TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Italy has seen a surge in visitors following Pope Francis' passing on April 21, 2025. The highest leader of the Catholic Church was laid to rest at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, the capital city of Italy, on Saturday, April 26. Amidst the crowds of tourists, whether on vacation or paying their respects to Pope Francis, a traveler has warned about the scams that trap many tourists in the country.
Lauren Quacquarelli, who lives in Italy and is of mixed English-Italian descent, shared a video on TikTok about the most common scams in the country. "This is one of the biggest tourist traps in Italy," said Lauren, who has authored several guidebooks about the country and its surrounding islands.
The clip uploaded to the @italianlife account shows two tourists about to hand cash to a street vendor to purchase a bracelet. Lauren explained that some people around the main tourist attractions will attach such bracelets to the tourists' wrists. "They'll say it's a gift," said Lauren, as reported by Express.co.uk.
However, she cautioned that it is a type of scam because the travelers will be asked for money for the bracelet. So, she advised not to let anyone fasten it on the wrist. "Unless you want a bracelet of course."
She also mentioned that the scam could be something dangerous and potentially aggressive.
Lauren became aware of this by spending her entire life shuttling between England and Italy. Such a lifestyle led her to have a deep connection with both cultures, and eventually, she resided in Italy.
Tourists' Encounters with Scams
Tourists frequently experience such scams. One individual who experienced it commented on the video post. He claimed to have just returned from Rome and pointed out that such incidents are common around the Colosseum. "Be firm but respectful when saying no," he advised.
Another person commented that he experienced it, but he knew what would happen. "When I called him out and told him to 'F off', he became aggressive."
Another TikTok user shared another common scam in tourist spots in Italy, as the cup and ball trick. "They have their friends act like their random people and make you bet money and then lose money! Don’t fall for it!"
However, some tourists get bracelets and don't pay. "We were chatting to him about London and then his home country. Maybe we charmed him. I was suspicious though!"
A small study by a team of travel experts at Quotezone.co.uk revealed popular destinations with the highest pickpocketing incidents. The study, published in 2024, unveiled that Italy emerges at the top of the list as the most pickpocketed tourist destination in Europe. The Trevi Fountain in Rome is deemed the worst spot. More than 470 mentions of "pickpocket" were recorded in TripAdvisor reviews at the location.
On TripAdvisor, a tourist said the crowds are around the fountain and every street around it. Be cautious of your belongings due to the high risk of pickpocketing.
Here's the list of Europe's top 10 pickpocketing countries, based on Quotezone.co.uk data.
1. Italy
2. France
3. Spain
4. Germany
5. Netherlands
6. Portugal
7. Turkey
8. Greece
9. Poland
10. Ireland
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