Key Takeaways
- The #1 reported scam is the The Gold Ring Scam
- 1 of 5 scams are rated high 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 Lyon
⚡ 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 5 Scams
You're walking along the river when someone picks up a 'gold ring' from the ground near your feet.
'Is this yours?' They show you the ring — it has a gold hallmark stamp. You say no. They say 'Well, it must be your lucky day — but I can't keep it, my religion forbids gold jewelry. Would you like to buy it for just €20?' The ring is brass worth €0.50. This scam has spread from Paris to every French tourist city.
Red Flags
- Someone 'finds' a ring or jewelry right next to you
- They can't keep it for religious/cultural reasons
- Asking for a 'small' fee for something 'valuable'
- Happens near bridges, busy pedestrian areas
How to Avoid
- Say 'non merci' and keep walking — don't engage at all
- No one genuinely finds gold rings on busy tourist routes
- If you stop and talk, you become a target for further pressure
- This exact scam runs in Paris, Nice, Lyon, Bordeaux, and most French cities
A group of young women with clipboards approach you at Place Bellecour asking you to sign a ...
A group of young women with clipboards approach you at Place Bellecour asking you to sign a petition for 'deaf children' or 'women's rights.' While you're reading the clipboard, someone else in the group lifts your phone from your pocket or unzips your bag. These are professional pickpocket teams using the petition as a distraction — and they're extremely skilled.
Red Flags
- Group of 3-5 people approach with clipboards
- Petition is vague or doesn't name a real organization
- One person holds the clipboard while others crowd around you
- Happens at major tourist squares and landmarks
How to Avoid
- 'Non merci' while walking away — do not stop or read the clipboard
- Keep your phone in a front pocket and bag zipped in front of you
- If you feel crowded, step back assertively and check your belongings
- This team operates in Paris, Lyon, Nice, Marseille — same technique everywhere
You arrive at Lyon Part-Dieu station looking confused, studying the ticket machines.
A helpful stranger approaches and offers to sell you a used metro ticket for 1 euro, claiming it still has rides on it. The ticket is expired or used, and when you try to pass through the gates, it does not work. Alternatively, someone offers to help you use the machine but enters their own card details for 'your' purchase, or distracts you while an accomplice takes your bag. Ticket scams at Part-Dieu are reported periodically on French travel forums.
Red Flags
- Someone approaches at the ticket machine offering help before you ask
- They offer to sell you a used ticket at a discount
- The helper positions themselves between you and your belongings
- They insist on handling the machine for you rather than simply giving directions
- You feel rushed during the transaction
How to Avoid
- Buy tickets from official machines or the TCL counter only
- Use the TCL mobile app to purchase tickets before arriving at the station
- Politely decline help from strangers at ticket machines
- Keep your bag in front of you while using any public machine
- If you need help, ask uniformed station staff rather than bystanders
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Get Free Itinerary →You sit down at a charming restaurant in Vieux Lyon and the waiter brings a basket of bread and a ...
You sit down at a charming restaurant in Vieux Lyon and the waiter brings a basket of bread and a small crock of rillettes. You assume this is the standard French table setting. When the bill arrives, the bread and rillettes are charged at 6 and 8 euros respectively. A large glass of wine you ordered turns out to be a full carafe at 28 euros. The menu details were in French only, and the English-speaking waiter did not clarify sizing or pricing. Tourist-focused restaurants in Vieux Lyon occasionally take advantage of the language barrier to add charges that diners did not expect.
Red Flags
- Food arrives at your table without you ordering it
- Waiter does not clarify wine glass size versus carafe or bottle
- Menu is only in French with no English translation in a tourist area
- Prices for certain items are listed as 'market price' or not listed at all
- The restaurant relies heavily on walk-in tourist traffic rather than local regulars
How to Avoid
- Ask about any items brought to your table before eating them -- 'C'est gratuit?' (Is it free?)
- Clarify wine sizing: 'un verre' (a glass) versus 'une carafe' or 'une bouteille'
- Request a menu with prices and read it carefully before ordering
- Look for restaurants with French customers -- locals know where the value is
- Check the bill against what you ordered before paying
You are at the ticket machine at Gare Part-Dieu when someone behind you watches you enter your PIN.
They then create a distraction — dropping coins, bumping into you, or asking a question — while an accomplice lifts your card from the machine slot or your wallet. A Reddit user described having their entire wallet stolen at Part-Dieu, and another reported a debit card stolen in their first ten minutes in Lyon at the same station. The thieves work in teams and are described as extremely skilled — victims typically do not realize the theft until they try to make their next purchase.
Red Flags
- Someone stands unusually close while you use a ticket machine or ATM
- A person drops coins or creates a distraction near your feet while you are mid-transaction
- Multiple people seem to position themselves around you at the machine
- You are bumped from behind at the escalator top or bottom near the station exits
- Someone asks you a question or shows you something while you have your wallet out
How to Avoid
- Cover the keypad completely when entering PINs at any machine in Part-Dieu
- Use contactless payment on the TER machines rather than inserting your card
- Keep your wallet in a front inside jacket pocket, never in a backpack or trouser pocket at the station
- Buy train tickets online through SNCF Connect app before arriving at the station
- Be especially vigilant in the first minutes after arriving — thieves target visibly disoriented travelers
🆘 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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