10 Tourist Scams in Montpellier

Montpellier's tram system is a prime hunting ground for organized pickpocket teams.

Thieves work in groups during busy periods, especially during boarding and exiting when passengers are distracted and pressed together. One person creates a distraction or blocks movement while accomplices slip hands into bags and pockets. The crime happens in seconds, with perpetrators exiting at the next stop before victims realize anything is missing.

Place de la Comedie, Montpellier's grand central square, attracts tourists and thieves alike.

Pickpockets blend into the crowds around the iconic Three Graces fountain, targeting distracted visitors taking photos or sitting at outdoor cafes. Teams often work together - one distracts by asking for directions while another steals valuables. The open, busy nature of the square provides easy escape routes.

Montpellier's main train station is a hotspot for opportunistic theft targeting travelers burdened with luggage.

Thieves observe arriving tourists who appear lost or confused, then strike when victims are distracted checking schedules, buying tickets, or managing bags. The area between the station and nearby tram stops is particularly risky. At night, the station vicinity has a rougher reputation.

Thieves board TGV trains during brief station stops, posing as passengers.

They position themselves with views of the luggage racks and wait for any distraction. Working in teams, one person engages the victim in conversation while the other grabs luggage from the rack and exits just before the doors close. With up to 400 such incidents monthly on French trains, this is a well-organized crime.

Scammers approach tourists with clipboards, often pretending to be deaf-mute and collecting ...

Scammers approach tourists with clipboards, often pretending to be deaf-mute and collecting signatures for a fake charity. The petition is typically written in English to target foreign visitors. While you're distracted reading or signing, accomplices pickpocket you. If you sign, they demand a donation and can become aggressive when refused. The petition itself is worthless and no charity ever receives any funds.

A stranger bends down near you and picks up what appears to be a gold ring, asking if you dropped it.

When you say no, they examine it and claim it's marked '18k gold' and must be valuable. They offer to sell it for a fraction of its supposed worth, or guilt you into giving them a 'finder's fee.' The ring is worthless brass, and while you're engaged, an accomplice may be pickpocketing you.

Some taxi drivers target tourists by claiming the meter is broken and quoting inflated flat rates, ...

Some taxi drivers target tourists by claiming the meter is broken and quoting inflated flat rates, taking unnecessarily long routes, or failing to reset the meter to the base fare before starting. The airport to city center trip should cost approximately 35 euros during the day and 42 euros at night, but unsuspecting tourists may pay significantly more. Drivers may also refuse to provide receipts.

Some restaurants in tourist areas inflate bills with hidden charges or serve items not ordered.

Common tactics include automatically bringing expensive bottled water instead of offering free tap water, adding cover charges not mentioned on menus, or 'accidentally' adding extra items to the bill. Tourists who don't check bills carefully pay significantly more than they should.

Southern France has high rates of car break-ins, and rental cars are prime targets.

Thieves identify rentals by company stickers, foreign plates, or luggage visible inside. They stake out tourist sites, knowing how long visitors typically stay, then break windows to steal bags and valuables. Rest stops along the A9 motorway approaching Montpellier are particularly notorious.

Criminals install skimming devices on ATMs that capture your card data and PIN.

These devices are designed to look like part of the machine and are difficult to detect. Tourist areas are targeted because they process many foreign cards and victims are less familiar with how local ATMs should look. Your card details are then used to create clones or make fraudulent purchases.