Key Takeaways
- The #1 reported scam is the The Wine Tour Commission Trap
- Most scams in Bordeaux are low-to-medium risk
- Use app-based ride services (Uber, Bolt) or official metered taxis instead of unmarked vehicles
- Never accept unsolicited offers from strangers near tourist sites in Bordeaux
⚡ Quick Safety Tips
- Keep phones and valuables in secure pockets when in crowded areas
- Use only licensed taxis or app-based ride services
- Book tours and tickets through verified operators with online reviews
- Keep a copy of your passport separate from the original
Jump to a Scam
The 3 Scams
A tour company offers a 'premium wine tour' to Saint-Émilion for €50 per person.
The tour bus visits one actual château (usually one that pays commission) and two commercial wine shops disguised as 'tasting rooms.' You taste mediocre wine and face pressure to buy overpriced bottles. A genuine château tour in Saint-Émilion costs €15-30 direct and includes proper tastings.
Red Flags
- Tour visits 'wine shops' rather than actual châteaux
- Only one stop has vines visible
- Heavy pressure to buy bottles at each stop
- Guide receives visible commission or kickbacks
How to Avoid
- Book directly with châteaux — most accept individual visitors
- Saint-Émilion tourist office organizes legitimate group tours for €15-30
- Take the TER train to Saint-Émilion (35 min) and walk between châteaux yourself
- Look for tours that name specific châteaux in the itinerary, not generic 'wine estates'
You step off the TGV at Bordeaux's Gare Saint-Jean hauling a suitcase and a daypack.
At the exit turnstile, someone bumps into you from behind as the crowd funnels through. They apologize and move on. On the tram into the city centre, you reach for your phone and it is gone from your jacket pocket. The Bordeaux safety guides and France travel blogs consistently warn about pickpockets at Gare Saint-Jean, listing it alongside Marseille's Saint-Charles and Paris's Gare du Nord as a station where tourists with luggage are prime targets. The area around the station, including Place de la Victoire, is also flagged.
Red Flags
- Someone bumps into you at the exit turnstiles or the tram doors outside the station
- A stranger offers unsolicited help with your luggage at the platform or escalator
- You notice someone walking unusually close to you in the station corridor
- A person asks you a question while standing beside you at the ticket machine
- You feel a light touch on your jacket or bag pockets during a moment of crowding
How to Avoid
- Keep your phone and wallet in zipped inside pockets or a cross-body bag worn in front when navigating Gare Saint-Jean
- Buy tram tickets online or via the TBM app before arriving to avoid standing at station machines with your back exposed
- Decline any unsolicited help with luggage from strangers in the station; use the station's luggage service if needed
- Hold your bag close with one hand whenever passing through narrow exits or turnstiles
- Avoid lingering in the station or the area around Place de la Victoire after dark
While admiring the Miroir d'Eau at Place de la Bourse, a young woman approaches with a clipboard ...
While admiring the Miroir d'Eau at Place de la Bourse, a young woman approaches with a clipboard and asks you to sign a petition for deaf children. She pushes the clipboard close so you have to lean forward. While you are reading, her companion reaches into your unzipped bag or back pocket. In a second variant, you sign and she demands a 10 to 20 euro donation, becoming loud and aggressive if you decline. Bonjour Guide's 2025 French scam overview lists the petition scam as prevalent in Bordeaux and across major French cities, particularly at popular squares and pedestrian streets.
Red Flags
- Someone approaches you with a clipboard or petition at a busy tourist spot
- They position the clipboard so you must lean forward, exposing your pockets and bag
- A second person stands very close behind you during the interaction
- The petition text is vague or in a language you cannot read
- After signing, they aggressively demand a cash donation
How to Avoid
- Firmly say 'non merci' and keep walking without stopping when someone approaches with a clipboard
- Never lean over a clipboard held by a stranger; this is designed to give access to your pockets
- Carry your bag in front of your body with zippers closed at all tourist sites in Bordeaux
- If you want to donate, research and donate online to verified charities rather than to strangers on the street
- Walk toward other tourists or shopkeepers if a petition-pusher becomes aggressive
🆘 What to Do If You Get Scammed
📋 File a Police Report
Go to the nearest Police Nationale / SAMU station. Call 17 (Police) or 15 (SAMU medical). Get an official crime report — you'll need this for insurance claims. You can also report online at pre-plainte-en-ligne.interieur.gouv.fr.
💳 Cancel Your Cards
Call your bank immediately. Most have 24/7 numbers on the back of the card (keep a photo saved separately). Block any suspicious transactions before the thieves use your details.
🛂 Lost Passport?
Contact your nearest embassy or consulate. The US Embassy in Paris is at 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris. For emergencies: +33 1 43-12-22-22.
📱 Track Your Device
If your phone was stolen, use Find My (iPhone) or Find My Device (Android) from another device. Don't confront thieves yourself — share the location with police instead.
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