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Canucks said:Paris has been filled with women pulling that precise scam for years. It was always funny seeing groups of them gathered for lunch laughing and eating take out food and texting on their cell phones during their "break". It's just a job for them and it is only a matter of time before other areas are tried.
DurhamParish said:Canucks said:Paris has been filled with women pulling that precise scam for years. It was always funny seeing groups of them gathered for lunch laughing and eating take out food and texting on their cell phones during their "break". It's just a job for them and it is only a matter of time before other areas are tried.
Yep. Last month we were in Paris, climbing the steps to Sacre Cour, and a group of these women gathered around my wife while another one distracted me. When we finally got away from them my wife noticed that her purse had been unzipped. Luckily, she didn't lose anything.
Hello.nreyn12 said:There have been a couple of reports recently of a scam involving women posing as deaf and dumb 'donation' collectors. They approach pilgrims on the trail carrying a clipboard with a paper explaining that they are collecting donations to help the deaf and dumb, which they present themselves to be. The paper lists the names and amounts in euros that others have donated - usually around 25-30 euros.
I have personally passed these women upon arrival into O'Cebreiro and about .5 km after Sarria, away from the town where there are only pilgrims passing. I have heard reports of them being at the top of the stairs in Sarria and at the entrance to Portomarin.
In Portamarin, two of these women were observed talking animatedly to each other when there were no pilgrims around...in other words, they are not deaf and dumb as they present themselves to be. In addition, there is at least one report of a pilgrim being mugged by one of the women in Portomarin.
It is possible that some of these women are legitimate, but use your judgement when handing over euros to people who are approaching only pilgrims and at odd places on the trail.
Madidi said:They were operating on the Plaza del Obradoiro outside the Cathedral when I arrived there in September last year. They were very persistent and didn't want to take 'NO' for an answer.
Not the most welcoming arrival in Santiago :x
scruffy1 said:Scam? Look around every good sized city in Spain, in Portugal, in France, in Italy, in Greece, in Morocco, you saw them in India, and yes here in Jerusalem, all these places possess professional beggars. They all have their own stories, their own apparent wounds-sore-ailments-diseases-handicaps; they are part of the European urban cityscape. American cities are chock full of "homeless starving" beggars who most all live under a roof somewhere and have dinner. It's a very difficult way to make a living no matter what story they tell. We are commanded by the Good Book to give charity. We of the Jewish persuasion maintain and are commanded to give charity first and foremost within our own community anything beyond the synagogue the neighborhood the town is a personal decision and is a seen as a righteous act of one's choice. Nobody enjoys deceitful extortion but most of these people have fallen off the train of life long ago and will never make it back on, a question of lie or starve and their solution works for them we do not have to support them.
And both were arrested for assaulting a policeman who was called by the Pilgrims' Office when they were operating here. They have obviously moved on.
Callea said:Ok. I have to be honest here. This worries me. Because of my pace, I'm often in odd places alone. The mugging part is especially troubling. Any other suggestions for when I get to the places they are currently known to operate? I was just thinking today that I hadn't noticed nearly the problem with pickpockets that I'd seen in the big cities in Italy. Of course, I'm always vigilant, but I walk past and say No Gracias, will they hurt me if I'm alone?
Callea said:Ok. I have to be honest here. This worries me. Because of my pace, I'm often in odd places alone. The mugging part is especially troubling. Any other suggestions for when I get to the places they are currently known to operate?
carriedavey said:I'm NOT 100% sure if this was an attempted scam, but on April 20, when we were completing the crossing of the bridge leading into Logrono I saw a guy standing on the sidewalk at the corner, wearing what appeared to be pilgrims gear and with a backpack. I said "buen camino" and he said to me "are you German?" in almost flawless english.
Has anyone else encountered this sort of thing? or did anyone else get approached by him for money?
I met them before Cacabellos and also fell prey to them. About 2 days later I met another 2 'deaf' girls with the same sheet, but I was wiser this time.inspiredjen said:I encountered these ladies on the route in May -- and I fell prey to the scam.
I skimmed the photocopied page and it looked legit enough. But only after I'd been milked out of 8 euro did it occur to me that all the previous "donors" names had been written in the same hand and all had (conveniently) donated 20-30 euro.
I felt sad -- especially as it was the first negative experience of the walk. However, I never felt physically threatened or in danger (that's as a woman, walking alone).
When the same gig repeated itself several towns later, I said "NO, GRACIAS!" assertively and continued on. No issue.
What must it say about these people if they're willing to lie to make money? Pity them far more than fear them.
Had the same experience May 2012, somewhere beyond Burgos, but exactly the same story.inspiredjen said:carriedavey said:I'm NOT 100% sure if this was an attempted scam, but on April 20, when we were completing the crossing of the bridge leading into Logrono I saw a guy standing on the sidewalk at the corner, wearing what appeared to be pilgrims gear and with a backpack. I said "buen camino" and he said to me "are you German?" in almost flawless english.
Has anyone else encountered this sort of thing? or did anyone else get approached by him for money?
Sure did! My Austrian friend (who DOES speak German) got a long sob story about a shredded bank card and all the machinations it would take to get the new one, etc. etc. She fell for it, gave him 20 euro, and found out later about his ongoing scam.
I got the heebie-jeebies from him, but I couldn't understand what he was saying. Further evidence of the need to trust one's instincts.
My Austrian friend (who DOES speak German) got a long sob story about a shredded bank card and all the machinations it would take to get the new one, etc. etc. She fell for it, gave him 20 euro, and found out later about his ongoing scam.
I got the heebie-jeebies from him, but I couldn't understand what he was saying. Further evidence of the need to trust one's instincts.
That's cute. I bet if you also learned sign language for hello, how are you? that slow em up some too. My daughter knows some ill have to have her teach me she taught my grandson to sign the word more hes one, very helpful when he's hungry. He wont do nomore he just starts throwing food we get the message.You can always bark something in Klingon at the scammers, like, "Your mother smells like lemon cookies!" It's a language they haven't heard and don't know how to respond to and you can break away during their moment of confusion.
Thank you, Margaret, it seems the "scam" is still going.There has been another thread about it Maverick- others have experienced the same thing this year. Here's one of the threads. http://www.caminodesantiago.me/comm...reports-of-scam-in-galicia.18855/#post-139251
Margaret
Come ON JALAN JAUH! Everyone needs a break from their working day! :wink: :lol: :lol:
Incidentally, was anyone approached by that dude in the fancy costume selling CD's in front of the cathedral in Santiago? We politely said "no thank you" but that (apparently) was not going to cut it with this gentleman who then indignantly said "I'm not pleased with you" "I replied "not to worry mate, you'll get over it" and we then went on our way. 10 days later upon our return to Santiago we were accosted again by the same man, in view of his previous rudeness my wife said "Same answer as last week mate".....he then said "I am VERY unhappy with you!" I said You were unhappy LAST week too mate, you get used to it! :lol:
Funny, I've always kept a glass evil eye like this hanging on my pack:I read some where about a person who when he was approached by" rosemary sellers" he would dig in his pocket & produce a glass eye,offer it to them & they would scatter.........I thought I would try something similar,bought a Egyptian broach thingo with an eye painted on it, so far it works......................Vicrev
Be sensible, don't be a rube, trust your gut, and be open to all the lovely people out there too.
I've been traveling alone internationally since my late teens, and domestically (with parental limits imposed!) since my mid-teens. As most girls are, I was taught the importance of being accommodating, friendly, and polite regardless of the danger to myself (be a NICE GIRL! And of course NICE GIRLS and LADIES don't talk back, don't have an attitude, and aren't [gasp, clutch pearls] RUDE. )After a few very close calls my first time to England alone at 20 I learned that nice girls are not going to last long without being Nice, Polite victims of harassment and possibly assault. I have fought tooth and nail and knees to the balls in isolated alleys. I am no longer nice to strangers who have assertively and deliberately invaded my space.
Why do I mention this? Because North Americans, especially women, are taught that it's rude to ignore someone who is trying to get your attention and speaking directly to you.
And this is why scams are so very easy to pull off on North Americans. We want to be polite. And then experts reel you in with their sad stories.
I seldom get hassled now, because I don't engage at all. If someone's physically blocking my way I bark "no" aggressively in whatever language. A sharp "NEIN!" Works if "no" doesn't. But any conversation at all is not a good idea. The "no!" is only when ignoring them doesn't work.
If in doubt, watch how locals handle the beggars/scam artists. They are brusque and very "rude" by not responding to questions, and just walking on.
Be sensible, don't be a rube, trust your gut, and be open to all the lovely people out there too.
"They" always were, and always will be, out there.On October 16, leaving O'Cebreiro, I encountered .... They are still out there...
We read yesterday of a new scam/threat, chiefly aimed at residents but also taking place on the backstreets of some towns in Spain, not just Galicia.
The person is approached and asked to buy perfume, then offered the bottle to smell the fragrance. It is instead a powerful knockout drug with nasty side effects possible. While the person is unconcious their house is ransacked or, on the steet, their wallet/other belongings taken.
Spain is not the only country affected by these gangs and there is effort being made to catch the criminals, but best to be aware and don't buy perfume from a street seller, unless maybe they sniff it first.
I was pickpocketed in late September in the Atocha railway station in Madrid after being in Spain less than an hour! I have to say I was impressed with the woman's professionalism. She distracted me by offering to help me find the right train track and lifted my wallet and cut the tether while bumping me, an additional distraction. After that I had no credit cards to worry about!
We were approached by the deaf mute girls outside of Sarria at the end of October. They readily accepted our refusal to donate money. I did notice their clipboard had a number of names on it with large donations. I think they might get more donations if they made the recorded donations in lower amounts. I knew about this scam because of this thread.
I assume that issues of trust, distrust, and gullibility come up on the Camino for people for whom these are issues. What I learned from getting pickpocketed was worth far more than the inconvenience it caused. I want to be able to trust the trustworthy and recognize the untrustworthy.
I was pickpocketed in late September in the Atocha railway station in Madrid after being in Spain less than an hour! I have to say I was impressed with the woman's professionalism. She distracted me by offering to help me find the right train track and lifted my wallet and cut the tether while bumping me, an additional distraction. After that I had no credit cards to worry about!
We were approached by the deaf mute girls outside of Sarria at the end of October. They readily accepted our refusal to donate money. I did notice their clipboard had a number of names on it with large donations. I think they might get more donations if they made the recorded donations in lower amounts. I knew about this scam because of this thread.
I assume that issues of trust, distrust, and gullibility come up on the Camino for people for whom these are issues. What I learned from getting pickpocketed was worth far more than the inconvenience it caused. I want to be able to trust the trustworthy and recognize the untrustworthy.
And, of course, there are genuine Deaf people making a living. In Spain they are often selling lotto tickets. In France they are often selling tourist trinkets quite often going round restaurants to do this
One has to be aware that 192,000 + pilgrims walking along the Caminos to Santiago each year are a moveable feast .... predators will appear, picking off the weak and the unaware. It is as it has always been ... think about it .. I have sat in village squares and watched this - so many pilgrims have ridiculously expensive specific walking clothes, costing hundreds and hundreds of Euros, expensive backpacks, cameras ... why .. even some of the walking poles cost more than the weekly unemployment benefit in Spain ... therefore the rich pilgrim is a target - and don't immediately think "but I am not a rich pilgrim" - of course you are; the very fact that you are on pilgrimage, if you come from a different country, means that you are. I am not speaking of those who saved for years, who bought secondhand kit, who live simply, who don't even own a camera - those in the minority, but the other pilgrims - you most likely took five weeks off work, flew over half the way round the world ... before you left you visited trekking shops and spent hundreds, hundreds, some even thousands, on special clothing and kit, .. and most can afford to eat out every night - do you not know that most people on this planet never eat out? Most humans on this planet never have the spare money to eat out, let alone every night for week after week ..... so, to many poor people and most predators, you are like fat wildebeest, migrating across the plains .. you are a target, of course you are ....
But, let us not get out of proportion here - ... of that 192,000 pilgrims last year .. how many had problems? two dozen? if that ..... so - I would say to all of you ... be kind, keep a coins pocket to give to those in need, do not flaunt your wealth .... dress simply, walk simply, live simply ..... and be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves ...
... Buen Camino
Hi, I was approached in Brisbane Australia of all places with this scam. I offered $5 which he took in his hand. Then he showed me the clipboard with supposed donations of $30 to $50 and very rudely demanded more. I dropped my almost empty take away coffee cup on the pavement, then snatched my $5 back out of his hand, told him that was the price for being ungrateful, empty hands and coffee stains on his trousers. But many thanks for the warning, I have been too busy with preparations to even think of personal security.I was pickpocketed in late September in the Atocha railway station in Madrid after being in Spain less than an hour! I have to say I was impressed with the woman's professionalism. She distracted me by offering to help me find the right train track and lifted my wallet and cut the tether while bumping me, an additional distraction. After that I had no credit cards to worry about!
We were approached by the deaf mute girls outside of Sarria at the end of October. They readily accepted our refusal to donate money. I did notice their clipboard had a number of names on it with large donations. I think they might get more donations if they made the recorded donations in lower amounts. I knew about this scam because of this thread.
I assume that issues of trust, distrust, and gullibility come up on the Camino for people for whom these are issues. What I learned from getting pickpocketed was worth far more than the inconvenience it caused. I want to be able to trust the trustworthy and recognize the untrustworthy.
Not even a wedding band that is a very snug fit? Actually, with current gold rates, a gold ring is probably a fairly conspicuously valuable nowadays... even if not flashy/blingy.Very good point, Lynne. I, for one, don't wear jewelry other than my scallop shell necklace (thanks, David). I am a daughter of a former NYC policeman who put into a healthy dose of skepticism. I am friendly, but also cautious as a rule.
Absolutely and perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned my bad experience because I don't want to cause any alarm. In fact I was astonished at how safe I felt on my 120 mile stretch. But it does no harm to remind people to be aware and exercise caution and common sense, and I confess has made me slightly nervous about some stretches this year....My advice would be trust your own instincts and if you feel uncomfortable act on that. If you don't feel at all threatened but still get ripped off it's just part of life's great circle and no great loss. Hoping I leave my small bout of nerves quickly behind somewhere near SJPP.Off course it is important to be cautious and keep on using common sense on the camino.
But I also would like to stress the words of David saying that only a few dozen out of 192.000 people did actually have some bad experience themselves. (and 192.000 did hear something about it...) Off course, it is a shocking thing when it actually does happen to you.
Still, especially in this thread, I would like to stress out that in general the camino is a very, very, very safe place to be. Althought it is a very subjective thing, I personally haven't felt more safe and rich anywhere else.
I was approached by the two Hungarian guys just before St Juan in June, but actually thought they might have been a bit genuine. They certainly looked very tanned and rugged as if they had walked a long distance - I'm sure they were scamming to get money but felt it probably was to go home. Gave them a couple of Euros. Saw the deaf and dumb women near O'Cebreiro. I too thought it was some kind of survey until I read the sheet and looked closer at them - As soon as I read someone from New Zealand had given 45 euros I knew it was a scam - I live in Australia and have a ton of Kiwi friends and I assure you none of them would donate 45 euros out in the middle of nowhere!
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