If you think that motorcyclists, snatching handbags from women's shoulders live only as screen characters, be vigilant on the streets of Italian cities, primarily those of Rome and Milan. Throw the strap over your shoulder and do not carry the bag from the side of the road.
Watch out if a stranger approaches and offers to photograph you (alone or in a group) near the famous sights. Theft of expensive cameras and phones in such way is quite common in Italy.
The main attractions and adjacent streets are the places with the most expensive souvenirs, services and products. The further away from the main tourist paths, the lower the prices.
In the center of Rome, there are almost always gypsies with bouquets of roses. Even if someone in a friendly manner is trying to hand you the flower "for no reason at all", still be prepared to pay for it.
Petty thieves and pickpockets come up with a variety of tricks to clean the pockets of tourists. One of the most popular is with a woman who suddenly drops her baby. Such performances are played out to tourists who are trying to pick up a doll wrapped in a blanket, thinking that there is a real child there. At a time when vigilance is lost, mates of a negligent mother quickly clean the purse and pockets of the "victim".
Look out if an unknown Italian is trying to make friends with you and then offers to get a drink together – even at a table in a nearby cafe, in a public place. Afterwards you can easily find yourself without a purse and a camera. This is especially true for tourists travelling alone, most often for young girls.
Also, when talking about scammers, you can not ignore cafes and restaurants. Here, even a seasoned traveller can take the bait of a well-designed fraudulent scheme. Sometimes Italian waiters can immediately attack you with offers of specialties from the chef, without even having brought a menu. As a result, while asking for the bill, you can be in for an unpleasant surprise in the form of a very large sum, which you did not expect to see there. You can also be offered a "unique" dish, which is not on the menu, but can be specially prepared for you – for an obscenely inflated price, which, of course, will be announced at the end of meal.
Sometimes very strange services appear in the bill: bringing a menu, a switched-on air conditioner or changing a tablecloth. It happens that indiscreet tips are added to the total amount on your bill with ink pen. Your attempts to clarify the matters can be inhibited by the fact that the waiter will immediately forget the English language and pretend to be offended by your questions. In this case, boldly ask for the menu, call the manager and loudly threaten to apply to the financial police – you will instantly be understood even in very basic English.
Counterfeits of famous brands and those who want to sell them have not disregarded the country of the world fashion. Remember, branded items will never be sold outside the store – no matter how strongly you are convinced of the opposite. In addition, keep in mind: in Italy there is an administrative penalty for buying counterfeit goods.
You can meet dishonest people in any country, but this is absolutely no reason to stay at home. Remember the basic precautions and enjoy the journey. In addition, the trip is also a good reason to hop into the duty-free store and take advantage of the discount from Mydutyfree – here you can be sure that everything is honest!