old one indeed. I remember a brilliant move from a shopowner who just politely shrugged and told " Yes I know this trick ".
Now when these " entrepeneurs " ask me something I repeat that quote....in French, Spanish or English depending where I am....
, have to keep this in mind . Love it .
It’s not always the same two, no. It is a family, so the faces change. The men are never out there running the scam, just the women. The men are sometimes close by, with a vehicle to drive them on to the next spot if things get too complicated there.
They were there both times I walked the Frances. In 2017 the man at a bar nearby told me that he saw them on their cell phones while they were taking a break, (from being deaf-mute?).
They work in teams - have seen them switching. And that faked voice? The speak perfectly normally when there isn't a "Mark" around!
They move around each day. We passed them three times, on three separate days, just over a week ago. On the first occasion I nearly paid up but was quickly suspicious. On the second occasion they were being dropped off at the roadside by their gang master for their days work. The next day we were approached and I told them in no uncertain terms to clear off, which they did. They are not deaf.
I have two hand signals, should the occasion present itself. The first would be the extension of the middle digit of the right hand followed by the signal for, "L," provided in a dramatic way, to punctuate. They do not want my staff to take over the converasation. It can make itself understood before first aid would be required.I once worked with somebody who was profoundly deaf and even my sad attempts at BSL were accepted with grace - he'd been there for two years and everybody else used to write him notes (he's a computer drafting technician). If anybody would like to learn some genuine sign language then THIS can be useful.
I can spell in BSL and ASL (Spanish SL uses similar, one handed, spelling to ASL - the accents make a slight difference) but that's a tedious way of communicating - imagine "speaking" to somebody and spelling out every word!
Phone texting has revolutionized things of course and finger spelling "text speak" can speed things up.
I'll confess some self interest here - after 45 years as an engineer on heavy construction sites I now wear two hearing aids
I wonder what the reaction would be if you signed to these scam artists?View attachment 40939
View attachment 40937
The French can be truly romantic - you may well have passed up on your life long partner and father of your children . . . . nah!
The scam is either for you to get your wallet out for a “grab and dash”, or when surrounded by a multitude of children, the ring acts as a distraction while you are being pickpocketed by little hands.
Same scam happen to me and my wife. But miracles happen on the Camino. The police happen to show up and the two ladies could suddenly hear and talk: very loud and very fast. I was told they were professional pick pockets. Keep your distance and don’t stop walking.
"found ring" in Paris -someone shows you a ring, said you must have dropped it, no not mine you say, then they say they can't keep it, it is against their religion to keep something that isn't theirs, you keep it. if you say okay, then they want a reward! this was explained to me by a Parisian, don't talk to them, don't touch or take the ring.
I saw them yesterday on tbe walk outside Sarria. They approched me. I was on my own and when I looked at the clipboard and realised the scam as had read this thread, I walked off with them making aggressive noises. About time the police do something.
