I work in a pub in central London. PLEASE keep your bags where you can see them and where it will be harder for them to be stolen, like under your table. And don’t leave your valuables like wallets, phones and laptops unattended on your table. Thefts in pubs and bars are becoming a lot more common. Just be vigilant.
I had my bag stolen from right next to me in a London pub. I was literally touching it and still didn’t notice it was gone because the place was so crowded. I’ve only had anything stolen in London and Rome but it’s best to keep your hand on your bag in any crowded place.
My second time to London I was with my mom (in her 50's) in an underground station. Young guy had a ten pound note and asked her if she dropped it. She had on her crossbody zipped up bag and we both knew she didn't. He was really insistent it was hers and wanted her to check her wallet to make sure! He got a disapproving look from me and a "its yours now mate....." and off we walked! Look out for your parents!
Do not shop in American Candy stores, they’re used for money laundering. If you want candy (we call them sweets) go to a reputable store such as any U.K. supermarkets or small specialty shops. Such as Tesco, WH Smith’s, Sainsbury’s, Co-op etc.
Oh you mean an American candy store in London? Interesting. I never knew such a thing existed. One time I went into a British convenience store in Katy, Texas (near Houston). I bought some orange flavored chocolates that were pretty good.
Last July we caught a guy trying to open my wifes backpack she was wearing as we were walking through a tube station. Wonderful city but be aware is right. Thanks Mark.
Don’t go in any of the American candy store type shops. These are usually fronts for money laundering / organised crime. Why would you buy American candy in London anyway?
The good thing about London is you don't have these annoying people selling keychains or souvenirs at every attraction, like in other european cities. There is usually a small shop or giftshop just outside if you need them.
Even though I know it's cheap, I am guilty of buying magnets. But that's just because I collect them. I even get free ones that you get from the local pizza restaurants with the phone number on them.
This is very true. So many cities on continental Europe are bedeviled by people selling crap in all the sightseeing spots and approaching you. I don't know why it doesn't happen in London, but I'm glad about it.
@@FastGuy1 Yeah, the only place I can think of remotely like that is Trafalgar Square, and that's just people busking or pretending to be statues, they don't bother you. I don't know why, but I'm grateful for it.
Main tourists spots are based in Westminster City borough which has own act regulating street trading and that is why you don’t have people selling stuff on every corner
One of the first rules i learned - if you dont wanna be scammed when it comes to food, always avoid the food offered right next to main attractions as they are almost always overpriced and not actually that good. For fish and chips find a pub or a decent "chippy" instead.
Always keep your bag zipped up and over your shoulder, or on your lap when sitting down. Never put your bag on the floor, thieves will kick it away, then take it. Never put your phone on the table, as its easy to take. Gangs come to uk especially to do shop lifting or steal, then return to their country a few days later. If you leave something on buses or trains, ask for telephone number of depot or station, you will be surprised at how many honest people will hand lost property in.
It's not a scam as such but alot of people don't realise that there is ALOT of London museums which are free entry (or would ask for a voluntary donation) and I've heard of a couple of people be scammed into paying for fake tickets into the British museum or science museum for example. So just a warning. Alot are free to enter but not all are free.
On our first night in London in 2019 we were at an outside seating for a restaurant when a homeless man came up to us. He started off being polite. "Excuse me. Sorry to bother you" etc. When I told him we were tourists and didn't have any cash on us, he suddenly flipped and started to be angry and swearing at us because we wouldn't give him money. Thankfully that only lasted about 10 seconds before he wandered off.
That sucks! I'm from LA so I'm used to this type of behavior (and not just from the homeless...), but I could definitely see it being a shock to be approached that way.
An elderly friend had her bag, containing her money ($3,000) and camera stolen from her luggage cart as she stood in line at a counter at Heathrow. She was later shown the cctv footage of the thief using the hook part of a cane to reach over and snag the handle of her bag and pull it off the cart. I met another senior that had just visited an ATM and had $400 in her purse and pickpockets robbed her. ALWAYS keep your money and passport on you, in a money belt UNDER your clothing. I've literally seen people wear money belts OVER their clothing!
Stealing from old folk makes me really mad. My Grandma always wanted to go back to Scotland and see her family and she did. Thinking of something like that happening to her makes my blood boil.
Tuk-Tuks yeah. I’ve lived in London all my life. Never felt the need to use one. Plus they charge ridiculous prices. Buckingham Palace to Victoria Station: I’ve seen £20/30 quoted for this on their price lists. This is a 10 minute walk at most. They are at least due to be regulated by TFL soon though.
Yes it is a fake Gucci, because it is made in China. not like the real ones that are made in China...the real ones cost more, that is how you know the difference
Good advice! I never put my phone down anywhere. Once I've used it, I always put it straight back in my jacket pocket and zip it up. I was on the train leaving London the other week and a man got on and spoke out loud to the passengers claiming to be an army veteran and that he was homeless. He even gave his army number and regiment. I found myself wondering how he afforded to buy the train ticket in the first place because fares are not cheap on London transport! Two people gave him money. Its a good idea to ignore the cup scammers on Westminster and other bridges too. They work in groups using lookouts to see if the cops are coming!
They don't buy train tickets. I see people every day just push the barriers open, even in front of staff and sometimes police - nobody ever does anything to stop them.
Bit of a clarification. There are homeless people in London and the rest of the UK but if they're in places with a lot of tourists they're more likely to be scammers. The tell is that they'll ask you to pull out cash for them from an ATM if you don't give them enough or you don't have change on you. In some places they'll say they need money for the shelter but you need to be aware that some shelters in the UK are free so it's worth checking if you're in a smaller city before you go if you're worried about that.
When I got off the train at Termini Station in Rome, there were people there to welcome tourists in various languages. Mine said, "Welcome to the city of thieves. Be watchful of everyone all the time." ha ha ha. What a welcome!!!!
@@myleshagar9722 HA, HA, (weep, weep) . I'm screwed. Too celebrate 50 years of marriage we plan on visiting Europe for the first time. London, Paris, Venice, Rome and Barcelona. I should wear a coat of armor.
Awesome travel tips! Thankfully all went well during my England trip (incl. London) in October. When I needed to use an ATM, I remembered you mentioning in a previous video not to accept the bank conversion. SO happy I thought of your comment, thank you! 😁 Happy New Year to you and your family! 🎉
I was literally just in London a few weeks ago. Didn’t have any problems at all. But I was still constantly monitoring my surroundings wherever I went because you just never know. Great informative video as always Mark! Happy New Year!
Carefull on the street with your phones, scooter and mopeds with 2 riders have been known to yank your phone out of your hand, usually by the rear passanger.
The conversion! We were even asked at a shop if that's what we wanted to do. Fortunately we knew to decline thanks to guidebooks and travel videos like yours, but it's not one I ever would have thought of on my own.
Pickpockets are very active in London. It was our first day and we were not careful. Our wallet was stolen from the backpack and it contained our passports. What a terrible hassle that created to us. 🙁
With the ATM machine scam. An easy way to double check, is to run your hand around the screen, the lip and the keypad, with at least some pressure, not enough to damage a legitimate ATM, but enough to feel if anything has been tampered with. The lip and above the keypad are the most obvious places, but an extra 10 seconds might just save you more than being short a quid.
Good advice for travellers to any major city in the world really! But to anyone who might think London sounds particularly bad for it - I live in the UK and visit London several times a year, I've never once seen any of these scams. They do happen, but the chances it will happen to you are extremely low, enjoy your visit!
" Just walk away " is generally the best advice to avoid any type of scam. It can be a lot harder than it seems though, because many of these people are very good at grabbing your attention, to a point where they force you to get kinda rude in order to end the converstation. But dont let that hold you back and dont let them guild trip you in to doing something you dont actually want to do.
When I was reviewing some footage I shot while my wife and I were in London a few months ago, I noticed her in the corner of the frame in one of the clips. A guy walking along behind her casually reached out and stuck his hand in the outer pocket of her backpack. She had nothing in it precisely because of that possibility, but the thing that got me was that neither of us noticed it when it happened. And he actually paused a couple ticks to dig around a bit before going on his way.
yeah, you sould watch some of the "attenzione pickpockets" videos on instagram or tiktok, they show how they work. You never even know or notice. it is crazy how good they are.
Particularly bad on tube trains. My son had his tablet stolen from his backpack on a tube and never felt a thing. By the way, I live in London and my son, 28 years old at the time, grew up in London. So keep your bag in front of you!
I do not know if this constitutes as a scam, but our first couple days every time we would ask for water they would be bring a giant fancy bottle of water to the table. I finally asked the hotel is the water not safe to drink if not why they are bringing all these bottles. Of course water is fine to drink, they were just trying to make money off tourist. You have to say tap water if you do not want to pay a million dollars for water.
I think that's unusual. I work in a pub and if someone asks for water we default to tap. If you want mineral water then you need to specify - the UK doesn't have a massive mineral water culture
All great advice for travellers. I just spent a month in England, mostly in London. I did purchase an RFID protected wallet, and RFID protected cross body bag....I could wear the cross body bag on my back if I was in a sparsely populated area, but when I went to busy spots, I wore it across my front. I bought the cross-body bag that had NO side access zippers for further precaution. Only access was zipper across the top, which for people wanting to get in my bag, the top access would be more awkward and harder for them to get into. Other than losing one of my credit cards on day two, (my own Oops) my trip was amazing and I didn't come across anyone trying to scam me. Thankfully nothing was charged to the lost credit card and I got the card shut down almost immediately. And thankfully, I had backup credit cards so my trip wasn't ruined!!
You can win at the "three card trick" and similar games nowadays. Give them £20 and you may very well get £40 back. Except the money you gave them was real and the stuff you won might dissolve in the rain.
Thanks Walter. Love ur chanel. Lived in London for 18yrs. Fantastic city. Same con artists as the rest of the world. Keep ur whits about you fellow tourists ❤
At 4:45 a picture of an 'American Candy Store' popped up! NEVER USE those establishments! If their products have been imported, it is highly likely that they have been imported illegally and most American candy is illegal in the UK and Europe because of what it contains. It is also frequently the case that the shops are operating illegally.
Expect petitions/donation collecting immediately after leaving the busier tube stations especially in central. Don’t say anything to them, they will be rude (I’ve been verbally abused by them) if you say no or come up with an excuse and will be overly persistent. Just ignore them and keep walking.
Ignore yeah- or just walk with purpose saying “nope”. Don’t stop around these people of they will be on you like vultures. I had it in germany but i looked in confusion at the guy (i was trying to translate in my head what he said too and he just left as i was staring looking confused at him 🤣)
Guys, he’s right!!! I was eye witness to one of this incident. Motorcyclist snatched the phone out of one of the pedestrians, waiting to cross the road. Was so quick nobody could do anything.
A good rule of thumb for me, and this goes for any city... If someone approaches you, it isn't in your interests. Ever. Be as rude as you like getting away from them. I do not go back to places where this happens.
Really good info. Also applies to other countries in Europe, especially inside St. Peters in Vatican and lagoon area in Venice. Both places are super crowded.
Whenever I travel with anyone I always double down on them that they should never accept the conversion on card machines. When I was in Portugal a few months ago I showed my sister and mum the amount on the screen that would be converted 'get the conversion now! Don't miss out!' then didn't accept, and showed them on my banking app that it was £5 less on a 50euro conversion than what it would have been if I accepted. 10% is a big difference!
The part about the "beggars" being part of a group, that even happens in the US. In my local city I see them getting pick up and dropped off in Masdies at cretin corners in my city, as if they have shifts.
Carefull on the street with your phones, scooters and mopeds with 2 riders have been known to yank your phone out of your hand, usually by the rear passanger.
When using atm's. If possible always use the ones inside the bank, they're far less likely to be tampered with and your less likely to have someone looking over your shoulder.
I live in London. This is all good advice and most of it applies to residents too. If you're paying with your phone, just set it up so that it doesn't work on the lock screen. No need to turn off the signal. As for the fake wifi, that is extremely good advice: I once turned on my phone's 'hotspot' with a name very similar to the name of the pub I was in just to see how many people tried to connect. The result was about one person every three or four minutes. Extra tip: if you use a backpack in crowded areas then wear it as a front-pack.
A tip for WIFI; just go to any phone shop and buy a sim card. They are relatively cheap, and while your friends back home can't phone you, you will have mobile data at a cheap price.
On ATMs, never use ones in a particulary touristy place. As mentioned skimmers are a problem, it's also common for people to hover by them and just run off with your cash when it appears. Also you'll generally get worse rates. Always try using ones from a bank that are physically inside the building.
to prevent being victim of card skimming I tend to keep my funds in a secondary account then transfer funds over to my card account when needed. And with backpack on the ground I also put a foot though one of the straps
Did a semester abroad in London and didn't have any issues with some common sense and situational awareness. Definitely helps to have local friends or experienced travelers to tell you which areas to avoid at certain times (hello rush hour!).
I used to live in London, worked in Soho so I was around the centre almost every day. The best thing for tourists to do is simply NOT to look and behave like tourists 😂 Walking the streets, looking around wide-eyed and open-mouthed, taking pictures of basically everything, while wearing hiking boots, windbreaker and a backpack - thieves will run to you like flies to honey. Try to be just a bit less obvious, it really helps if people think you're just one of the Londoners on the way from work etc. And, of course, follow the video advice just to be safe 😊
Probably just skip Picadilly Circus, Leicester Square? There is actually nothing to do there.. save yourself from the crowds lol. Covent Garden is nice but for me it's the small neighborhoods on the outskirts and the parks such as Hampstead Heath, Regents Park and Primrose Hill, Greenwich Park that are worth it. Highly recommend Richmond which is just a 15 min ride from Waterloo! Quaint gem of a town but inside London. For using the tube/buses, I'd say check if you can get a foreign contactless card to tap on that doesn't charge fees. This topping up your Oyster Card thing takes time and can get annoying if there are lines and you're in a rush to catch that train! Also, I paid 7 pounds for a new card, which is as of 2022, non-refundable. You can of course get any credit under 10 pounds refunded when returning the card, but not the 7 pounds. So just use contactless. Never come across the stealing credit scam in 1.5 years but yes, be safe. Also scams... Heathrow/Gatwick Express. I know it's a pain but just get the tube to/from LHR. The Elizabeth line is quicker than the Piccadilly line, and more expensive but not as much as the Heathrow Express. For Gatwick, just take the regular trains from Victoria/London Bridge station. Again, doesn't take too much longer than the Gatwick Express. I shouldn't be crapping on the Heathrow Express given the discounts we get as BA staff (making it as cheap as the tube :D) lol. Tip.. If changing tube lines at Green Park or any of the busier stations in the area, just follow signs to the exit upstairs after leaving the first train and then enter the new line you are changing to from there. Its quicker this way. :) Following the path inside the station to change lines is super long and crowded sometimes.
What are you talking about? Since when is being so stupid to leave your wallet or phone around ever been a scam of any sort? Its theft, check a dictionary for the definition of scam or theft 🙄
I live in London and never really experienced these things. but I think it is partly an attitude. If you walk fast and look like you know where you are going they wont speak to you. If you are a tourist and want to work out where you are going, plan before you leave the direction. if you need to check directions. stand to the side of the pavement and look like you are checking your social media or something. THe more you look lost or unsure the bigger target you will be. ALso dont use the tuk tuks they are not regulated, but also avoid the American Candy Stores. A number of them have been shut down as involved in money laundering (during COVID they changed from souveniers to candy because candy counts as food so could be kept open). I am sure there are legitimate ones but some can be very dodgy (and expensive)
In Paris there was the ball and 3 cup game at Sacre Coeur and the Eiffel Tower. At the E.T. there was either a ( to me ) shill couple or a couple being set up for a bigger score.
Yes, those scammers are everywhere. I encountered them in Budapest. They work in groups and when they see someone coming, one of them pretends to win some money in the hope that the unsuspecting person will join in.
I hope people watching this realise that hardy any of the pickpockets are British, it is very rare for one of us to do that. Hope everyone enjoys visiting, by big city standards London is pretty safe.
@JR-gp2zk i challenge you to find a single case of this crime, ask UK Finance. Show me a single court case where someone has been prosecuted for doing so.
It happened to me at a fair outside of Nashville, Tennessee several years ago. A guy was standing entirely too close to my right rear pocket as I watched my kids on a roller coaster. When I turned to confront him, he ran. Next day, he attempted to use my card info to buy $280 worth of supplies at Office Depot. Mind you I still had my card in my possession and Chase caught the attempted transaction.
RFID skimming doesn't happen. Wgen i try to tap and go on the tube, half the time i have to bounce the card multiple times to get it to work. The idea some criminal is wandering through a crowd with a reader debiting people's cards is just nonsense
I have given donations to church appeals in Kenya and even to harambee events. It is part of being a good citizen. In the UK, chuggers (charity collectors) working for a proper charity have to carry identification. They are the ones asking you to sign up for a £5/month direct debit, so they don't want money from tourists.
I've been to London a million times and never had any issues at all. It's just common sense. NEVER use a tuk tuk rickshaw as they are unregulated cons. Never use an unregulated taxi / minicab. I have my wallet in my pocket and keep my hand in the pocket in crowded places. I actually feel incredible safe in London. The only issue I have is fake beggars on major bridges which the police should of banished years ago
Agree, I’ve been to London twice before moving here and living in the city centre in a very touristy part for the last 4 years. Always be conscious, like any other big city but it is extremely safe even from small petty crimes like these mentioned (though I don’t doubt they do occur from time to time - just be cognizant!)
Used to love the fake electronic stores here 20 to 30 years ago where they whip up a frenzy and then lock the doors and get people to part with a couple of hundred for a black bag full of shite.
I was scammed at the airport who is overly helpful. He saw me trying to find the train station in the airport and offered to help me, showed me the way and tried to sell me ticket which is $20. It’s kind of sad and I felt sorry for him
I had been in London less than 3 hours before a (seemingly drunk...not sure if he really was or not) gentleman that was "friendly aggressive" panhandling came up trying to insist on shaking my hand, put his arm around me, and asked for money. Fortunately I keep my valuables in a sling bag across my chest under a hoodie and a puffy jacket, so he would have had to have been REALLY good to get at it. A firm but friendly "sorry, mate...haven't got a quid to my name", and a quick crossing of the Strand and I was out of there.
Talking about leaving phone/bag on table in restaurant…there is one known trick pickpockets do, especially if you are in an outdoor seated area just outside the pub/restaurant… A known pickpocket tactic is that they may pretend to be a tourist, walking around with a map of the local area…when they come over to you, asking for directions, and they use the map to cover over the area where your phone etc is, and then steal it…be very wary if any supposed “tourist” approaches you, asking for directions, holding out a local map…
I use a Metal wire for my backpack with a padlock . I have a wire attached to Me on my backpack and I eat with my backpack on my lap . My phone is in my jacket .
Well done you are probably unique, teenagers are so busy enjoying themselves they wouldn't even feel anyone getting into their backpacks, I have walked behind people with undone backpacks and tell them so,even if it's all ok it does make them aware😊
Confusing to me was restaurant service charges - some added it automatically, some didn't ask. Back in 2010 nobody asked, and we gave maybe a pound or two per table.
If you're going on holiday, buy a cheap phone and watch, and leave the expensive one at home. Make a note of where you hid watches or jewellery at home while you're on holiday, It's easy to forget, or better still ask your bank if they keep valuables.
Realistically as a Londoner the big one is pickpcokets, lookout for them mostly around the big sites (buckingham palace etc.) and busy commercial streets like Oxford St, and on the tube
It can happen to anyone. I was living in London in 1999. Drunk and foolish I got cash out of the atm and talked about it with my friend and then I got pickpocketed a few minutes later.
@@markylon I guess you're not familiar with how easy it is to intercept the traffic between your device and the rogue wireless router/access point with common tools to get your passwords to the websites etc?
A scam happened to me in Tiarana Airport, Albania. I ordered coffee in a cafeteria at the airport which was 1080 ALL ( 1ALL = 0,0097 Euro). but the shop keeper changed to 1080 Euro while paying through my bank card to the POS machine. I saw the amount 1080 but did not check the currency on the POS device. Normally they do charge in local currency. After coming back to home country I found I paid 1080 Euro for 1080 ALL ≈ 10.60 euro product.
I found the London police to be very helpful if I had a question. RFID wallets are a very good idea. I have a small one that holds about four cards and it is easy to use. By using this smaller card holder, I can keep it separate from my wallet. As to using public wifi, it is essential to have a VPN connection to encrypt all data sent to and from your phone.
When I went to Northern Ireland this summer, people often offered to take pictures of our family and after watching this video, I’m going to think twice about doing that again.
I just tell my friends to be carefull, when coming over here to London, but they still "don't believe me " that London is like thaat, like any other "scam city" !!
Pickpocketing is not a scam, it's a crime.
Most of these are crimes. What a world we live in now.
I work in a pub in central London. PLEASE keep your bags where you can see them and where it will be harder for them to be stolen, like under your table. And don’t leave your valuables like wallets, phones and laptops unattended on your table. Thefts in pubs and bars are becoming a lot more common. Just be vigilant.
To be fair mate that should be the case everywhere
@@jamiejosh96Everywhere...but some places more than others.
@@carollewis3912 pretty much universal it’s not a good idea to leave valuables where someone can swipe them
I for one tend to loop a bag strap around one of my feet
I had my bag stolen from right next to me in a London pub. I was literally touching it and still didn’t notice it was gone because the place was so crowded. I’ve only had anything stolen in London and Rome but it’s best to keep your hand on your bag in any crowded place.
My second time to London I was with my mom (in her 50's) in an underground station. Young guy had a ten pound note and asked her if she dropped it. She had on her crossbody zipped up bag and we both knew she didn't. He was really insistent it was hers and wanted her to check her wallet to make sure! He got a disapproving look from me and a "its yours now mate....." and off we walked! Look out for your parents!
Maybe he genuinely thought it could’ve been yours 😂
Do not shop in American Candy stores, they’re used for money laundering. If you want candy (we call them sweets) go to a reputable store such as any U.K. supermarkets or small specialty shops. Such as Tesco, WH Smith’s, Sainsbury’s, Co-op etc.
It's interesting how Oxford street has so many of them.
Oh you mean an American candy store in London? Interesting. I never knew such a thing existed. One time I went into a British convenience store in Katy, Texas (near Houston). I bought some orange flavored chocolates that were pretty good.
@@penelopepitstop762 Oxford st is the main shopping street in central London, there's an American candy store on every block.
That seems to have cropped up over the last few years
Never go to Oxford street these days. It’s sleazy now and big stores gone
Last July we caught a guy trying to open my wifes backpack she was wearing as we were walking through a tube station. Wonderful city but be aware is right. Thanks Mark.
Don’t go in any of the American candy store type shops.
These are usually fronts for money laundering / organised crime. Why would you buy American candy in London anyway?
at 10x the price back home
Huh. I am English and I haven't heard this before. I like US candy or crisps as well. I will look in to this.
The good thing about London is you don't have these annoying people selling keychains or souvenirs at every attraction, like in other european cities. There is usually a small shop or giftshop just outside if you need them.
Even though I know it's cheap, I am guilty of buying magnets. But that's just because I collect them. I even get free ones that you get from the local pizza restaurants with the phone number on them.
This is very true. So many cities on continental Europe are bedeviled by people selling crap in all the sightseeing spots and approaching you. I don't know why it doesn't happen in London, but I'm glad about it.
@@raindancer80I’m currently in London. And I must say this is the only place I’ve seen without annoying vendors.
@@FastGuy1 Yeah, the only place I can think of remotely like that is Trafalgar Square, and that's just people busking or pretending to be statues, they don't bother you. I don't know why, but I'm grateful for it.
Main tourists spots are based in Westminster City borough which has own act regulating street trading and that is why you don’t have people selling stuff on every corner
One of the first rules i learned - if you dont wanna be scammed when it comes to food, always avoid the food offered right next to main attractions as they are almost always overpriced and not actually that good. For fish and chips find a pub or a decent "chippy" instead.
Also decline the "tourist menu".
Always keep your bag zipped up and over your shoulder, or on your lap when sitting down. Never put your bag on the floor, thieves will kick it away, then take it.
Never put your phone on the table, as its easy to take.
Gangs come to uk especially to do shop lifting or steal, then return to their country a few days later.
If you leave something on buses or trains, ask for telephone number of depot or station, you will be surprised at how many honest people will hand lost property in.
It's not a scam as such but alot of people don't realise that there is ALOT of London museums which are free entry (or would ask for a voluntary donation) and I've heard of a couple of people be scammed into paying for fake tickets into the British museum or science museum for example. So just a warning. Alot are free to enter but not all are free.
Don’t go to the British museum
@@OscarOSullivan What if you want to see all the stuff that was stolen from back home, it's free entry after all.
And the Tower of London, the Beefeaters give a free tour. Don't have to pay for a tour guide at all.
@@OscarOSullivan Do go, it is one of the best museums in the world!
@@OscarOSullivan why not ? That was on my bucket list. I will book free ticket online.
On our first night in London in 2019 we were at an outside seating for a restaurant when a homeless man came up to us. He started off being polite. "Excuse me. Sorry to bother you" etc.
When I told him we were tourists and didn't have any cash on us, he suddenly flipped and started to be angry and swearing at us because we wouldn't give him money. Thankfully that only lasted about 10 seconds before he wandered off.
I’m currently traveling around London and so far nothing has disturbed our trip.
That sucks! I'm from LA so I'm used to this type of behavior (and not just from the homeless...), but I could definitely see it being a shock to be approached that way.
You don't live in a large city I assume. That is a daily occurrence.
@@a.jlondon9039 I don't. I live in an area that borders a medium sized city.
An elderly friend had her bag, containing her money ($3,000) and camera stolen from her luggage cart as she stood in line at a counter at Heathrow. She was later shown the cctv footage of the thief using the hook part of a cane to reach over and snag the handle of her bag and pull it off the cart. I met another senior that had just visited an ATM and had $400 in her purse and pickpockets robbed her. ALWAYS keep your money and passport on you, in a money belt UNDER your clothing. I've literally seen people wear money belts OVER their clothing!
Stealing from old folk makes me really mad. My Grandma always wanted to go back to Scotland and see her family and she did. Thinking of something like that happening to her makes my blood boil.
Yes and another tip that kind of goes with your post is to try not to have too much luggage to keep tabs on.
Pickpockets are thieves not robbers
Tuk-Tuks yeah. I’ve lived in London all my life. Never felt the need to use one. Plus they charge ridiculous prices. Buckingham Palace to Victoria Station: I’ve seen £20/30 quoted for this on their price lists. This is a 10 minute walk at most. They are at least due to be regulated by TFL soon though.
Yes it is a fake Gucci, because it is made in China. not like the real ones that are made in China...the real ones cost more, that is how you know the difference
Good advice! I never put my phone down anywhere. Once I've used it, I always put it straight back in my jacket pocket and zip it up. I was on the train leaving London the other week and a man got on and spoke out loud to the passengers claiming to be an army veteran and that he was homeless. He even gave his army number and regiment. I found myself wondering how he afforded to buy the train ticket in the first place because fares are not cheap on London transport! Two people gave him money. Its a good idea to ignore the cup scammers on Westminster and other bridges too. They work in groups using lookouts to see if the cops are coming!
They don't buy train tickets. I see people every day just push the barriers open, even in front of staff and sometimes police - nobody ever does anything to stop them.
Bit of a clarification. There are homeless people in London and the rest of the UK but if they're in places with a lot of tourists they're more likely to be scammers. The tell is that they'll ask you to pull out cash for them from an ATM if you don't give them enough or you don't have change on you. In some places they'll say they need money for the shelter but you need to be aware that some shelters in the UK are free so it's worth checking if you're in a smaller city before you go if you're worried about that.
I have never had any issues when in London. But thanks to you, I am always very aware of my surroundings.
When I got off the train at Termini Station in Rome, there were people there to welcome tourists in various languages. Mine said, "Welcome to the city of thieves. Be watchful of everyone all the time." ha ha ha. What a welcome!!!!
@@myleshagar9722 LOL indeed
@@myleshagar9722 HA, HA, (weep, weep) . I'm screwed. Too celebrate 50 years of marriage we plan on visiting Europe for the first time. London, Paris, Venice, Rome and Barcelona. I should wear a coat of armor.
Awesome travel tips! Thankfully all went well during my England trip (incl. London) in October. When I needed to use an ATM, I remembered you mentioning in a previous video not to accept the bank conversion. SO happy I thought of your comment, thank you! 😁 Happy New Year to you and your family! 🎉
I was literally just in London a few weeks ago. Didn’t have any problems at all. But I was still constantly monitoring my surroundings wherever I went because you just never know. Great informative video as always Mark! Happy New Year!
Yeah- id say good to be cautious everywhere
I lived in London for years; it's the only place I've ever been pickpocketed. A lapse of paying attention, and my phone was gone.
@@SpatchG Yep, that happens sometimes. Sorry it did
Carefull on the street with your phones, scooter and mopeds with 2 riders have been known to yank your phone out of your hand, usually by the rear passanger.
@@SpatchG wow, sorry
The conversion! We were even asked at a shop if that's what we wanted to do. Fortunately we knew to decline thanks to guidebooks and travel videos like yours, but it's not one I ever would have thought of on my own.
Lived in San Francisco for a few years. Same rules there.
Pickpockets are very active in London. It was our first day and we were not careful. Our wallet was stolen from the backpack and it contained our passports. What a terrible hassle that created to us. 🙁
With the ATM machine scam. An easy way to double check, is to run your hand around the screen, the lip and the keypad, with at least some pressure, not enough to damage a legitimate ATM, but enough to feel if anything has been tampered with.
The lip and above the keypad are the most obvious places, but an extra 10 seconds might just save you more than being short a quid.
Good advice for travellers to any major city in the world really!
But to anyone who might think London sounds particularly bad for it - I live in the UK and visit London several times a year, I've never once seen any of these scams. They do happen, but the chances it will happen to you are extremely low, enjoy your visit!
" Just walk away " is generally the best advice to avoid any type of scam. It can be a lot harder than it seems though, because many of these people are very good at grabbing your attention, to a point where they force you to get kinda rude in order to end the converstation. But dont let that hold you back and dont let them guild trip you in to doing something you dont actually want to do.
I frown or scowl and keep walking while ignoring them. Sooner or later, they stop as they've wandered too far from their scam confederates.
9/10 times I've found if you don't even acknowledge them, they will move on to the next target. Don't say hi, don't look at them, don't say a word.
@@FFGuy-eu7hr Don't let them in, don't let them see, just let it go, let it go!
I don't speak whatever language they are speaking.
When I was reviewing some footage I shot while my wife and I were in London a few months ago, I noticed her in the corner of the frame in one of the clips. A guy walking along behind her casually reached out and stuck his hand in the outer pocket of her backpack. She had nothing in it precisely because of that possibility, but the thing that got me was that neither of us noticed it when it happened. And he actually paused a couple ticks to dig around a bit before going on his way.
Woooow!
yeah, you sould watch some of the "attenzione pickpockets" videos on instagram or tiktok, they show how they work. You never even know or notice. it is crazy how good they are.
Particularly bad on tube trains. My son had his tablet stolen from his backpack on a tube and never felt a thing. By the way, I live in London and my son, 28 years old at the time, grew up in London. So keep your bag in front of you!
I do not know if this constitutes as a scam, but our first couple days every time we would ask for water they would be bring a giant fancy bottle of water to the table. I finally asked the hotel is the water not safe to drink if not why they are bringing all these bottles. Of course water is fine to drink, they were just trying to make money off tourist. You have to say tap water if you do not want to pay a million dollars for water.
I think that's unusual. I work in a pub and if someone asks for water we default to tap. If you want mineral water then you need to specify - the UK doesn't have a massive mineral water culture
@@LeeskiLeoGood on you. Most of Europe does
@@FastGuy1 In a lot of Europe, Barcelona for one, the tap water is undrinkable. If you want drinking water you have to buy it.
All great advice for travellers. I just spent a month in England, mostly in London. I did purchase an RFID protected wallet, and RFID protected cross body bag....I could wear the cross body bag on my back if I was in a sparsely populated area, but when I went to busy spots, I wore it across my front. I bought the cross-body bag that had NO side access zippers for further precaution. Only access was zipper across the top, which for people wanting to get in my bag, the top access would be more awkward and harder for them to get into. Other than losing one of my credit cards on day two, (my own Oops) my trip was amazing and I didn't come across anyone trying to scam me. Thankfully nothing was charged to the lost credit card and I got the card shut down almost immediately. And thankfully, I had backup credit cards so my trip wasn't ruined!!
always remember "If it's too good to be true it usually is" and always be suspitious of people being too friendly
You can win at the "three card trick" and similar games nowadays. Give them £20 and you may very well get £40 back. Except the money you gave them was real and the stuff you won might dissolve in the rain.
you are not wrong David :)
Thanks Walter. Love ur chanel. Lived in London for 18yrs. Fantastic city. Same con artists as the rest of the world. Keep ur whits about you fellow tourists ❤
A French. It is fantastic place, London is probably the top 2 most visited city in the World
Fun Fact: his first name is actually Mark.
At 4:45 a picture of an 'American Candy Store' popped up! NEVER USE those establishments! If their products have been imported, it is highly likely that they have been imported illegally and most American candy is illegal in the UK and Europe because of what it contains. It is also frequently the case that the shops are operating illegally.
Expect petitions/donation collecting immediately after leaving the busier tube stations especially in central. Don’t say anything to them, they will be rude (I’ve been verbally abused by them) if you say no or come up with an excuse and will be overly persistent. Just ignore them and keep walking.
The "silent blank stare" almost always works ;)
I put on a foreign accent and pretend not to know English lol
@@ItachiUchiha-ns1il Just simply avoid or ignore those scammers. I will speak French if I stumble upon them.
Je vais parler francais avec eux
Ignore yeah- or just walk with purpose saying “nope”. Don’t stop around these people of they will be on you like vultures. I had it in germany but i looked in confusion at the guy (i was trying to translate in my head what he said too and he just left as i was staring looking confused at him 🤣)
@@macflod you mean they are scavengers
Guys, he’s right!!!
I was eye witness to one of this incident. Motorcyclist snatched the phone out of one of the pedestrians, waiting to cross the road. Was so quick nobody could do anything.
A good rule of thumb for me, and this goes for any city... If someone approaches you, it isn't in your interests. Ever. Be as rude as you like getting away from them. I do not go back to places where this happens.
always good to be on your toes, true
I would say be rude, but be cautious, quick , and firm. But sadly sometimes you do have to be rude.
Really good info. Also applies to other countries in Europe, especially inside St. Peters in Vatican and lagoon area in Venice. Both places are super crowded.
Whenever I travel with anyone I always double down on them that they should never accept the conversion on card machines. When I was in Portugal a few months ago I showed my sister and mum the amount on the screen that would be converted 'get the conversion now! Don't miss out!' then didn't accept, and showed them on my banking app that it was £5 less on a 50euro conversion than what it would have been if I accepted. 10% is a big difference!
And get your cash from an ATM, post office or a Bank, NEVER at a Cambio money exchange booth!
The part about the "beggars" being part of a group, that even happens in the US. In my local city I see them getting pick up and dropped off in Masdies at cretin corners in my city, as if they have shifts.
Carefull on the street with your phones, scooters and mopeds with 2 riders have been known to yank your phone out of your hand, usually by the rear passanger.
When using atm's. If possible always use the ones inside the bank, they're far less likely to be tampered with and your less likely to have someone looking over your shoulder.
If you know that bag you are buying is fake before you buy it you are not getting scammed. Just my prospective lol
Actually, these are things to watch out for no matter WHERE you travel.
I live in London. This is all good advice and most of it applies to residents too. If you're paying with your phone, just set it up so that it doesn't work on the lock screen. No need to turn off the signal. As for the fake wifi, that is extremely good advice: I once turned on my phone's 'hotspot' with a name very similar to the name of the pub I was in just to see how many people tried to connect. The result was about one person every three or four minutes. Extra tip: if you use a backpack in crowded areas then wear it as a front-pack.
Hi! What setting would I do if I don't want my apple pay to work when my phone is locked?
@@bw5911 I have no idea I'm afraid as I use an Android phone where it's under Connected devices->Connection preferences->NFC
thx u!@@PeterGaunt
I kind of miss the background noise in the cities you were in, It felt so natural
My phone got took by a hugger mugger in Manchester a while ago. It is what it is.
All of those happen in one form or another in every large and mid size city in the world, not just London.😂
Especially the ones online that give you travel advice ;)
The credit card thing happened to me in Oklahoma! Your advice is good in any large city just not London.
A tip for WIFI; just go to any phone shop and buy a sim card. They are relatively cheap, and while your friends back home can't phone you, you will have mobile data at a cheap price.
If you guys ever do a video in Bristol (England) we would love to meet you for a beer 🍺
On ATMs, never use ones in a particulary touristy place. As mentioned skimmers are a problem, it's also common for people to hover by them and just run off with your cash when it appears. Also you'll generally get worse rates. Always try using ones from a bank that are physically inside the building.
to prevent being victim of card skimming I tend to keep my funds in a secondary account then transfer funds over to my card account when needed. And with backpack on the ground I also put a foot though one of the straps
Did a semester abroad in London and didn't have any issues with some common sense and situational awareness. Definitely helps to have local friends or experienced travelers to tell you which areas to avoid at certain times (hello rush hour!).
Bingo!
"situational awareness" is important everywhere.
I used to live in London, worked in Soho so I was around the centre almost every day. The best thing for tourists to do is simply NOT to look and behave like tourists 😂 Walking the streets, looking around wide-eyed and open-mouthed, taking pictures of basically everything, while wearing hiking boots, windbreaker and a backpack - thieves will run to you like flies to honey. Try to be just a bit less obvious, it really helps if people think you're just one of the Londoners on the way from work etc. And, of course, follow the video advice just to be safe 😊
How can they steal my data using fake WiFi when most connections are now secured with HTTPS? Did it happen to somebody ?
We have had a few fans report it to us, but it was a couple years ago now.
Probably just skip Picadilly Circus, Leicester Square? There is actually nothing to do there.. save yourself from the crowds lol. Covent Garden is nice but for me it's the small neighborhoods on the outskirts and the parks such as Hampstead Heath, Regents Park and Primrose Hill, Greenwich Park that are worth it. Highly recommend Richmond which is just a 15 min ride from Waterloo! Quaint gem of a town but inside London.
For using the tube/buses, I'd say check if you can get a foreign contactless card to tap on that doesn't charge fees. This topping up your Oyster Card thing takes time and can get annoying if there are lines and you're in a rush to catch that train!
Also, I paid 7 pounds for a new card, which is as of 2022, non-refundable. You can of course get any credit under 10 pounds refunded when returning the card, but not the 7 pounds. So just use contactless. Never come across the stealing credit scam in 1.5 years but yes, be safe.
Also scams... Heathrow/Gatwick Express. I know it's a pain but just get the tube to/from LHR. The Elizabeth line is quicker than the Piccadilly line, and more expensive but not as much as the Heathrow Express.
For Gatwick, just take the regular trains from Victoria/London Bridge station. Again, doesn't take too much longer than the Gatwick Express. I shouldn't be crapping on the Heathrow Express given the discounts we get as BA staff (making it as cheap as the tube :D) lol.
Tip.. If changing tube lines at Green Park or any of the busier stations in the area, just follow signs to the exit upstairs after leaving the first train and then enter the new line you are changing to from there. Its quicker this way. :)
Following the path inside the station to change lines is super long and crowded sometimes.
What are you talking about? Since when is being so stupid to leave your wallet or phone around ever been a scam of any sort? Its theft, check a dictionary for the definition of scam or theft 🙄
I live in London and never really experienced these things. but I think it is partly an attitude. If you walk fast and look like you know where you are going they wont speak to you. If you are a tourist and want to work out where you are going, plan before you leave the direction. if you need to check directions. stand to the side of the pavement and look like you are checking your social media or something. THe more you look lost or unsure the bigger target you will be. ALso dont use the tuk tuks they are not regulated, but also avoid the American Candy Stores. A number of them have been shut down as involved in money laundering (during COVID they changed from souveniers to candy because candy counts as food so could be kept open). I am sure there are legitimate ones but some can be very dodgy (and expensive)
In Paris there was the ball and 3 cup game at Sacre Coeur and the Eiffel Tower. At the E.T. there was either a ( to me ) shill couple or a couple being set up for a bigger score.
I've seen this all over the world, especially in Berlin
Yes, those scammers are everywhere. I encountered them in Budapest. They work in groups and when they see someone coming, one of them pretends to win some money in the hope that the unsuspecting person will join in.
I hope people watching this realise that hardy any of the pickpockets are British, it is very rare for one of us to do that. Hope everyone enjoys visiting, by big city standards London is pretty safe.
A RFID theft is not a thing it’s a scam to sell the wallets.
@JR-gp2zk i challenge you to find a single case of this crime, ask UK Finance. Show me a single court case where someone has been prosecuted for doing so.
It happened to me at a fair outside of Nashville, Tennessee several years ago. A guy was standing entirely too close to my right rear pocket as I watched my kids on a roller coaster. When I turned to confront him, he ran. Next day, he attempted to use my card info to buy $280 worth of supplies at Office Depot. Mind you I still had my card in my possession and Chase caught the attempted transaction.
RFID skimming doesn't happen. Wgen i try to tap and go on the tube, half the time i have to bounce the card multiple times to get it to work. The idea some criminal is wandering through a crowd with a reader debiting people's cards is just nonsense
Can't understand why any tourist would sign a petition or give a donation in a foreign country.
I have given donations to church appeals in Kenya and even to harambee events. It is part of being a good citizen. In the UK, chuggers (charity collectors) working for a proper charity have to carry identification. They are the ones asking you to sign up for a £5/month direct debit, so they don't want money from tourists.
I've been to London a million times and never had any issues at all. It's just common sense. NEVER use a tuk tuk rickshaw as they are unregulated cons. Never use an unregulated taxi / minicab. I have my wallet in my pocket and keep my hand in the pocket in crowded places. I actually feel incredible safe in London. The only issue I have is fake beggars on major bridges which the police should of banished years ago
Here in Dublin the Rickshaws are often used for criminal purposes
Agree, I’ve been to London twice before moving here and living in the city centre in a very touristy part for the last 4 years. Always be conscious, like any other big city but it is extremely safe even from small petty crimes like these mentioned (though I don’t doubt they do occur from time to time - just be cognizant!)
How do you tell which is a regulated vs. unregulated taxi pls?
Have
...was hoping for Werewolves of London, but, okay 😜
Used to love the fake electronic stores here 20 to 30 years ago where they whip up a frenzy and then lock the doors and get people to part with a couple of hundred for a black bag full of shite.
I was scammed at the airport who is overly helpful. He saw me trying to find the train station in the airport and offered to help me, showed me the way and tried to sell me ticket which is $20. It’s kind of sad and I felt sorry for him
I had been in London less than 3 hours before a (seemingly drunk...not sure if he really was or not) gentleman that was "friendly aggressive" panhandling came up trying to insist on shaking my hand, put his arm around me, and asked for money. Fortunately I keep my valuables in a sling bag across my chest under a hoodie and a puffy jacket, so he would have had to have been REALLY good to get at it.
A firm but friendly "sorry, mate...haven't got a quid to my name", and a quick crossing of the Strand and I was out of there.
Talking about leaving phone/bag on table in restaurant…there is one known trick pickpockets do, especially if you are in an outdoor seated area just outside the pub/restaurant…
A known pickpocket tactic is that they may pretend to be a tourist, walking around with a map of the local area…when they come over to you, asking for directions, and they use the map to cover over the area where your phone etc is, and then steal it…be very wary if any supposed “tourist” approaches you, asking for directions, holding out a local map…
Converting Dollar bills to Pound notes in the bank in England is a bad idea…ive done it and it’s a miserable rate..
I use a
Metal wire for my backpack with a padlock . I have a wire attached to
Me on my backpack and I eat with my backpack on my lap . My phone is in my jacket .
Well done you are probably unique, teenagers are so busy enjoying themselves they wouldn't even feel anyone getting into their backpacks, I have walked behind people with undone backpacks and tell them so,even if it's all ok it does make them aware😊
Confusing to me was restaurant service charges - some added it automatically, some didn't ask. Back in 2010 nobody asked, and we gave maybe a pound or two per table.
If you're going on holiday, buy a cheap phone and watch, and leave the expensive one at home.
Make a note of where you hid watches or jewellery at home while you're on holiday, It's easy to forget, or better still ask your bank if they keep valuables.
Realistically as a Londoner the big one is pickpcokets, lookout for them mostly around the big sites (buckingham palace etc.) and busy commercial streets like Oxford St, and on the tube
My daughter had her phone stolen in Covent Garden
The shell game is up and running in London. Saw there a few weeks ago
It is a classic :)
Pickpocket is not a scam, and it’s practically in every city in the world. What’s the point in even mentioning it…?
The biggest scam is the paper money is way too much for a stripper tip.
Hope you get to enjoy the New Years Celebrations in London. Again huge crowds so keep your family safe!!
😂 Bro I thought the thumbnail was Alex Jones.
It can happen to anyone. I was living in London in 1999. Drunk and foolish I got cash out of the atm and talked about it with my friend and then I got pickpocketed a few minutes later.
Errrrr. How do scammers take money from someone’s phone by just bumping into them? All phones need a passcode or face ID before funds are released.
No they don't, not in Europe at least. If you haven't set your phone to have them they don't.
@@simonh6371 I live in England and I can confirm 100% that funds from contactless is not released without either a passcode or face ID.
Always use a VPN when using wi-fi. Your data is encrypted and safe from those fake wifi hot spots.
@@markylon I guess you're not familiar with how easy it is to intercept the traffic between your device and the rogue wireless router/access point with common tools to get your passwords to the websites etc?
A scam happened to me in Tiarana Airport, Albania. I ordered coffee in a cafeteria at the airport which was 1080 ALL ( 1ALL = 0,0097 Euro). but the shop keeper changed to 1080 Euro while paying through my bank card to the POS machine. I saw the amount 1080 but did not check the currency on the POS device. Normally they do charge in local currency. After coming back to home country I found I paid 1080 Euro for 1080 ALL ≈ 10.60 euro product.
People whom lived in London for years probably never came across pick pockets other crimes do happen 😊
Scammers, doing the work locals won't do...
❤❤❤Happy 2024 . Your information are Helpful For us
Beware of Liverpool fans. They never walk alone!
No to mention, there are more people living in London compared to Paris
i cant even get ripped off in London due to the Eurostar cancellation
Heading to London in 4 1/2 months! Thanks for the video
You will have a fun time with your lady friend :)
@@woltersworldRickshaws in Dublin are quite dodgy. A Dublin scams video would be good.
The WIFI scare is way overblown. Almost all sites you use are encrypted, especially sensitive things like banking.
I ask for the Wi-Fi name and password every time I go to a bar hotel ect
I am a citizen of the uk and yet I fell for organised beggars scam
I found the London police to be very helpful if I had a question. RFID wallets are a very good idea. I have a small one that holds about four cards and it is easy to use. By using this smaller card holder, I can keep it separate from my wallet.
As to using public wifi, it is essential to have a VPN connection to encrypt all data sent to and from your phone.
6:15 I didn't get scammed last time I was in the UK but I did get pooped on by a bird in Bristol.
National rail ticket prices in the UK are a scam, probably the most expensive in Europe. Rent a car if you can share the cost, it is much cheaper.
you seem to be in London often, are you living there?
When I went to Northern Ireland this summer, people often offered to take pictures of our family and after watching this video, I’m going to think twice about doing that again.
In Northern Ireland it is often genuine - particularly if they ask you to take a picture of them. The crooks use guns there.
Always be wary of the overly friendly, overly helpful stranger---that is a very important lesson for the tourists.
I just tell my friends to be carefull, when coming over here to London, but they still "don't believe me " that London is like thaat, like any other "scam city" !!
I have travelled to London, Paris, Berlin, New York and other large cities for almiost 50 years and never been scammed yet