of that but once they know you have noticed them they will focus on someone who is unaware. Stay safe and never accept help from strangers offering it when in a foreign country as they are the scammers.
Good advice, it's crazy how brazen they have become. Glad you were safe and aware! Thanks for your comment on your experience. Good to share. Cheers Chris and JIm
Maybe you could come up with a code word so if one of you is suspicious and the other hasn't noticed anything, it's your signal for "Hey, I think something's up. We need to evaluate what's going on here."
Good idea!
My husband and I are traveling to Italy soon. We've been many times and though we've never been pickpocketed, I've seen it happen to others. We decided that if one of us gets suspicious, to call the other by their given name, not their nickname, as a heads up.
Geez. I spent 3 weeks working in Rome for a company and spent much time in 3 weekends (as there was no weekend work) and had absolutely no issues. And I used both the metro and walked down lane ways at night. Never felt unsafe. Never felt followed. Never approached by scammers.
Yes I am sure, we have never had any problems all over the world. Sadly this time we did, but we were lucky. Just hoping to help prevent others from making poor choices like we did in this event. Thanks for watching, Cheers Chris and Jim. What a great opportunity to stay in Rome!
An adult moving around alone, especially if male and not particularly old is not an easy target, even if foreigner. A family is a target because when traveling with kids you need to carry more things and more vulnerable as you always have to keep at least an eye or an hand on your children.
I was traveling my train from Sorrento Italy to Naples bytrain, in front of me standing was an older gentleman later 60s holding onto the pole with his luggage in front of him we stopped and a young well dressed man by himself gets on the train and before the doors closed he walked around the older man and then steps off the train and the doors closed, the older man then checks his back pocket and says loudly I have just been picked pocket. It happened so fast that I didn’t even see it happen.
Awe, thats so sad. But it can happen so easy and fast. Stay safe, thanks for sharing, Cheers Chris and Jim
I would be curious to know if these "girls" were gypsies? I am shocked that an American male was taking part in the scam (Yes, he was definitely part of it all). Was he a true American or did he just speak good English? I was in Rome, in the early 90's, and a mother with 4 or 5 young kids tried to disorient us with a lot of distraction techniques. We were ready for this scam and it didn't succeed. The mother sneered at us when she knew she lost the battle. It was a stressful encounter, but we survived it. BTW, the mother and kids were gypsies and that is why I asked that question about your encounter. Glad all ended up well for you two.
Thank you for sharing your experience, glad you made it out safely. Yes I think they were gypsies. The man told us he was American but who knows if it was true. We just wanted to share and hopefully 🤞 help others out. We have been lucky and are not usually this naive but sometimes when we get rattled before we know it we are in a bad situation. Stay safe, cheers 🍻 Chris and Jim.
3 weeks ago we were at Rome train station to go to the port for our cruise. I bought the tickets online just didn’t know what track. As I opened my phone to see the tickets and look at the board a gentleman came up to us and said he could help us find the right track. He didn’t have the trentailia logo on his shirt so I immediately knew he didn’t work there. We told him we got this. 15 minutes later he came back to us and insisted on helping us. But we already found a ticket employee to help and we were just waiting. My husband got angry at him. He left. Now if I would have handed my phone to him to help us he would have ran off with my phone. Big scam.
Crazy, we are glad you are ok! Yes he probably would have, especially whe n people keep re-approaching. We have a had a few times where we keep seeing the same suspicious people, over and over. Stay Safe, Cheers Chris and Jim
Be safe. And be rude. Don’t talk to strangers. Trust no one
Sad but true at times. thanks for watching, cheers Chris and Jim
This is not a way to live a life- I’ve been to Rome 20 times and never had any issue… sure I’ve had the Gypsy kids ask for $$ etc but it sure helps to pay attention at all times .. but to never interact with other people is missing out on more than the 20€ in your pocket
So why would a total stranger be concerned about you missing a train that leaves so frequently? And then a pack of six? To the "Gentleman" who wanted to go to the Vatican (to pray obviously 😂) he can figure that out by himself or find another victim, because I got a train to catch.... And without the slightest doubt he was the initiator of this gang of pick pockets.
Very true. Sometimes you are in it before you realize. We have an easier time looking back at it, seems obvious but things can change very quickly. Just hoping to help others. ..maybe he should pray..lol.. Thanks for your comment. Stay safe!
I was robbed in Rome totally already 50 years ago. Seems that nothing had changed since then 😮
It's still a beautiful city, but there are always a few bad apples. Stay safe, Cheers Chris and Jim
Well done, Chris! Thanks for sharing.
Look, I'm Italian, so I come from an advantageous position.
Last year, I was on my own, enjoying a month of Italy's natural wonders.
At Termini, as I was getting my ticket from the kiosk for the Leonardo express to fly home, it happened to coincide with the end of the Roma soccer game. 2 men who appeared to be good Samaritans to the rescue wanted to help me with my purchase. The instant I began speaking in a Roman dialect, they were gone.
Once I returned in a position of peace, a tall Canadian gentleman said he was about to shove both potential thieves out of the way. He commended me on keeping my cool.
But yes, even if you are on your guard, accidents can happen to anyone.
Constant vigilance is paramount.
Thank you 🙏 for sharing and your kind comment. I am glad you were safe and left to enjoy your time. Yes being on your toes is always good. Thank you 🙏 so much for watching Cheers 🥂 Chris
I have a man purse "murse" for travel to Europe. It has a zipper latch that has to be unhooked before the zipper will open. Would make covertly unzipping a little more difficult. It also has a cut resistant strap.
Watch your cell phones in public as well. People will sneak up behind you on an e-bike, grab your phone and speed off. Consider a lanyard type of phone strap.
Good to know! Thank you so much for sharing. Cheers Chris and Jim, stay safe!
Sadly, Rome, Spain, and other countries/cities no longer hold romance for me because of the rampant pickpocketers, scammers, assaults.
Yes times are changing in popular places.. and good suggestions on new charming places to visit 🙏💕
great video guys and awesome advice. You guys have to be Canadian ?
Thank-you! and yes were are from a small town in BC. We have actually felt safe most of our travels, probably why we were caught off guard. Cheers Chris and Jim
You two better have good insurance because if you are willing to follow strangers then you and your items will soon be separated. I can't believe how both of you were smiling while literally they could have done anything to you.
I have been reading the Comments. We used to travel and it was fun. Talking to people was part of the fun. Now -- "We keep it simple ‘no talking to strangers’ no matter what!" "Be safe. And be rude. Don’t talk to strangers. Trust no one." "Here in Europe, we don't talk to random people on public transport."
What a sad world.
Yes meeting new people is what we love about travel, but we will be choosing when and where more carefully. Cheers thanks for your comment. Stay safe.
I am glad you are ok and things worked out for you.
From the start of your story, there were big red flags. Never follow anyone. My husband knows to stick with me (the one paying attention to everything and on full alert majority of the time) and I will literally yell at him and cause a scene to keep him with me or to catch on to what is going on around us. Yes, it is a sad reality, but you have to be leary of all strangers and you must be on high alert at all times.
Yes we were lucky 🍀 . Yes there were way too many red flags. Sometimes before you know it it’s happening. But we wanted to share this because of how easy it can be at times to let our guard down and make poor decisions. Yes also Jim needs to be on board.. he is working on it. lol… 😂 we now have a code word.. and I don’t think he will ever think I am over reacting anymore. Thank you for your input and watching! Cheers 🍻 Chris and Jim
My wife and I have been all over Europe and seen all the scams. We've learned that you have to cultivate a steely hardness when dealing with strangers on the street. If anyone, regardless of their perceived kindness, English skills, dress etc, approaches you... you should immediately be on high alert and NEVER engage. Robert Young Pelton, author of Dangerous Places, wisely says that no matter how hard you try, as a tourist, you are never blending in with the locals. So the scammers just see you as a dumb tourist painted in $100BILLS. You need to have your hardest look painted in your face and eyes, walk with determination and never ever stop and stand around looking confused or in need of direction, the scammers will hunt you like lions looking at the edge of a herd of gazelles, seeking easy weak prey. Never be afraid to tell someone to F**CK OFF in your loudest voice and stare em in the eye when you do it. We've done it many times, they'll get the hint and move on.
Good advice! I am currently in Madrid and practicing these things. Thanks for watching and stay safe 🙏Cheers Chris and Jim
I always use a Travelon cross body bag which has a slashproof strap, slash resistant material, little twist locks for all zippered compartments and RFI protection for the charge cards inside. In black, it would be fine for a guy. It is a recognisable bag which I think is also a deterrent, I never use it as a shoulder bag where it can be grabbed off the shoulder, always cross body!
Yes we have hear they are good ones to have. Good advice. Thanks for watching and sharing, Cheers Chris and Jim
Just be aware- bold thieves in some cities will grab your bag and drag you down the street. Small cross body inside your overblouse, on the “shop side” not “street side”. Those bigger Travleon bags are flashing lights…..
We traveled to Italy numerous times and never ran into pickpockets or scams because we always rented a car. Be aware of areas that are heavily populated including museums, shopping, and even car rental places😂 Italy, France, and Spain have pickpockets from Eastern European countries. They wear several large empty bags and they walk in groups. Lock your backpacks!
Thanks for the tips and watching! Cheers Chris and Jim
Thank you for sharing this info.ill pass this scam along. I think you were very fortunate not only to have avoided being robbed or worse!
Thank-you for watching! Yes this is what we are thinking as well. We were lucky, but we also made mistakes that put us there...lol... we really hope this helps at least one person. Cheers Chris and Jim
Great service announcement - thanks
I think taxi is always best for airport run when you have passports, laptops etc. as you are at your most vulnerable, otherwise when you are out and about in most tourist cities you will get pickpockets so be very aware but also trust your instincts, with two people you are safer as you can watch put for each other, you cannpt live your life thinking everyone is going to mug you
Yeah, the cost of the cab was €55 compared to €28 so that was behind our decision to take the train. We haven't had a problem before, but we know we let our guard down....we have felt completely safe throughout Italy and all of the other countries we have been too. 99% of the people have great intentions and that is the joy of travelling. Thanks so much for watching and commenting, we really appreciate it :)
Never allow your most sensitive bag with your passport etc to be placed in the trunk of a taxi. If you find yourself making this mistake never pay until that bag is removed from the trunk & in your hands. Often the bag will be held hostage until you pay an outrageous price. They’ll even take you to an ATM. Don’t do it! Keep that bag with you!
I live and work in Rome for 20 years now and I have also been a victim of pickpockets in my early years of stay here. Fortunately, they only got a few change. I try to avoid Termini station at all costs. My first advice to relatives and friends visiting is be very wary of pickpockets in every place where tourists are, especially when in the Metro (subways) and on the bus. It would be to "watch each other" and not to be distracted from the chaos of getting on and off the trains and buses. Pickpockets can also be in the waiting queue with the tourists. Despite these warnings, they have become victims and almost victims of pickpockets. I agree that, when in doubt, always ask the authorities who are around, and in their absence, rely on your Google maps direction.
Thank-you for your comment and tips. Sorry to hear you have been a victim, but good advice. We will definitely be more careful in the future. Stay safe and thanks for watching.
Having read so many stories of scams at termini we got airport bus into city.Its quite reasonable and frequent.
Thanks, we will look at this on our way back through Rome. Good to know. Cheers Chris and Jim
We have purchased "Pak safe" cross bags for our trip which has 2 additional locking systems, enabling you to add a padlock. We were sardined in a train in peak hour in Rome. Fortunately no pickpockets.
Yes this sounds like a good idea. Glad you stayed safe. and thanks for your comment. Cheers Chris and Jim
Sorry this happened but strong advice about stepping back, creating space and not allowing yourself to be controlled or railroaded. Thx
Thank-you for watching and commenting. Cheers Chris and Jim... stay safe
I follow the rule that if you need to approach a stranger to ask a question, they are nice and will try to help you, or at least won't hurt you. However, if someone approaches YOU, be suspicious. And now add to that, even if they are an American. And if they get agitated when you hesitate or reject their advances, your suspicions will be confirmed.
Thanks for the advice! We will be sure to practice this. Cheers Chris and Jim
I was pickpocketed in Florence. Rookie mistake. I had both my hands occupied, eating fries, and not paying attention. Two guys intentionally bumped into me, joked that they almost tripped me by grabbing both my arms, while the other guy took my wallet from my front pocket. This all happened on a busy sidewalk in rush hour. Luckily, the financial police recovered my wallet a week later.
Sorry to hear that this happened to you, but happy you were able to recover you wallet. Thank-you for your comment, stay safe!