As the chill of the Australian winter prompts many of our members to seek warmer climes, Europe has always been a popular destination.

With its rich history, stunning landscapes, and cultural diversity, Europe continues to charm Aussie travellers.

However, amidst the allure of ancient cities and sun-soaked beaches, there lurks a less pleasant aspect of travel: the risk of being scammed.



A viral social media post has brought to light a scam exploiting strangers' kindness, particularly targeting travellers.

On the picturesque Greek island of Paros, an Australian tourist captured footage of a beggar who appeared to be in need of a crutch one day, only to be seen walking unaided the next.


Sarah Megginson, a personal finance expert at Finder, spoke about the prevalence of such scams. 'Getting scammed in Europe is nothing new—these schemes have been around for decades,' she explained.

‘The scam in this [social media post] is relatively harmless, the traveller probably only parted with a few dollars. But some of these scams have the potential to ruin your holiday if they get away with a decent chunk of your cash.’

The Aussie who posted the video was inundated with comments from others who had encountered the same beggar in various parts of Paros.

‘Literally just saw her 15 minutes ago and felt so bad thank you for this,’ one user said.



This scam is not isolated to the Greek islands; similar stories have surfaced from cities across Europe.

From Prague to England, tourists have shared their experiences of beggars who, upon closer inspection, may not be as destitute as they appear.

‘Once, I saw a beggar bloke without legs. As soon as the police came, his legs came out of nowhere, and [he] started running away. Because of this, I can't trust anyone,’ one tourist from Prague said.

‘Just want to make you aware that we just gave money to a guy begging outside Edge Lane Lidl (we have seen him there a few times) only to then see him getting into this van with a group of people,’ another person from England commented.

In Wales, police have observed groups of beggars who travel to different towns to exploit the public's generosity.

PC Phil Woodland expressed his concern, saying, ‘I'm proud to work in a town where people want to help each other, but in this case their kindness is being exploited.’

‘We've tried working with the group to ensure they have the support they need, and through this effort, it's become clear they are not genuinely homeless.’



Megginson warned that there is no shortage of methods used by unscrupulous individuals to part travellers from their money or belongings. She highlights several scams to be aware of:

• Pickpocketing remains a 'major concern,' especially in crowded areas. While carrying large amounts of cash may be less common, thieves are still eager to snatch your valuables.
• Taxi scams involve drivers taking longer routes or inflating fares. To avoid this, pre-book reputable taxis, agree on fares in advance, or use ride-sharing apps with transparent pricing.
• The friendship bracelet scam is a distraction technique where scammers aggressively offer you a bracelet while an accomplice attempts to pickpocket you.

To keep travellers' money safe while travelling in Europe, Megginson advised them to ‘trust their gut’.

‘If something feels off, it probably is—don’t be afraid to speak up, ask for time to make a decision if you feel pressured, and walk away from a situation if you feel uncomfortable,’ she said.

She recommended using a money belt or an anti-theft bag and splitting cash between different bags and pockets.

This way, if one piece of luggage goes missing, you won't lose all your funds.

Always be vigilant in crowded locations and keep a close eye on your belongings. Additionally, inform your bank and phone provider of your travel plans to avoid issues while overseas.

You can watch the video below:


Have you ever encountered a scam while travelling? How did you handle it? Your insights could help a fellow Aussie avoid a holiday mishap.