London is one of the most visited cities in the world. It is home to world-class cultural attractions, incredible architecture, a lively food scene, and shopping galore. It’s dynamic, charming, and exciting, but with a population of 8.7 million, it can also be daunting, confusing, busy, and noisy.
In global terms, London is a very safe city. There are many more dangerous places to visit when it comes to crime rates and security concerns, but as with any major capital city, it is inevitable that scammers and criminals will take advantage of tourists. We’ve highlighted some common London travel scams to consider before a trip, but the best advice is to be prudent, be cautious, and be prepared. Oh, and follow your instincts; If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
In an emergency, contact the police, ambulance service or fire department on 999. To report a non-urgent crime, contact your local police station by calling 101 from the UK.
Pickpockets in London Transport
Pickpockets target London’s busiest areas, which means you should always be vigilant when using the city’s public transport system, especially when traveling on the tube and when passing through major train stations.
The stations with the highest pickpocket rates in London are King’s Cross St Pancras, Oxford Circus, Victoria, Liverpool Street and Stratford. Pickpockets will often use distraction and distraction techniques such as asking for directions, deliberately dropping coins, or causing commotion.
When responding or reacting, just be aware of your surroundings and keep your valuables out of sight. Remember to close bags and backpacks and carry bags in front of you. Don’t flaunt your jewelry and keep your money safely hidden.
Moped backpack and bag sliders
Thieves have caught on to the fact that they can be much more productive on two wheels than on two feet, and street theft by gangs riding mopeds is a growing problem in London.
Thieves tend to target people using their cell phones or carrying bags near the curb. Many attacks take place in central London in broad daylight. Try to stay away from the curb and do not handle your phone in the middle of the street.
Carry bags all over your body rather than on the arm or hanging by the hand. It’s easy to get distracted when looking at your smartphone. Try to plan ahead when it comes to directions or back off the road when looking for information on the go.
People asking for money on the street
If someone approaches you on the street with a long history and a request for a specific amount of money (which they promise to pay back at some point), it is most likely a scam.
This trick also often misleads locals, but most of the time, these scammers will try to trick tourists into handing out cash. It is best to politely decline their request and encourage them to contact the police if it is a real emergency.
Don’t rule out stopping to help someone in need of genuine assistance, but be careful what is said and if it sounds too artificial and polished it’s probably because it’s not the first time the story has been told.
Paired street games
Although the police have limited themselves to street gambling, you can still come across a few rogue scammers taking up residence on London’s sidewalks.
A group of men will usually deposit three cups (or lids, bottle caps, or shells), hide a small object under one of them, and then mix them up before asking someone in the crowd to keep an eye on the award. An accomplice will generally ‘win’ a few rounds before an unwitting tourist tries his luck.
The game is always manipulated and there are often some people standing in the audience to distract the player and make it harder to win. It is better to walk without stopping to see what is happening. There are many more entertaining things to see and do in London.
Receive «free» gifts
If you are presented with a “free” gift on the street (usually a bunch of heather, a rose, a bracelet, a toy, or the like) you are expected to pay for it. If you accept the gift, you will be told that it will bring you luck, and it is very likely that you will be forced to hand over money.
Try not to make eye contact with people waving these types of objects in your face and politely moving forward. Instead, there are a lot of really free things to do in London.
