Barcelona is considered a relatively safe city, but there are also a lot of pickpockets and scammers who are constantly coming up with new scams. Please read this article carefully to ensure your safety. I know you think that nothing like this will happen to you, that in this respect all big cities are similar to each other. But don't jump to conclusions: I saw a lot of tourists who seemed to be deliberately causing trouble for themselves. However, there are simple steps you need to take to avoid becoming a victim of fraud. I will list some points. If you take them into account, you can easily protect yourself from the most common types of theft and fraud.
Pickpockets want easy victims. If you are careful and don't show off your valuables, you will be less likely to be robbed.
Scammers and swindlers usually act in groups. One (or more) people will distract and confuse you, and another will steal from you. If they approach you and urgently demand your attention, quickly leave.
Here are some scams you may encounter in Barcelona:
- Game with thimbles (cups) - a small ball is placed in one of the three thimbles (cups), then the thimbles are quickly swapped. You must guess where the ball is, but you must place your bet in advance. Perhaps someone will win, so as not to doubt you, but do not be fooled, because they are all members of the same group;
- A scammer in a police uniform - on the street, a supposedly police officer may approach a tourist and say that he must search his things. In 99 cases out of a hundred, they are scammers. Ask to see the document and say that you will only do this at the nearest police station, or call the police immediately;
- Bird droppings - the scammer will secretly smear a small amount of a foul-smelling substance on your shoulder, then call you over and offer to wipe it off with a handkerchief. In the meantime, something will be stolen from you;
- Sale of jumping figurines - on the street they sell figurines that seem to jump on their own to the sounds of tape music. In fact, they are lying to you. If you buy it, you will soon discover that it does not work;
- Flowers for tourists - if a man is walking with a woman, a flower seller approaches him and offers a flower at an obviously expensive price. He does this persistently to make him feel uncomfortable and buy;
- Cheating in a store - when a tourist pays with a card in a store, the cashier pretends to be talking on the phone, but in fact takes a photo of the card in order to use its data later;
- “Sellers” of bracelets - someone approaches a tourist on the street and quickly puts a bracelet on his hand. While the confused tourist is trying to figure out the situation, the “seller’s” accomplice will steal something from you.
The above list is not complete. The scammer may pretend to be a traveler, open a card and ask you for help, or pretend to be from a social research firm, or come to your hotel room in a special uniform, pretending to check the room. If you let them in, one will distract you and the other will steal something from you.
And now some tips on precautions:
- do not carry valuables and documents with you. Leave them in the hotel safe and take a copy of your passport with you. It is advisable to take with you as much money as you may need on that day;
- turn the backpack towards your chest and wear it like that;
- do not hang your bag on a chair in cafes and restaurants. Place your purse on your lap. If you have a large bag, put it down and keep an eye on it;
- do not carry your wallet and phone in your back pocket;
- do not stand in the middle of the street with a map in your hands - this will show thieves that you are an inexperienced tourist;
- keep in mind that the camera hanging around your neck can be stolen;
- be careful when withdrawing money from an ATM. Choose a relatively quiet place for this;
- do not visit dangerous areas of Barcelona (for example, La Mina), do not walk in dark places, especially alone;
- be careful on La Rambla, in the Sagrada Familia, at the train station, on the metro and on the beach, as well as in the hotel lobby, at bus stops and in public transport;
– Avoid strangers who try to approach or touch you.
Emergency phone numbers: Police - 092, 091 or 088; emergency medical care – 061; fire department - 080; emergency service in general – 112; information desk - 095.
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