Travelers planning an Italian getaway, take observe: a savvy travel author has warned about a widespread scam concentrating on tourists within the nation.
Lauren Quacquarelli, an writer of a number of guidebooks about Italy and its surrounding isles, uncovered particulars of a fraudulent scheme catching many guests off guard. In her TikTok video, she cautioned her followers: “This is one of the biggest tourist traps in Italy,” whereas sharing footage on her @italianlife deal with that reveals unsuspecting tourists ensnared by the ruse.
The shared video captures a couple as they provide money to a avenue vendor in exchange for a bracelet. Lauren, who has British and Italian roots, explains the hustle: “There will be people around main tourist attractions that will put some kind of bracelet on your wrist – they’ll say it’s a gift.”
She warns that the pleasant reward offering shortly turns into a demand for fee. Lauren emphatically recommends avoiding such conditions: “Do not let people put these on your wrist. Unless you want a bracelet of course.”
She concluded with a stark warning in regards to the hazardous nature of the scam, describing potential encounters as “dangerous” and “aggressive”. Echoing her sentiments, a TikTok consumer recounted their own run-in: “Just got back from Rome and this was commonplace, especially around Colosseum. Be firm but respectful when saying no.”
Another warned fellow vacationers: “This and the ones doing the cup trick game! They have their friends act like they’re random people and make you bet money and then lose money! Don’t fall for it!”.
A 3rd individual additionally had an unsettling expertise: “We got given an elephant in Venice. I can’t remember if my mum paid him but she definitely tried to argue with him. When they came near us after that we ignored or said no.”
On a brighter observe, one vacationer relayed a nice expertise: “We had this, and the chap genuinely just gave us a load of bracelets and demanded nothing,” including, “We were chatting to him about London and then his home country. Maybe we charmed him. I was suspicious though!”.
Lauren’s biographical particulars additionally current on her web site mirror her sturdy ties to Italy, stating: “I spent my whole life travelling back and forth from the UK to Italy. A dual existence that fuelled a deep connection to both cultures. Eventually I made the life-altering decision to permanently relocate to Italy. The journey, however, was not without its challenges, especially post-Brexit when the ease of relocation became a complex puzzle.”
Lauren defined her choice to settle completely in Italy, regardless of going through the bureaucratic challenges that arose after Brexit interfered with the simplicity of such a transfer.
“From navigating the bureaucratic rollercoaster to soaking in the culture shocks, I know the ropes. Oh, and let’s not forget, I’ve clocked in some serious mileage travelling across Italy over the past 26 years. Now, I’m here to help you navigate the ropes.”
