Paris street scams take full advantage of the crowds pulled in by the city’s biggest draws, especially around the metro and major landmarks. This page breaks down exactly where they happen, how they work, and what to do if one starts.
Walking along the Seine, cutting through the Marais, ending up in a random square with a fountain and no plan. Paris is one of those cities where getting a little lost is half the fun. The scale of it works in your favor.
Unfortunately, that same crowded, unfamiliar layout is exactly what Paris street scams depend on. The city’s major metro lines and tourist corridors see some of the highest pickpocketing rates in Europe, and most incidents follow the same handful of well-practiced setups.
Paris Street Scams: Overview
Paris gets close to 40 million visitors a year, and a small industry has built up around separating them from their money. Below you find the Paris Street Scams that show up again and again – around the major sights, on the metro, near the big department stores. Here’s where each one happens, how it works, and what to do if it starts.
1. Don’t take the friendship bracelet at Montmartre
Where it happens: The Sacré-Cœur steps.
How it works: A bracelet tied on your wrist, then payment demanded, sometimes with intimidation
What to do instead: Don’t let anyone touch your wrist. Pull away immediately and keep walking – it’s legal to refuse and leave
2. Don’t sign the charity petition near the Louvre, Notre-Dame, or Eiffel Tower
Where it happens: Major landmark areas
How it works: Often young people posing as deaf/mute, collecting “signatures” while an accomplice picks pockets
What to do instead: Don’t stop, don’t sign anything on the street. A firm “non” is enough.
3. Don’t buy from fake Eiffel Tower ticket sellers and through QR codes
Where it happens: Street touts and stickered QR codes near the tower
How it works: Fraudulent sites promising skip-the-line access
What to do instead: Book only at tour-eiffel.fr – no legitimate third party sells discounted tickets.
4. Don’t fall for the gold ring / “you dropped this” trick
Where it happens: Anywhere in tourist zones
How it works: A stranger “finds” a ring near you and pressures you to pay for it as a “lucky gift”
What to do instead: Never accept an unsolicited item from a stranger. Walk on without engaging.
5. Don’t become victim to pickpockets on Metro Line 1/6 and the RER B line
Where it happens: Routes used heavily by tourists with luggage or phones out
How it works: Organized groups target distracted riders
What to do instead: Bag in front and zipped, phone away, luggage between your feet on the RER.
These scams move – new locations, new variations, ones that fade out and others that spring up. If you ran into something in Paris that isn’t listed here, tell us and we’ll get it added. The page is only as current as the people reporting from the ground.
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