Money belts are recommended for travel to Europe for a reason. Well off American tourists, naïve to the street crime in Europe are easy marks with their fat wallets bulging from their back pockets.
- You’re jostled in a crowd as someone spills ketchup or fake pigeon poop on your shirt. The thief offers profuse apologies while dabbing it up — and pawing your pockets.
- Someone drops something, you kindly pick it up, and you lose your wallet. Or, even worse, someone throws a baby into your arms as your pockets are picked.
- Assume beggars are pickpockets. Treat any commotion as fake — designed to distract unknowing victims.
- If an elderly woman falls down an escalator, stand back and guard your valuables, then…carefully…move in to help.
Even credit cards are risky as opposed to the right paper money pulled from the safety of a concealed money belt.
A talkative cashier yacking on a cell phone might actually be snapping a photo of your credit card. Ten minutes after you leave the store a ring of thieve are already racking up purchase around the world with your card number.
Large bills can cause problems of a switcheroo. Clearly state the value of the bill as you hand it over as some cabbies or waiters will pretend to drop a large bill and pick up a hidden small one in order to shortchange a tourist. Know the local currency and don’t use large bills.
In another scam, a bank teller or cashier might sloooooowly count out change hoping you’ll get impatient and run off with the change without counting it.
Beware of groups of boys or girls especially in Milan, Florence, and Rome. Sometimes they have pieces of cardboard and they swoop in and surround the unsuspecting tourist begging for money or candy. Meanwhile, your pocket is being picked.
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