We are sharing this information from Budget Travel magazine about scams that prey upon tourists in Paris, but these are applicable to many places in the world.

Please Sign My Petition for a Super-Worthwhile  Cause! This scam is really banking on you being a nice person who  wants to help change the world…and a silly tourist who can’t understand French  writing. I was standing on the “Love Bridge” at Pont  de l’Archeveche, looking for a spot to attach my lock when a young girl  approached me with big, sad eyes, said nothing, and shoved a clipboard in my  face that said, “Won’t you help the blind and the deaf?” There were a few  signatures to indicate that this was a petition, but the rest was all in French,  and as our Tour Manager informed us, most likely said something along the lines  of, “If you sign this, you have to give me 500 euros or else.” Recognizing the  scam for what it was, I simply said, “No, sorry, no,” until she took the hint  and moved onto the next person. Watch out for this one around any major city  sight, and never sign anything while you’re away from home just to be on the  safe side.

The String Trick This particular scam is most commonly  practiced throughout the Montmartre area and our group ran into it on our way  from the Metro to the giant staircase (described below) that leads to the Sacre  Coeur, a popular stomping ground for tourists. Honestly, this is the one I  really want you to watch out for—the other scams are all based on distractions  and tourists not knowing any better, but this one could actually get ugly if  you’re not paying attention. What happens is someone will approach you on the  street with a piece of string, yarn, or other crafty-looking item and ask if you  want them to make you a “Friendship bracelet” or “Friendship Ring.” Whatever  you do, just say no and keep walking. Trust me. Our Tour Manager explained  how if you agree, the person will slide the string over your finger (or wrist)  and tie it so tight that it’s impossible to escape from. This person (and  possibly a few of his or her larger friends) will then lead you over to the  nearest ATM, only setting you free from the trap after you’ve emptied the  contents of your bank account. A group of hopefuls approached us as we walked,  but we knew it was coming, so were able to say, “No” and keep walking away, no  harm done. We did, however, spot a woman on the other side of the street having  a bracelet made, so it was a rude awakening that this actually does happen. Just  say no thanks, and keep going.

The Ring Trick Deeply based in distraction and the hope  that the victim will fall for just about anything, there are several versions of  the Ring Trick that usually involve a gold ring or otherwise valuable looking  object being left in plain sight. When the unsuspecting tourist picks it up and  tries to see who it belongs to, someone either steps forward and demands money  for your newly-found “gift,” or tricks you into believing it’s worth paying  crazy amounts of money for. Our Tour Manager said he’s heard of people paying 50  euros for a gold ring they were promised would bring them luck. Please,  oh please, don’t be that tourist. If it’s not yours, just leave it alone.

Did You Drop Something? (A variation of the Ring Trick) I  encountered this one on the steps of the magnificent Sacre Coeur in the  Montmartre neighborhood of Paris, just moments after ascending what has to be  the world’s longest, steepest, tallest staircase—at least it feels like that.  (Lesson learned, next time, just suck it up and take the nifty little funicular  stationed right next to it!) Anyway, it’s a distraction technique guaranteed to  draw your eyes—and your attention—off your wallet. Basically, if you’re standing  somewhere and hear something drop to the ground, but you know you haven’t  dropped anything, just walk away. The idea is to make you think you did actually  drop something of value, and bend over to look for it, thus giving the person  who really dropped it enough time to snatch your wallet. Sneaky, huh?