20 Scams in Rome…and How to Avoid Them

There will always be scams all around you and for a city as old as Rome, as visited, loved, and expensive, here are the scams in Rome to watch out for …

My peronal experiences are no. 1, 8, 11, 17 & 19

Humans are ingenious!!!

The amount of tricks we have developed over the millennia is incalculable.

I imagine the first scam happened when some pitiful and weak human somewhere convinced a wild and dangerous wolf that it was better to eat that delicious-smelling piece of cooked meat in his hand than to look for other game elsewhere. Then man upgraded his game and moved on to tricking cows into accepting a fenced area in exchange for some milk … then some meat. Then man moved on to pigs, goats, horses…

We didn’t win the war over the cats though. Those cute little fellows have us under their paws and I don’t see anything changing anytime soon.

The game has changed a bit now.

We shifted focus from animals to fellow man. A bit harder, but the scams are arguably more sophisticated.

Fortunately for the new prey, while the game has changed, to those of us who prefer to work hard and honestly for our earnings, the rules have remained the same.

That is, someone offers something nice, scented, or shiny in exchange for what we should know better or do. Simply put, for a scam to go through, it needs YOUR active participation and YOUR belief that you can get one over on the other guy.

So today fellow travelers, I want to introduce you to some of the more common – and uncommon – scams going on around the city of Rome, yes, my city. I have lived in Rome for 5+ years now, and most of these scams I have personally experienced, I know I know, you may ask how does one fall for a scam one after the other???

Well, these scams have a deceiving face; an old, well-dressed man or woman in distress, a pregnant well kept lady in distress and others could be a young innocent kid looking for a bus ride back home (only to enter a gambling shop soon after). Trust me you’d be fooled too. No one holds you at gunpoint anymore, it’s all about playing with the psychology. Sadly, I now have my guard way up that no one… absolutely no one, gets mercy!!

There will always be scams all around you; we all know and get that. And for a city as old as Rome, as visited, loved, and expensive, then you know there will be scams to watch out for.

And they can get devious. The city of Rome is almost the oldest city in the Western World, to say nothing of its size and sophistication. I imagine some of the scams have been going around for centuries if not millennia.

So, buckle up and read on as I try to list and tell you how to avoid some of these scams, and, in the end, maybe you can save up a little more than you originally would have after a trip.

My name is Lucia, and I do Travel blogs and YouTube videos all around Italy and the world. In keeping with the theme I go for – how to get the most out of the least – today I will get into the subject of Scams in Rome.

Being aware of these common scams in Rome and generally anywhere you go can help you stay vigilant and enjoy your trip to Rome without any unpleasant surprises.

Enjoy!

1. Petrol Money and Lost Drivers

So here’s my personal experience:

I go to park my car at my usual spot to go for my 10k km walk but then just as I park, there’s an old Italian man, say in his mid 60s, well dressed, as they should be in Italy, standing with his car door open looking confused. I mind my business and proceed to switch off the engine and have a last look at the mirror as I adjust my hat as it’s sunny and I’m trying to age gracefully and minding my business!

I look again on my right and the guy really looks stressed, he looks all around the parking area, mind you this parking area is usually full certain hours, like now, its outside a basketball building for high school kids so my guess is he is waiting for his grandson to finish with his game and they go home. Then we make eye contact as I see his distressed look, which happened to be my biggest mistake, as I should be …again…MINDING MY BUSINESS!

So as we lock contact, the good looking 60 year old man asks me, is there a local civil Vigile close by that’s open because the one opposite the court yard, apparently, its closed and there’s no one in to help him and his Postepay bank card just got swallowed.

So let me give you the full picture, I practically know this area like the palm of my hand because I daily here walk for my normal 10k’s. Opposite us just across the road is the Vigile (Italian municipal police), then just beside it is the petrol station and behind the basketball courtyard where we are at, is the ATM machine for the specific bank that he has an account with.

I have the same account with Postepay (the worst bank account you can open in Italy, I actually opened another a few months prior, transferred everything and waiting to close the Postepay as soon as it nears end of this year before they deduct the yearly tax – yes, I’m that frugal but I’m really pissed with that bank, and I’ll mention it later in this post [ No. 17 ⬇️ ] . I’m closing it because this institution is also Italy’s best scam target.

So when he mentions about his card getting swallowed by the ATM, I know that happens, and at that time we met, usually all shops, offices, that specific posta with the ATM and even the Vigile just close to go for lunch and a siesta. Yes, in Italy expect to find businesses closed between 1:30-4:30, very common in small towns and villages like this one, in major cities like Rome, because of the tourists, they are always open.

I gazed in front of me to confirm the Vigile is closed because there’s no cars parked outside its offices. So I tell him the next closest Vigile is a few kilometers from us then he says he wanted to withdraw money to pay for petrol but now he can’t get back home leave alone going to look for the vigile to help him sort out his ATM issue. Here’s where me being the hero in shinning armour comes to the rescue to save this fragile good looking old man.

I ask where he stays, he says the next village, not so far but the petrol he has left in his tank is barely enough. I offer to pay for him and tell him we go fuel, he gets into his car, I quickly cross the road on foot and met him at the petrol station. I asked him how much, he says just €10 is enough to get him home and I think that’s really nothing right. I look at him, still looks distressed, poor guy.

So I tell him he can put €20 at least to be sure he gets home and he says thank you politely. I check if I have cash and I don’t have enough so I go to the machine, put in my card and the booth number to start pumping the fuel. I remove my card and tell him ciao because in my head, I don’t want to stand next to him and make sure he pumps just €20 right??? I mean, that’s ruude!!

I quickly jog off to start my 10k after his grazie and ciao, and suddenly my phone messages me, €90 paid to XX petrol station!!! I look back the damned! old! man is driving off! So here’s the thing, I’m mad but I’m grateful at the same time because in Italy how the petrol station meters are set up, you can only fuel up to €100 at a time then you have to return the nozzle before recharging again if you still want to add more petrol. But why would this man take more than the said agreed €20 we had agreed, rather I had offered, I trusted he would take just that much!!!

YES, IT WAS ALL MY FAULT IN AS MUCH AS I VENT!! LESSON LEARNT!!

I was scammed, plain and simple!!

The petrol scams come in different forms though.

The trick is they pretend to have run out of fuel but are willing to offer you a ride to your destination if you can contribute some fuel money. Or you help him figure out the route to where they should get to. During the ride, they “open up” and tell you all about how they are some low-key but famous brand designer or seller newly into town. Then as a gift, they offer you a bag, wallet, or even a great-looking watch. Somewhere in the process, you have just offered fuel money whose value is bound to be higher than what that glitzy watch is worth.

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. From my above experience, just keep walking, mind your business, don’t lock eye contact, IGNORE THEM!!! They can walk home (okay I’m clearly still angry but then again, THEY CAN WALK HOME!!
2. Don’t be too trusting. You can be friendly, but just entering that car in the first place was not wise. Even in a group; you never know.
3. Be smart. If he/she really does own/work for a big brand they ought to be able to come up with the fuel money or whatever.
4. Why do you think you are so lucky or deserving of a perfect stranger suddenly offering you a designer watch or jacket just before they claim they run out of fuel?

2. Buses / Metros and Pickpockets

P.S: The Pickpockets are usually mostly pregnant women or ”pretending to be” – pretty deceiving … and THE WORST PART, as per the Italian law, these pregnant women cannot go to prison, scot-free!! The New government is fighting to change this absurd law but the far-left party 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

You are thrilled at finally getting here after all that time saving up. Your eyes are on windows or glued to your camera. Rightly so; you are here to have fun and capture lifelong memories.

Unfortunately, it is the buses and underground metros where you should be most wary. Whether it is during the scuffle getting on, or while rushing to alight for some reason, or even simply queuing up to get somewhere, it is then that the pickpockets hit. You are so focused on your task that you think that the shove you just felt was an innocent one rather than someone using a second of touch to relieve you of your wallet or phone.

PS: trains, airports, trams, monuments, and historic sites are also areas you should be wary of as well.

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. Fanny packs and money belts. They don’t look cool, but they are one way to make sure you keep what is yours with you. Carry your backpacks on the front.
2. Sightseeing buses and those arranged by Rome tour operators. They might be more expensive, but not only do your fellow travelers become your eyes, but even the Rome tour operators themselves become your eyes.

3. Tour Packages from Fake Tour Operators

There are tour packages on offer in Rome. A good Rome tour guide will know about them and tell you to spend this way because they are cheaper. The problem is, sometimes it is not wise to leave your life in the hands of others if you can avoid it. Some touts are fake, offering package deals that are more expensive than the real thing. Or ‘skip the line tickets’ which do not. Or even scamming you into buying tickets for places that are off-limits.

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. Book online in advance. Scammers sell fake tickets for attractions like the Colosseum or Vatican Museums. Always buy tickets from official websites or authorized vendors.
2. DO NOT ENGAGE anyone approaching you while you are at a ticket vending machine. Even if it is not a pickpocket, they might be the guys offering you ‘cheaper tickets’ or those scammy passes.
3. If you are not with a Rome tour guide in the first place, buy NOTHING from anyone offering to sell you ANYTHING while you are queuing or simply walking around.

4. Fake Polizia

They operate as fake police, often in pairs, trying to tag team you and make their story feel genuine. They claim there is a security threat in the area. Or that they are doing random checks on people and you are it for the moment. Or simply that they want to check your ID or passport for some reason. Or that they want to see the receipt on something you bought or are carrying and will fine you on the spot because the receipt is wrong or something.

The goal is to see into your bag and perhaps grab something really fast. Or worse, they have sharp eyes and memories and simply need to get a quick peek at your credit card or any personal details you have on you like age, full name etc.

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. NEVER hand over anything personal to anyone in public.
2. Insist you do the check or whatever in a police station WHATEVER the emergency. Better to be arrested and defend your refusal at the police station anyway.
3. Demand to SEE their badge number and face on the ID so you can call the police hotline at 113 or 112.
4. Demand you will pay the fine at the police station and are okay with wasting the time to get there.
5. Refuse to enter their unmarked car and even go to the extent of causing a scene if they insist. Better to be arrested if they really were genuine plain-clothes police than to somehow wake up missing a kidney or both.
6. If you have a Rome tour guide with you, it becomes better because they become an added lookout in your company.
7. Insist on their showing their ID. Then STILL insist on going to the police station anyway.

5. No Menu at the Restaurant / Caffé

This is more common with those little family restaurants you find on quiet side streets. You want to enjoy something truly unique and stop at a little eatery you and your company see. They are very cheerful and friendly in welcoming you but also claim not to have a menu with prices listed. Through it all, you forget you to ask how much a plate of pasta costs there. After you order and are getting the bill, you find out that the scoop of gelato you just had cost 20 euros. That white truffle pasta you ate for 20 euros elsewhere last week? 80 euros!

PS: watch out for taxis, bars, and shops as well as overcharged prices that can come out of nowhere.

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. ALWAYS insist on seeing a menu before you order.
2. Maybe hold out your phone and record the conversation in case they state a price and later pretend you heard wrong.
3. Watch out for an ‘*’/asterisk on any item on the menu as it may indicate some special condition that hikes up its cost.
4. Sometimes it is better to simply get up and leave for somewhere they list their prices in the open. The experience might not be unique, but your money and enjoyment will last longer this way.
5. Ahem…if you are with a Rome food tour guide in your group…

6. What a Glamorous Man / Woman

They look really well-dressed. They walk up to you and claim to have lost their wallet. Or some really good story that winds up with you being asked to give them some money. Somewhere in that conversation, you are being offered that really cool and expensive-looking jacket or wallet or watch.

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. NO. Just no. No matter what or where the story is going or what you are offered, simply refuse. Or say you don’t have anything on you.
2. Refuse to even touch the thing you are offered because you might be forced to buy it since it is in your hands already and damaged. You don’t know what relationship they have with the local police…
3. Why are you talking to a perfect stranger in the middle of the road for that long in the first place? Friendships are good, but common sense is better.

7. Hey, you seem cool. Let us meet up for dinner?

These guys and girls look and sound really charming and sweet. They come up to you…or you have subconsciously gone up to them. The conversation is awesome and somehow, the two/three of you get to know each other really well. Then they suggest they pick up where the conversation left off at a restaurant sometime later in the evening. It is an awesome dinner and you somehow pay for it as well. Most of the time, the guy has convinced you to go to bed with them.

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. When you first meet, the conversation seems to wind up with you giving up a lot of details about yourself. Keep them to yourself even if you really were in Rome to meet your true love.
2. Enjoy the conversation. Maybe even be the one to pay for the meal if you can afford it. Leave it there; no hooking up in bed after just one or four meals while on holiday!

8. Friendship Roses, Bracelets, and other gifts…that you have to pay for

Generally, some stranger walks up to you and offers a rose or bracelet as a gift. It might be after a long or short conversation you’ve had. Worse, they want you to try out some bracelet of theirs but it later won’t come off – or becomes damaged when you try to -, thus forcing you to pay for it.

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. Smile along, shake your head, or walk on. Do not engage and especially, DO NOT let someone put something on you – or take it into your hand – if you don’t know how much it costs.
2. If nothing is damaged while in your hands, just hand it back or place it down and walk away. They will get somewhat aggressive and loud, but never physical.
3. Let your Rome tour guide get into the middle of it rather than try to deal with it yourself.

9. Lost Credit Cards…and the Calls

So, you lost your wallet and the credit card, passport, ID, phone, and personal effects along with it. You do the smart thing and immediately call your bank to cancel the credit card. Then you get a call from the ‘bank’ wishing to assist you in checking out the details or canceling it.

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. NEVER give out your details over the phone. Especially from a line you don’t know.
2. Do not trust your hotel no matter its rating. Some scammers work with hotel staff or the front desk.
3. Be careful about the contact number on websites as some scammers are smart and sophisticated enough that they even arranged for a fake website as part of their game.

10. Street Artists and ‘Cheap Portraits’

Be careful while walking where street artists have placed their ”masterpieces” on the ground because chances are you might not see while being mesmerized by the beauty of Rome and accidentally step on the ”masterpieces” OR, ”some guy” – aka staged!! accidentally bumps into you and YOU step on the ”masterpieces” … need I say more what will unfold??? I have personally seen many cases happen and the tourists did not look happy paying for their mistakes …

Another scenario …

You are in the city where art is like the rain; sooner or later, it will pour. So you see some street artist taking a rest but have samples with them. You walk up and see something you like – perhaps even want a fresh one done for you. The problem is, the stuff they are selling is not theirs but some cheap stuff they printed off a webpage somewhere.

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. Watch them from a distance to see whether they actually are artists.
2. Use the knowledge of your Rome tour guide to tell you whether the street artist is genuine.
3. Chat them up and lead the conversation to find out whether they have an Instagram page or website where they advertise or sell their stuff.

11. Photo with the Pigeons

So this stranger walks up to you and tells you there is a trick to getting that pigeon to eat out of your and he shoves some grain or piece of bread into your hand and then takes the photo of you after ‘whistling’ the bird over. Then they charge you for it.

Another scenario … ( Personal experience but in Milan )

ARE YOU IN MILAN AND WANT TO KNOW THE PLACES TO VISIT?? READ ⬇️⬇️

The picture I took above I was with my friend, the guy came up to me and told me he has seeds and at a really throw away price he will give me to take pics with the pigeons, we agreed on the price, so my friend and I took turns at taking each other photos because we couldn’t trust him to use our phones, then when we are all happy and satisfied with the beautiful photos with the cooperative feeding pigeons we remove the exact money we had agreed upon to avoid him not having loose change and us having to ”tip” him the change …. the guy says no, its 4X the agreed amount for each!!!!

My girlfriend and I argue with him, he clearly looks mad and starts to shout at us and Milan being so crowded, most tourists look at us to understand what’s happening. To avoid the drama, we pay!!!

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. What are you thinking by letting some stranger put something in your hand in the first place?
2. Just walk away. Being too nice is not wise really. If you happened to have taken whatever they put in your hand in the first place, give it back or drop it right there.
3. Feeding birds or animals is also discouraged in most places, so that in itself is a red flag.
4. Get your Rome tour guide to do the extra service by being active about his group and shooing away these pests [the human kind I mean].

12. Inflated Prices

Genuine leather is bound to be expensive. Worse, telling the fake from the real is really hard. Problem is, even if you know something about how to tell the real from the fake, some of the products out there on sale are really well done. For more information on telling real leather from fake, visit my page Best Things to Do in Florence , where I talk about the trick to spending your money wisely.

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. Real leather has a strong smell, absorbs water without the leather changing, and even won’t catch fire.
2. DO NOT try the above or more even if you know the trick to it. The material might actually get damaged and you get forced to buy it anyway.
3. Try not to answer any questions about where you are from or anything. Limit the conversation to “how much does it cost.” They are trying to get you at ease and unwary before they spring the price on you.

13. Know Your Math…and Currency

Italy changed to the Euro sometime back. However, there are some lira coins lying around. Worse, the 500 Lira coin looks a lot like some Euro coins. Problem is, the value is not the same, to say nothing of the fact that some vendors will not accept the old currency or valuation you think it has now.

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. Check your change. Just refuse any non-Euro change you are given. Go to the extent of refusing the sale if they insist they have no other change.

14. Sign My Petition… it’s for a Worthy Cause

These guys will wear matching outfits sometimes, pamphlet or signboard in hand. They approach you while you are in a crowd so already feel safe. They have this catching story and not only are they persistent, they grab your attention while asking for something big or small you can spare for their charity organization. At the same time, their hidden companion is behind or to your side, listening alongside you while their hands and fingers are reaching into your bag or back pocket.

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. Wear a fanny pack or money belt in the first place. This might automatically remove you from their list of potential targets in the first place.
2. DO NOT ENGAGE. Any credible charity organization should have a website you can visit in the first place. Simply shake your head and move on.
3. Your Rome tour guide should be on the lookout for such scams as they are local and should know the crowd.

15. Quick Rides and Illegal Taxis

This is a fairly simple one. You think you are out of time or schedule and enter an illegal taxi. Or you missed your bus and want to catch up. Or will miss your plane, boat, etc. Then they charge you an arm and a leg and an extra arm for the ride.

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. Legal taxis must wait for passengers at taxi stands. DO NOT hail a car on the streets even if they are marked as taxis.
2. Ask for confirmation on what the fare is. Refuse to compensate for incidental traffic jams even if you feel sorry for them as they should already have known about it.
3. Taxi fares are displayed on the side of the taxi…which itself should be boarded at official taxi stands.
4. Board only the official Roma Capitale taxi cabs.
5. Always carry small cash on you as the genuine taxi driver might claim to have no change and your stress begins.
6. Entering a strange car…really??
7. Ensure the meter is running or agree on a fare before the ride starts. Official taxis are white with a taxi sign on top.

16. Free Club Tickets? Yay…ayyyyyyy

A stranger offers you a free ticket to a really good club. Or you are lining up to enter one and they claim they can get you to somewhere better etc. Basically, the scam revolves around giving you REAL tickets to a REAL club…that charges insanely for drinks.

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. NOPE. Take nothing for free. People can be nice and loving…but you don’t have to accept their love.
2. If you are with a Rome tour guide then they should direct you to somewhere genuine as part of their hustle.
3. Check out online reviews of the club before you even enter, let alone get drinks. If they don’t even have one talking about it then you should be wary.

17. Messages connected to delivery apps

I personally have gone through this scam together with many other Italians with a specific bank / posta, Postepay, it’s even on the headlines if you search!! The banks’ app is flawed in some way that scammers can know if you made a purchase to be delivered and hence can send you delivery messages with links on tracking your delivery.

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. Though slightly expensive, open a normal bank account. Postapay is not really a bank per see, it’s more in-between being a postal service ( Posta Italiane ) and a bank. Plus their services are really crap!!

18. Colosseum pics with gladiators

Don’t we all just love photos with a gladiator in Rome!! We’ll, the problem is that you’ll see them just strolling around Rome, dressed in their iconic gladiator armour and when they see you eyeing them, they ask you if you want to take a pic with them, all smiles and friendliness until right after the click of the camera, they ask for cash!!! Some tell you beforehand that they charge but once you take the photos, the price inflates way above the agreed amount.

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. I think a voice record would help, lol!

19. Taking a photo of you with an instant photo camera at the Trevi Fountain

Just like the pigeon photo, these camera guys will tell you one price and right after the instant photo is produced, the price is another!!

How do you avoid such scams in Rome?

1. I think a voice record would help, lol!

20. ATM Scams

This has been on the Italian news, so beware. Skimming devices can be placed on ATMs or Petrol station paying machines to steal card information. Use ATMs inside banks or reputable locations and cover your PIN.

More General Rules about Traveling in Rome

1. Plan ahead by knowing WHEN in the year you are traveling. For example, July gets awfully hot. Some months of the year the hotel, restaurant, and bar owners themselves are on holiday, leaving you with dreams unfulfilled.
2. Accept nothing anyone tells you is free. They might have a partner – or parent as is the case with some child offering you a flower – in the wing demanding you got confused and that you must pay for the gift.
3. Always board at official stops and do not hail cabs or find yourself in crowds.
4. Avoid changing money whatever the price they appear to offer.
5. Avoid unofficial tour guides even if they state their rates because some of them might be fake and know less about the site than you do.
6. Those gladiators in costumes charge to have their photos with you taken. Ask for their price first.
7. Wear good and comfortable shoes in the first place to avoid having to buy them at way higher prices than they are later on.
8. Do the same with your water.

That’s it on the top scams in Rome and ways you can avoid them. Rome is great and easy to fall in love with. Do so; it really is a great city and great to travel. Still, be careful, be wise, and be skeptical.

Read my article on the TOP 15 FREE THINGS TO DO IN ROME, and watch my YouTube channel on more about traveling in Italy.

Bye!