10 Paris Scams Tourists Fall For Every Day (Don’t Be Next)

In this video we walk you through 10 common Paris scams tourists fall for every day, in transportation, at attractions, in restaurants and with rentals. With around 30 million visitors a year, the police cannot stop them all, so knowing the tricks in advance is your best protection.

Transportation scams

  • Contactless card skimming in crowded lines, like the one a friend experienced at Gare du Nord. RFID-blocking bags and wallets help.
  • Fake “helpers” at ticket machines who swap your pass for a cheap ticket. Research tickets ahead and only ask the official service desk.
  • Aggressive ticket inspectors. If you have the wrong ticket, stay calm. You can ask for a written fine to pay later instead of paying on the spot.
  • Unlicensed tuk-tuks that quote €15 and then charge it per person. Take a taxi, Uber or the metro instead.
  • Taxi tricks, like a meter already at €40 instead of the usual €2.60, or €1,560 charged instead of €15.60. Check the machine and ask for a receipt.

Booking and ticket scams

  • Fake booking confirmation emails asking for your card details. Never click the link; log in to the official site instead.
  • Unofficial attraction websites that look real but sell overpriced or fake tickets. Official French sites usually end in .fr.
  • Fake apartment listings. Choose rentals with 20 to 30 reviews or more, ideally a superhost, message the host first, and never pay outside the official platform.

Restaurant scams

  • The automatic 20% tip on the card machine. Service is included by law in France and tipping is optional, so ask them to remove it.
  • Expensive bottled water. Tap water is free; ask for “une carafe d’eau.” Also check the menu before ordering lemonade or cocktails, which can be surprisingly pricey.

Most of these are easy to avoid once you know them, and none should stop you from enjoying Paris. Antoine travels with locking, RFID-protected bags, and you can see the anti-theft bags we use here. For safe places to stay and things to do, see our guide to 125 Paris hotels, our selection of things to do in Paris and our Paris Guide Bundle.