The chaotic scene around the Colosseum was akin to a rock concert, with hundreds of tourists fighting for prime viewing space against the amphitheater set smack in the middle of Rome.
Suddenly half a dozen filthy, noisy kids ran up to us and started yelling, waving flowers and newspapers in our faces. I could feel their hands in my pockets and my hair, alternately tickling me and shoving me. They were laughing and pushing one another, and then they ran off.
The whole thing lasted about 15 seconds — and the thieves came away with nothing but my credit-card receipts, which they later returned, saying, “you need, you need,” as they shoved them back in my hands.
My credit cards and passport were safely tucked away under my shirt in a neck wallet, because I’d been warned by multiple fellow travelers that Rome is rife with pickpockets, a lot of them underage youth organized by Fagan-like overseers who watched from a nearby location.
That was 23 years ago.
A few weeks ago in Quito, Ecuador, I carried the same neck wallet, and the same scenarios — street urchins roaming around looking for easy tourist targets — were playing out around the country’s bustling capital city. We also had been warned that Quito is famous for the “fake spill,” where someone would fling a soda at us and then, as they pretended to help to clean it up, they would help themselves to our belongings.
“A lot of these scams, people have been doing the same ones for the last 30 or 40 years,” says travel security consultant Kevin Coffey. “Some of the basics might vary, like they might smear you with mayo instead of soda, or they might get you with the ‘hold my baby’ tactic, but the bottom line is, distracting the tourist is one of the oldest tricks out there.”
Coffey, a detective sergeant with one of the largest police departments in the country, also has spent more than a decade globe-trotting to train travelers to be more aware when they set out. He founded Corporate Travel Safety (), which not only offers products the passionate crime-stopper has tracked down to help prevent theft, but also hundreds of videos showing exactly how pickpockets, hustles and robberies happen.
“The typical traveler goes, ‘Oh, I know all the scams,'” Coffey says. “But if that were true, thousands of people would not be the victims of these every single day.”
He offers a few examples:
• A woman asks you to hold her baby, and she hands you a writhing bundle, which distracts you long enough for her or her friends to rifle through your pockets.
• A nicely dressed couple looking as though they’re out for a romantic stroll sees you taking photos, and offers to take one of you. Then they walk off with your camera.
• A businessman sits next to you at the bar and sets his briefcase, which looks similar to yours, down on the floor. You make chitchat, and then he leaves. When you pick up your briefcase, you realize it’s empty — and it’s his, not yours.
“There’s also the one where an attractive woman stops suddenly to bend over and a guy will bump into her, and then another guy bumps into him, and boom, his wallet’s gone,” Coffey says. “No one ever sees that coming. The guy is always taken in by the attractive woman, I promise you.”
He adds that thieves often work in teams, which few tourists anticipate, and that they never look the way anyone expects.
“They’ll have a baby, or be very young or old, like late 60s, 70s,” he says. “It can be anything that gets you to let your guard down. The best crooks are great actors or actresses.”
The most important thing a traveler can do to avoid being a victim? Pay attention.
“Distracting you is how they do it,” Coffey says. “You’re already in a different frame of mind because you’re in unfamiliar territory. They take advantage of that. The key is not to let them.”
Kyle Wagner: 303-954-1599 or travel@denverpost.com
Don’t fall for these tricks
THE FAKE SPILL
How it works: You’re minding your own business, walking down the street or sitting in a restaurant, and a stranger “accidentally” spills a soda or ketchup on you. While “helping” to clean you up (usually roughly), he or she — or another member of the team — relieves you of your valuables.
How to avoid it: Be aware of your surroundings and the proximity of others.
If it happens: Deal with spills yourself, vehemently waving away all offers of help. Reassure any stranger who tries to get close to you that you have it covered. If they persist, yell the word “police” in the native language.
THE PURSE SLASHING
How it works: A mugger with a pair of scissors cuts the purse right off your back and walks off with it in broad daylight. It can happen so quickly and easily in a crowded place — such as a subway or mobbed amusement park — that you might not even notice right away.
How to avoid it: Don’t carry bags with thin straps, or avoid them altogether and use cargo pants, money belts or other hidden ways of hauling your money and credit cards.
If it happens: Call credit card companies immediately to cancel, which is why you should always have copies or the numbers in a safe deposit box or filed securely with someone back home, along with a copy of your driver’s license and passport, which can usually be used to get through security at the airport.
THE TAXI SWITCHEROO
How it works: You and a friend get into what looks like a cab, except there seems to be no meter. The driver says it will be $10 to your destination. You agree, except that when you arrive, the driver says, Oh, he meant $10 each. A variation of this is that the driver says the place you’re headed is no longer in business, and he suggests an alternative, usually a place owned by his friend. Or, you wind up being taken “the long way” in an unfamiliar city to inflate a metered fare.
How to avoid it: Never, ever get into a cab without a meter or without negotiating every detail of the transaction first. It helps to find out from a hotel or restaurant where you’ve been conducting business — or ask at the airport — what a fare is likely to be, and then agree upon it before getting into the taxi.
If it happens: If you have some confidence to stand your ground, it can pay to fuss or threaten to call the authorities. A lot of times, though, it’s not worth the hassle.
THE GEM TRANSFER
How it works: This is a popular one in India, especially in and around Jaipur, where precious stones are currency. A friendly rickshaw driver or hotel employee will often introduce you to a friend of theirs for a “traditional Indian meal” — “they’ll pay. They just like to meet people from other cultures.” You meet them for a meal. They’re nice, normal. They work in gems. And they approach you about moving some goods for them on your return trip home, where you’ll be greeted with a large sum of money for your efforts — but not before asking you for a deposit of a couple hundred dollars on the “very valuable” gems, which are actually worthless.
How to avoid it: The simplest way is to not take the meal. But even if you do take the meal — an interesting and fun experience, especially when they lay out the gem deal — be emphatic about your lack of interest. They’ll eventually lose interest in you and send you on your way with a full belly of dahl.
If it happens: If you give them a $200 deposit on worthless gems and fly back to the States with the colored glass — with the intentions of getting your money back (plus a transport fee) from some gem dealer on the other side — there’s not a lot you can do. Be smarter next time.
THE TEAHOUSE LURE
How it works: This is popular in Beijing, but it’s spreading. A friendly, lovely woman wants to practice English — or talk cultural differences — and invites you to tea. Instead of a casual cup you’re greeted with an elaborate ceremony full of snacks and multiple tastings in a private room, and a bill of $200-$300.
How to avoid it: Be open to meeting nice people on the street, in the square, at the museum — always. But go to a place of your choosing: Your hotel restaurant or the Starbucks on the corner. (Yeah, there are Starbucks in Beijing.)
If it happens: Be very, very stern about their dishonesty. Tell them you’ll pay a fair price for the tea and any snacks consumed, lay the money on the table, and walk out. If they threaten you, tell them you’ll happily be back with a police officer.
THE HOTEL INSPECTORS
How it works: Someone claiming to be from the hotel knocks on your door and, finding you in the room, announces that the towels/honor bar/plumbing need to be inspected. They often work in pairs so that as one explains in elaborate detail what’s being examined, the other can case the joint to see what kinds of electronics or valuables you have lying around, whisking them into their pockets if they’re able to do it without your seeing or simply waiting until they can catch you away. If they don’t find you in residence, well, anything you haven’t put in the safe is fair game. We’ve had this happen in Las Vegas, Vietnam and France.
How to avoid it: Don’t leave things lying around — most crimes of this nature are crimes of opportunity. Put anything of value in your room safe or take it with you, and if something is very valuable, put it in the hotel’s main safe. If someone comes to the door, ask for identification and stick close during their visit.
If it happens: Report any visits beyond the regular maid cleaning or turn-down service to the hotel management immediately. If something is missing, also report it immediately.
THE BAD CREDIT CARD FRAUD
How it works: Someone from the hotel calls up to your room and says they’re so sorry, but there’s a problem with your credit card. They hate to trouble you, but could you please give them the numbers one more time so they can run it again? You do, and a week later, you realize several hundreds of dollars have been charged for something you never authorized.
How to avoid it: Tell them you’d love to, and you’ll be right down to the front desk to watch them run the card again in person.
If it happens: If you do share your numbers and become a victim of credit card fraud, report it to your credit card company immediately. According to the Federal Trade Commission (), a cardholder is not responsible for any charges made when the numbers but not the physical card have been stolen if the theft is reported within 60 days of receiving a statement.
Ricardo Baca and Kyle Wagner
