Active discussions

Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Dropped ring 💍 in Leicester Square, London. Is this part of a distraction theft?

32 replies

TenLittleToes · 06/07/2026 13:26

I was walking in Leicester Sq, London and heard a tinkling sound of metal falling on the ground behind me. A few seconds later someone tapped me on the shoulder, holding up a gold ring asking whether it belonged to me. Knowing that the area was a hotspot for pickpockets, I felt that this was part of a distraction technique, with a view to pickpocketing. Has anyone else experienced such a situation before? Is this a known scam?

The reason for bringing this up, was when a relative was in Istanbul, Turkey, a shoe polisher dropped his brush in front of him. When he returned it, as an act of gratitude the local wanted to polish my relative’s shoes. Only to be charged an extortionate amount of money.

If you have any tales a scams, for tourists to be aware of, during the upcoming holidays, please do share your stories.

OP posts:
Figgysmum · 07/07/2026 18:44

WhatWouldMyMamaSay · 06/07/2026 15:37

I’ve seen it happen with a large map or even a large leaflet. They place it right in front of you and meanwhile grab your phone from the table or go through your bag.

Show quote history

This happened to my husband in Manchester

Meandyouandyouandme · 07/07/2026 21:19

TenLittleToes · 06/07/2026 21:35

Thanks all. I had a hunch that the dropped ring was a scam.

Yes I too came across a woman tapping my shoulder to try and sign a petition at the Eiffel Tower, whilst I was distracted trying to take a few photos.

Another thing that happened to me, also in Istanbul, Tűrkiye, (as Turkey is now called,) was I took a taxi ride between a route which I had been on several times before. All my other taxi drivers spoke minimal English and had a set fare. This particular taxi driver was fluent, ( and also had green eyes.)
He said that there were protests in Taksim Square and had to take a detour. He said that his wife was in labour and about to deliver, and kept making calls.
Instead of parking in front of the hotel (due to CCTV) he parked on a side street. Then asked me for about 8x the usual fare that I had previously paid for . I said that I didn’t have that amount.
I gave him a 50 denomination note, and he swapped it and held up 5 Lira note instead . When I brought up the usual fare that I had paid, he suddenly started driving very fast around the block. His excuse was there was a car that needed to get by behind him. I was still in the back of the car, and this got me worried.
He asked me to go the cashpoint. Knowing that he would likely rob me of my card, I said my husband was in the hotel and I could get the cash from him. (He wasn’t in the hotel, but needed an excuse to get to a place of safety.) At this point he gave up and let me out, after I had given whatever cash I had.
I only discovered the 50Lira/5 Lira switch when I went back to the hotel room and was able to count my cash. I knew what denominations of notes I had brought with me as foreign money.

We were warned of the note switching by our guide in Egypt previously, but when it happens to you, you are still caught unaware.

I’ve had the same taxi scam in Istanbul. I was with 2 other women, and the taxi stopped past our hotel on purpose, as the concierge would have helped us. We then each gave the driver our share of the fare, and he suddenly produced notes worth 10 times less in his hand. We then paid him again to get out of the taxi, I recall it only being about £5 each but it wasn’t a nice experience!

WhatWouldMyMamaSay · 07/07/2026 21:35

Meandyouandyouandme · 07/07/2026 21:19

I’ve had the same taxi scam in Istanbul. I was with 2 other women, and the taxi stopped past our hotel on purpose, as the concierge would have helped us. We then each gave the driver our share of the fare, and he suddenly produced notes worth 10 times less in his hand. We then paid him again to get out of the taxi, I recall it only being about £5 each but it wasn’t a nice experience!

Show quote history

I was in Istanbul recently. It was obvious the taxi driver wanted to scam me but I played dumb. He then asked me if my destination is a hotel or Airbnb. I suspect if the latter, he would have been more forceful but once he realised we’re going to a nice gated hotel, he knew he wouldn’t be able to pull it off so stopped talking to me about the fare.

RaraRachael · 07/07/2026 23:04

TreesAtSea · 06/07/2026 15:11

A scam that is apparently very common on the steps of the Sacre Coeur in Paris is that you're suddenly approached and have your wrist grabbed, only to look down and see a thong-type bracelet has been tied round it, for which payment is demanded. They're difficult to remove so people feel pressured to pay up just to get away.
I've had the petition thing near the Eiffel Tower from two women working together. Even though I'd read all about scams I was taken off guard and thought signing is harmless as a signature from an English tourist would be useless to them. But then one of the two women demanded 20 euros for whatever the cause was meant to be, pointing to an entry from another signatory who'd apparently given that amount. I refused and luckily they just gave me filthy looks and walked away.

We had this with my son who was only about 5. The guy tied a bracelet on his wrist saying, "Hakuna matata from Senegal my friend", all smiling and friendly.
When we said he didn't want it and please remove it he got very threatening. We left the queue as it was the only way to escape - annoying as we'd been there for ages.

It wasn't the only incident and I'd never go back to Paris.

suburberphobe · 07/07/2026 23:16

Yes v common in Europe

Well, I live here and have never had anything like this happen to me.

I'd say they are professionals who can spot a target a mile away.

Always keep your wits about you, whether at home or abroad.

endofthelinefinally · 07/07/2026 23:30

Watch out for families who crowd you on the metro in Paris. There is plenty of room but they won't move to let you have space. Then the kids steal your phone/purse/wallet while the adults squash you so you can't move. If you have a suitcase you are a target.
In Italy, you have to go through "security" when going into the cathedrals etc. You have to empty your pockets onto a long table, go through a metal detector, then retrieve your valuables. Except your wallet won't be there. The security staff don't care. It happened to us in Florence.

Bananalanacake · 08/07/2026 17:42

Thanks for the warning, I won't be going to any cathedrals then.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page