What scams should I watch out for in Paris?

Petty theft and confidence tricks cluster around the same half-dozen locations: the Eiffel Tower plaza, Montmartre's steps, the Champs-Élysées, and any RER B train between CDG and the city center. The most common routines are the "found ring" (someone picks up a gold ring, claims it's yours, then asks for money), the friendship bracelet tied onto your wrist before you can refuse (after which a demand for payment follows), and petition clipboards wielded by groups who use the distraction to pick pockets. On the RER, watch your bag when the doors close — snatch-and-run is timed to the beep. Card skimming exists but is less common since chip-and-PIN became universal; your real exposure is cash machines in tourist corridors after dark. Keep your phone in a front pocket, wear a crossbody bag with the clasp facing inward, and don't engage with anyone who initiates contact near a major landmark. That covers roughly 90 percent of your actual risk.

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• Where do locals actually go for aperitivo in Paris?
• Where do locals drink coffee in Paris?
• What does a local breakfast look like in Paris?
• Where is the street food in Paris actually good?
• Where can I eat after midnight in Paris?
• How do I get from the airport to the city in Paris?