A British man is warning holiday-goers to ‘beware’ of a simple scam that’s targeting tourists in one particular European country.
Ruben Chorlton-Owen is an avid traveller – and so knows how to spot when something ‘dodgy’ is going on abroad.
He recently jetted off to Italy for a three-week trip around the country, visiting locations such as Naples, Rome and Catania.
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But while the 25-year-old indulged in a €1 Aperol Spritz and authentic pasta dishes for just €8, there was always something not quite right about his dining-out experiences.
In a clip, which has racked up over a thousand views, he’s revealed the small – and simple – scam that’s catching out tourists left, right and centre.
“I came across one of the classic tourist traps where items are placed on your table,” the content creator, from Abersoch, North Wales, told What’s The Jam.
“It was so strange.
“We sat down at a restaurant and there was already a small ornament or souvenir sitting on the table.
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“Nobody was standing there trying to sell it and it looked like something that had been simply left behind.
“After a while, we were told it had been left there and we could take it if we wanted.
“Once we did, however, someone started following us and demanding payment.
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“I’d heard of the usual bracelet and rose tricks before, but this was completely different.
“It caught me off guard because the item was already on our table before we even arrived.”
Ruben found this scam to be quite common while in Pisa.
Another trick in the book, which he wishes he knew about before visiting Italy, specifically Rome, was fake ticketing.
He said: “There are often fake touts around the [hot] spots, such as the Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum.
“They seem credible, too.
“But you still have to buy a valid ticket at the official kiosks to enter.”
And that’s not all.
In the clip, he explains five things every tourist should know before visiting Italy, including the souvenir scam.
Ruben, who boasts 1.2m followers on TikTok, said: “Check the buses for where you’re going.
“It was very confusing.
“There are three different timetables – one online, one in person, and a different time given by people at the [ticketing] office.
“Be very careful with your valuables in Rome, too.
“It’s quite well known, but as soon as we got there, we spoke with some locals and the main thing they said was to keep your valuables safe.
“Especially necklaces.”
Ruben also notes to check prices when dining out, as they vary quite a bit between different cities.
However, he makes a point to mention that there were good deals to be found, such as the aforementioned €1 Aperol Spritz.
He added: “Overall, Italy was brilliant and we had an amazing three weeks.
“Travelling through so many different places showed me just how different each destination can be.
“And I wish I had known all of this before going there to avoid being caught out.”
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