Paris is a pretty safe place, but like any major city, there are some scammers out there. Knowing the types of tricksters you might run into can help a lot, and since you’re reading this article, you’re already one step ahead of most tourists. The last thing I want is to see you get scammed, so in this article, I’ve brought together the biggest scams in Paris and, most importantly, how to avoid them.
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Fake taxi scam
This is one of the biggest scams in Paris and it’s quite easy to fall for it. There are fake taxi drivers that generally hang around Parisian airports and train stations. They don’t use official taxi rates and will massively overcharge you. Official taxi drivers in Paris NEVER wait inside the terminal or station, so if you’re approached by someone saying “taxi” or offering you a ride while you’re still inside, this is a fake driver.
All you need to do is say “non merci” (no, thank you), keep walking, and look for the signs for the official taxi stand. There’s usually good signage to lead you there and there’s one at every airport terminal and just outside all train stations. Once you reach the taxi stand, you’ll see a line of official taxis. In France, taxis can be any make, model, or color, but they always have a taxi sign on their roof like the one above. They’ll charge you the official airport flat fee (learn more about that in our airport guide) or use the meter if you’re departing from a train station.
You can also book a ride with Uber or Bolt, but I don’t generally recommend this at the airport or station because it can be hard to find where to meet them. If you would like a driver to meet you inside the terminal so you don’t have to go searching for them, consider pre-booking a taxi through our reliable partner.
Eiffel Tower flat fee taxi scam
So within Paris, taxi drivers are usually honest, but I have heard that around the Eiffel Tower and at night, official taxi drivers will try to charge you a flat fee to get to your hotel, at an amount that’s MUCH higher than it should be. A taxi driver should never charge a flat fee within Paris and if they are, they’re trying to scam you. So if you need to take a taxi near the Eiffel Tower, make sure the driver has the meter on, and if it isn’t and the driver says it’s going to be a flat fee, get out of the taxi and take the next one.
Pickpockets on the métro and in tourist areas
Pickpockets aren’t a major problem in Paris, however, there can be some “working” on the métro and in busier tourist areas, like around the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elysées, Trocadéro or the famous department store Galeries Lafayette. I actually once had my purse stolen when I’d hung it over the back of a chair in a restaurant (which wasn’t even busy), so this can happen to even the most seasoned travelers who’ve let their guard down. Parisian pickpockets are rarely violent and are mostly opportunists, so there are some easy ways to avoid getting targeted.
Be sure to keep your wallet and phone in a zipped-up pocket of your bag. Be a little extra careful when using your phone on the métro, especially while sitting next to the train’s doors (a favorite place for “snatch and grabs”). When walking around in touristy areas (or really anywhere in the city), don’t simply slide your phone into your pocket. At restaurants or cafés, make sure it’s zipped up and never leave it on the table, and always keep your handbag on your lap or between you and a friend if you’re sitting side-by-side.
Friendship bracelet scam
This Paris scam mostly only happens at the bottom of the stairs beneath Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre. Someone comes up to you and tries to try a bracelet around your wrist. They’ll claim it’s for free and a gesture of “friendship”, but then ask you for some money for it. All you need to do is say non merci and walk on. These fake “friends” can be a little insistent, but if you just keep walking, they usually leave you alone and move on to someone else.
Street games
This is another of the biggest scams in Paris that usually takes place around Montmartre or in the Pigalle area. You’ll see someone with three small cups, often on top of a cardboard box on the ground. There’s a ball beneath one which he keeps moving around. Tourists place a bet on where it is and ALWAYS lose. That’s because the “gamesmater” isn’t working alone. He always has a few buddies who act like regular tourists who appear to win a round, which makes you think you have a chance. But when it comes to your turn, you’ll lose. It’s always a scam, so don’t even stop to watch, just move on.
Petition scam
Another one of the most popular scams in Paris that you might run into around Sacré-Coeur, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, or Notre Dame. Someone comes up to you with a clipboard and asks you to sign a petition. These are always fake petitions, and once you’ve signed it, the person tries to get you to give a donation to their “cause”. Or, while you’re distracted with their waving petition clipboard, they have a buddy trying to pickpocket you. Whatever you do, don’t sign the petition, nor stop to be nice. Just say non merci, and walk away, they usually aren’t too persistent.
Clear cup scam
This scam isn’t only aimed at tourists, I’ve even seen Parisians fall for it. Someone who seems to be a homeless person places a clear cup in the middle of the sidewalk hoping people won’t see it and will kick it over by accident, feel bad, then give them some money. They tend to be on the sidewalks in and near major tourist attractions. I’ve seen them on the streets around the Louvre, Montmartre, and even the major streets of the Left Bank, like Boulevard Saint Michel and Saint Germain. I know, it’s easy to get distracted looking at the lovely Parisian buildings, but like with some of these other Paris scams, always be a little extra careful around tourist areas and museums and look where you’re walking. If this does happen (and it’s even happened to me), you can say “désolé” (sorry) and help them gather up their coins, but you shouldn’t feel bad, nor feel like you have to give them any money.
The tuk-tuk scam
You’ll likely see some tuk-tuks (pedicabs) near tourist sites in Paris, most of which will try to rip you off – and big time. They’ll quickly show you a price list or point to it on the side of their tuk-tuk, but once you get to your destination, the driver will demand more money and say that was the PER PERSON price (if there’s more than one of you). There are a few official tuk-tuk companies, like Turtle, which you can only hail via their app, but tuk-tuks aren’t even a Parisian thing, so I really don’t recommend this as a way of getting around. The métro is fast and efficient or you can grab an electric Lime bike (which you can book through the Uber app). These are all over the city and are a cheap and fast way to zoom around without being overcharged.
Waiters asking for tips
This last one is a little cheeky and can definitely be considered a scam. Waiters, usually in cafés in touristy areas, sometimes try to tell you that a tip isn’t included in the bill. You don’t actually have to tip in Paris because a 15% service charge is always included in the bill at cafés and restaurants. If you have good service, you can leave a small additional amount of around 5%. But don’t feel like you need to leave any extra – especially if the waiter has asked for it!
After reading my tips on the biggest scams in Paris and how to avoid them, are you looking for other insider tips on Paris? Read these next:
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