How Does Scams to Avoid Work in France?
Last verified: 2025-06 · Europe
1The Quick Answer
Paris has well-known tourist scams including pickpockets at major sights, the petition clipboard scam, friendship bracelets at Sacré-Cœur, and overcharging restaurants near Notre-Dame.
2What You Need to Know
Paris is one of Europe's most-visited cities and unfortunately hosts a number of well-documented scams targeting tourists. The petition scam involves someone thrusting a clipboard at you claiming to collect for charity, then demanding payment or using distraction to enable a companion to pickpocket you. At Sacré-Cœur, individuals aggressively tie 'friendship bracelets' onto your wrist then demand money. Three-card monte games near tourist areas are rigged. Fake police officers asking to inspect your wallet for counterfeit notes are not real police. Restaurants immediately surrounding Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower are known to significantly overcharge — walk one or two streets away for honest pricing.
3Practical Tips
Practical Tips
- 1At Sacré-Cœur, keep your hands in your pockets and firmly say 'Non merci' to anyone approaching with string or a clipboard
- 2Never eat at a restaurant displaying a menu in ten languages with photos right next to a major monument — walk two streets away
- 3Real French police do not stop tourists to inspect their wallets — this is always a scam
Important Warning
Pickpocketing is highly prevalent at the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur, the Louvre queue, and on RER lines — use a front pocket or hidden money belt at all major tourist sights.
How does this compare?
Scams to Avoid rules in nearby and similar countries:
Germany has very low scam activity — fixed prices are universal and tourists are rarely targeted, though a few low-level schemes exist in major city centres.
The UK has a low scam culture overall, but London tourists should watch for ticket touts, fake gold rings, aggressive charity collectors, and pickpockets on the Underground.
Rome's tourist areas have notable pickpocket activity and common scams; stay alert at the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Vatican, and on buses 40 and 64.
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