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16 · If something goes wrong
Common Tourist Scams
The handful to know — and how to sidestep them.
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Trust the instinct — a confident "no, grazie" resolves nearly every scam on this list.
| Scam | Where | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| The "free gift" | Colosseum, Trevi, Duomo, Piazza San Marco | Don't take anything held out to you; hand it back and walk away |
| Fake charity petition | Major tourist sites | Decline and keep moving — a pickpocket distraction technique |
| Shell game / street dice | Rialto Bridge, city squares | Don't stop to watch, even out of curiosity |
| Unofficial taxis & tampered meters | Airports, train stations | Only use official ranks outside; confirm meter/fixed rate |
| "Helpful" porters / platform assistants | Train stations (Rome, Milan) | Decline unsolicited help; find real uniformed staff |
| Unofficial tour guides / ticket sellers | Colosseum, Vatican exteriors | Book in advance via GetYourGuide or the official site only |
| Fake "tax police" | Anywhere, post-purchase | Ask for a badge number; verify via the real Guardia di Finanza (117) |
| SIM price switching | TIM/Vodafone/WindTre stores | Check the carrier website price first, or use an eSIM |