Scam in CanadaTheft
Pickpocketing in crowds in Canada
How it works
A thief takes belongings while your attention is on a street performance or the surrounding crowd. Pickpocketing is not very common in Montreal, but crowded settings need extra care.
Warning signs
- A crowd gathers closely around a street performance.
- You are watching the performance while your bag or pockets are out of sight.
How to avoid it
- Keep your bag closed and in front of you in crowds.
- Keep your phone and wallet in secure pockets.
- Check your belongings before and after stopping to watch a performance.
If it happens to you
Move out of the crowd and check what is missing. Freeze missing payment cards, secure any stolen phone accounts and report the theft to police.
- Move to a safe, staffed place. Do not chase a thief or confront someone who threatens you. Call 911 if there is immediate danger or someone is injured.
- Check what is missing or what you were charged. Freeze stolen payment cards and tell your card issuer about any payment you did not authorize.
- Save receipts, messages, booking details and screenshots. Write down the time, place and what happened while you remember it.
- Report theft, robbery or fraud to local police. Ask for a report number and keep a copy if one is available.
- Contact the relevant business, rental company or travel insurer. If your passport was stolen, contact your embassy or consulate.
- If your phone was stolen, use another device to lock it remotely and secure your important accounts. Do not follow its location to confront anyone.
Questions
What is the pickpocketing in crowds scam in Canada?
A thief takes belongings while your attention is on a street performance or the surrounding crowd. Pickpocketing is not very common in Montreal, but crowded settings need extra care.
How can I spot it early?
A crowd gathers closely around a street performance. You are watching the performance while your bag or pockets are out of sight.
How do I avoid pickpocketing in crowds in Canada?
Keep your bag closed and in front of you in crowds. Keep your phone and wallet in secure pockets. Check your belongings before and after stopping to watch a performance.
What should I do if it happens to me?
Move out of the crowd and check what is missing. Freeze missing payment cards, secure any stolen phone accounts and report the theft to police.
Where in Canada does this happen?
Street performances in the Old City and other crowded places It has been reported in Montreal.
How common is this scam in Canada?
Occasional. Canada is generally safe for visitors, and tourist scams are not described as widespread. The main concerns covered here are misleading souvenir claims, high souvenir prices, persistent requests for money, pickpocketing, car theft and occasional group robberies.
Are there similar scams in Canada?
Yes: car theft, group robberies on public transit.
Who can I report it to?
Emergency services: call 911 for immediate danger, a robbery in progress, serious injury or another emergency. Local police: report theft, robbery or fraud once you are safe. Provide the location, time, a description of what happened and any evidence. Ask for a report number. Calgary Police Service: for a non-emergency police report or enquiry in Calgary, call 403-266-1234. SPVM — Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal: approach an officer for help or safety concerns in Montreal. Call 911 in an emergency. Transit staff: in Ottawa, use a station emergency call box for urgent help. On Montreal's Metro, use the emergency intercom in a car or an emergency phone booth on a platform. Card issuer or bank: use your banking app or a verified contact number to freeze missing cards and report payments you did not authorize. Shop or service provider: show your receipt and explain any misleading claim or incorrect charge. Ask for a correction or refund and keep the written reply. Embassy or consulate: if your passport is stolen, contact your country's embassy or consulate through its official contact details for replacement-document guidance. Travel insurer or rental company: report covered losses promptly and keep receipts and police-report details. Contact the rental company if a rental car is stolen.
What number do I call in an emergency in Canada?
Police, fire and ambulance emergencies: 911.
Reviewed by @snuck