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[iti]

I have visited Paris twice in the past three years (only for a few days) and whilst I adored the city the same thing happened to me on the Champs Elysees on both occasions.
Just walking along taking in the atmosphere, admiring the chic shope when a couple stopped me and asked me to go into Louis Vitton and purchase a wallet or something. The reason for my involvement was that each individual is apparently only allowed one purchase and they wanted to take two home. They made it clear it would be worth my while. I politely refused, not knowing whether they were genuine or not but felt a bit guilty for not helping out.
Fast forward three years on to my return to Paris, same road, same store and would you believe it same story from a young lady from Hong Kong. I began laughing as soon as she mentioned the wallet and she quickly disappeared into the crowds.
I would love to know how the scam worked or any other tales of dodgy dealings from around the world. I think picking upon vulnerable tourists is complete evil and creates a barrier of distrust and ill-feeling.

[whereshegoes]

When I was in Egypt, there was always an older man who would ask me to follow him. Then he would lead me to some random wall, inscription or just plain old rock and tell me that it was good luck. Then he would ask me for money for "guiding" me. Even if it was only 5 steps. Beware of would be tour guides looking to make money off your guilt.

[katieontherun]

Suva, Fiji.

I was staying in New Town near Nadi and because there was absolutely no information to be had on doing your own thing, taking local buses etc., I immediately teamed up with other travelers and we exchanged stories. Adam from Canada had a nice little story to tell about a guy named Michael in the capital city, Suva, who'd come up to you near the museum (there's just one, really) and make you a gift: from Fiji to (insert your country).

OK, so on my way to the Suva museum about a week later, I met a guy who introduced himself as Michael and wham, alarm bells were ringing. He's an old white-haired dude, good English, and in my case, he wanted to make a present from Fiji to Austria. Out of his bag he produced two pieces of wood that you hang like a cross above your door or whatever for good luck. I kept saying how much is it, and he kept saying it's a gift, but I knew from Adam he'd later ask for 20 bucks, so I kept repeating I couldn't accept his gift.

So then he asked, "Katharina with a K or a C", and before I knew it, he'd carved a K into one of the wooden sticks. I said, "No thank you, I appreciate it, but no", and walked off, toward the museum. Sure enough, he said, "20 dollars", and got excited over my refusal to pay him any money, but I turned away and walked towards the museum and was safe.

Be very careful anywhere in Fiji.

[Jawad]

Yeah, I'd love to know what that wallet scam is all about.

There are quite elaborate scams in Malaysia and Thailand that start with a casual converstion and end up with card games at private homes or the sale of gem stones. I've met one would-be victim and heard of two actual victims. In all cases the crux of the scam plays on the tourists own greed, as it involves a scheme to make some easy money. Surfice to say, if something sounds too good to be true it usually is.

Sad as this seems, it often pays to be weary if someone is unusually friendly and strikes up a conversation with you for no apparent reason.

[Barrett]

The Milk Scam! Its got to be one of the greatest.

So all the urchins (I mean that affectionatly) in Kathmandu kept coming up to me and asking if I could buy them some milk for their younger sibling. I very nearly fell for it but realized something dodgy was going on as all the shopkeepers had stopped working to watch what I would do.
Later I met up with an Aussie who had managed to get the story behind the scam. Turns out young Nepali kids have figured out that asking for milk will make most travellers hearts ache with ideas of wholesomeness and a lot of travellers cave in. So they go to a little store and buy a litre of milk for the kid. The kid thanks him/her profusely, then once the mark is out of sight, runs back into the store and returns the milk to the merchant who gives the kid a percentage. In this way the same carton of milk can be sold over and over each day.
Pretty swift if you ask me.

[andrea]

I have visited Paris twice in the past three years (only for a few days) and whilst I adored the city the same thing happened to me on the Champs Elysees on both occasions.
Just walking along taking in the atmosphere, admiring the chic shope when a couple stopped me and asked me to go into Louis Vitton and purchase a wallet or something. The reason for my involvement was that each individual is apparently only allowed one purchase and they wanted to take two home. They made it clear it would be worth my while. I politely refused, not knowing whether they were genuine or not but felt a bit guilty for not helping out.
Fast forward three years on to my return to Paris, same road, same store and would you believe it same story from a young lady from Hong Kong. I began laughing as soon as she mentioned the wallet and she quickly disappeared into the crowds.
I would love to know how the scam worked or any other tales of dodgy dealings from around the world. I think picking upon vulnerable tourists is complete evil and creates a barrier of distrust and ill-feeling.

I don't get it!! What was in it for them??

[whereshegoes]

The Milk Scam! Its got to be one of the greatest.

So all the urchins (I mean that affectionatly) in Kathmandu kept coming up to me and asking if I could buy them some milk for their younger sibling. I very nearly fell for it but realized something dodgy was going on as all the shopkeepers had stopped working to watch what I would do.
Later I met up with an Aussie who had managed to get the story behind the scam. Turns out young Nepali kids have figured out that asking for milk will make most travellers hearts ache with ideas of wholesomeness and a lot of travellers cave in. So they go to a little store and buy a litre of milk for the kid. The kid thanks him/her profusely, then once the mark is out of sight, runs back into the store and returns the milk to the merchant who gives the kid a percentage. In this way the same carton of milk can be sold over and over each day.
Pretty swift if you ask me.

I wonder what the kid would do if you bought the milk, opened it and then gave it to them?