Warning from Italy: At the start of this month, I went to Italy from Glasgow for a short trip to Rome. Like always, I have checked some travel tips blogs, I packed a lightweight bag, and made a list of places to visit. But I never thought that I would become a victim of this scam, which has been targeting British tourists for so many years.
Yes, you heard it right, fake police in Italy scamming the U.K. tourists, and I have experienced this by myself.
Everything started with a “policeman”
It was the second day of my Rome, Italy trip. I visited the Colosseum and then headed towards a quiet cafe in Piazza Venezia. The weather was very nice and the streets were crowded with tourists. The two men approached me – they were well-dressed and full of confidence.
One of them showed something like a police badge and said “polizia,” and then he asked me where I was from. I responded “Scotland” and they exchanged glances.
And then he told me that he got many complaints about fake currency, and they had to check the notes(currency) in my wallet.
Despite having great knowledge and experience with scams, I paused for a few seconds.
Their badge was looking real, and they were talking with full confidence. For some time, I thought everything seemed real, and this moment could have proved dangerous.
When I realised something was wrong
As I put my hand in my pocket, one of them came near to me and pointed to my wallet. And then the other guy started looking here and there as if he were scared.
It was my second red flag. Real police never behave like this. They never stop a tourist in the middle of a street and check their pocket.
After this, “I told them that I would show my ID to the nearest police station,” and tried to move ahead. Then his tone changed – he became a little aggressive and tried to block my way.
But I persisted. Then some more tourists passed by, and the two fake policemen disappeared into the crowd.
Fake police in Italy targeting UK tourists: How the scam works
As I reached the hotel again. Then I found that this is not a new scam. This has been happening for years in cities like Rome, Milan, and Naples. They usually come in pairs and target British, American, or Canadian tourists. Because we are polite and avoid arguing mostly.
This scam method is very simple: pretend to be a policeman, pretend to be checking for currency or drugs, and ask to see the tourist’s wallet or passport.
Then they either withdraw the money directly or take pictures of the card details.
And the sad part is that the scam is still working. And now, with fake police in Italy targeting UK tourists, it’s more important than ever to spread the word.
If you are visiting Italy, then keep these things in mind (Warning from Italy)
If you are travelling to Rome or Italy, then remember these safety tips:
- Never give your wallet or passport to any unknown person
- If anyone impersonates a police officer, then ask for their ID and ask them to go to the nearest police station.
- Real Italian police never check you on the street without any reason.
- Keep your expensive things in a zip bag or in a money belt.
- If anything feels off, don’t be afraid to say no and walk away.
A message from Duncan Paul Glasgow
I’m not writing this story just to tell an experience. I’m sharing it because fake police in Italy are targeting UK tourists, and they’re getting smarter every year.
What happened to me in Rome could happen to you, especially if you’re visiting Italy for the first time.
Be careful. Don’t be fooled by uniforms and badges. Listen to your gut. And remember, the best way to beat any scam is to know about it in advance.
If you have been scammed in any international country, then you can share your story with us in the comments – we are trying to collect stories so we can save other tourists like us