Pickpocket & DistractionParis, France

Petition clipboard scam on metro line 1

Scam date: 2025-10-05 Reported: 2026-08-07

On line 1 near the Louvre, a girl shoved a clipboard with a fake petition in my face while another unzipped my backpack. I caught them because the train doors opened and I stepped away. Keep bags in front on the metro.

More reports in France

Transport

Fake taxi at CDG charged €120 for a 40-minute ride

📍 Paris, France

🗓️ Scam date: 7 May 2026

📝 Reported: 12 September 2026

A man in a suit with a "TAXI" sign approached us inside Terminal 2 and led us to an unmarked car. He charged €120 for a ride the official stand does for €55, and took a detour "to avoid traffic". Only take cabs from the official rank outside.

Tickets & Attractions

Fake Eiffel Tower ticket site charged double the official price

📍 Paris, France

🗓️ Scam date: 26 February 2026

📝 Reported: 5 July 2026

I bought "skip the line" Eiffel Tower tickets from a site that looked official. Paid €58 per person; the official site charges €29. The tickets were real but double-priced. Only buy from toureiffel.paris.

Accommodation

Airbnb host asked for a "security deposit" outside the platform

📍 Paris, France

🗓️ Scam date: 2 December 2025

📝 Reported: 11 June 2026

The "host" messaged that a €400 security deposit must be paid by bank transfer before check-in, "house rules". The listing disappeared two days before our trip. Airbnb hosts can't demand off-platform deposits — report and cancel.