A warning has been issued to anyone looking to make a getaway this festive season as scams are on the rise.
Many Brits are keen to escape the harsh, cold weather and chaos of the Christmas countdown in favour of some winter sunshine abroad. Nearly 3 in 10 (29%) plan to spend the season overseas, with bookings up 16% year on year.
Spain and the Canary Islands top the list for those jetting off to swerve the UK’s miserable weather, with France and Germany also among the top 10 favourites. Of course, in many major cities, there’s the risk of tourists being targeted and one particular pickpocket scheme could leave people surrounded and without their belongings.
Crowded airports and bustling Christmas markets can make for an ideal spot for these opportunistic thieves. In a bid to help ensure holidaymakers’ sunny escapes aren’t marred by a negative robbery experience, the security experts at Nottingham Locksmiths have shared a sneaky pickpocket scam travellers should watch for this Christmas.
The ‘Young Assassin’ scam sees a group of children being used as the culprits. Typically, they’ll appear innocent and may even seem as though they need help, before surrounding tourists with the intention of stealing from them.
The children could present themselves as though they’re keen to sell knickknacks or souvenirs, such as postcards or flowers, but their real goal is to keep you distracted while they, or an accomplice, steal your valuables.
The fact they’re children can often help ensure people lower their guard, so they can be targeted, while their innocent appearance also assists in making them look innocent.
Recently, a traveller who visited Rome experienced the scam first-hand and took to Reddit to share their experience :“10-13 year old looking kid was standing next to me on the Metro, he was with a group of other younger looking people. He distracted me by commenting on my hair and a few seconds later I look down and my purse was open.
“I immediately panicked in front of everyone saying I was pickpocketed. The kid pretended to pick up the wallet from the floor as if I had dropped it. I just said thank you and let it go. Be careful out there.”
Fellow Reddit users shared their thoughts and similar experiences in the comments section. One person said: “Saw the exact same thing happen to another couple that were obviously tourists. The woman was wearing a waist bag and as the man stepped into the train the pickpocket put his arm up and kind of blocked him as a distraction.
Then the others unzipped the bag and everything fell out. They gave the stuff back when the couple noticed. As we were getting off the train at our stop, there was an adult man looking out and telling the kids which carriage to get on next.”
Another shared: “This may be an overkill, but one tip I got from someone wants to wear shorts under my pants that have pockets and then you can use those pockets to have stuff in.”
The security experts at Nottingham Locksmiths advise if you feel surrounded, take a step back to assess the situation and ensure your belongings are safe. Trust your instincts – this scam relies on distraction and manipulation, so staying alert can help you avoid becoming a target.
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