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GazNewt

4 day visit with wife in 2010. Paris for me :

Groups of women with clipboards surrounding you trying to pick pocket when you hold the clipboard.

The horrible wedding ring women and the blokes that are always nearby.

The wrist bracelet creeps. Don't let them grab your wrist, they won't let go unless you pay (saw this happen).

Tricked by "helpful" man who gave us fake tickets in exchange for real money. I know. Naive.

These sets of cunts really pissed me off. I was glad to get back to to UK I felt safer, I didn't get the impression the police in Paris were tackling the issue.

Otherwise very nice and I should go again a bit wiser (just said that for a balanced post).

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Yes, these are awful (and not only in Paris)

And the police are not tackling them, but not being naive is a good advice anywhere.

Keep off the tourist path and you'll have a much greater time.

It's hard to keep off the tourist path on the first visit to Paris with an innocent child-like wife! Next time though I'll enjoy it and put more effort into finding the best places to go.

Yes, I understand. Yes, "you have to see the Eiffel tower" (I did that as well)

The police try to tackle them, but it's very difficult. A lot of pickpockets are children.

Not an easy problem to solve.

It's the same scams you can encounter in any city in Europe...

Outside of UK I've only been to Paris, never seen this kind of thing in London/Manchester but I've read about the same thing happening in Rome and Barcelona.

You're never a true tourist in any of the cities in the UK, you're still in your home country, so you're highly unlikely to be a target. These crimes almost always target foreign tourists quite specifically, they're far easier (and usually also individually more profitable) marks for a multitude of reasons.

I'v been a tourist in London several times (before moving there last year). Never had anything like this happen to me. No crazy Roma ladies trying to scam you. Worst you'll get is homeless people asking for some change.

Makes sense that

I've seen it and worse in both London and Manchester. I was attacked in Manchester several times for the heinous crime of being a student, which led to my changing Uni. Not a city I care to visit anytime soon.

I don't blame you after that, I apologise on behalf of the decent 99% of Mancunians. Maybe it's 90% +

You might be experiencing selection bias? I suspect that petty criminals tend to target perceived outsiders over locals - they are less canny and it is easier to avoid empathizing with your victim.

Also makes sense as does similar comment. Not convinced though, I should at least see it going on even if it wasn't happening to me.

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