Scam in ItalyTheft
Pickpockets and distraction teams in Italy
How it works
Thieves take valuables from pockets or bags. They may work in pairs or teams. One person distracts you while another steals. Street vendors or an insistent beggar may act as the distraction.
Warning signs
- Someone keeps demanding your attention in a crowd.
- A distraction draws your eyes away from your bag.
How to avoid it
- Keep your bag closed and in front of you in crowds.
- Keep cash and valuables out of easy-to-reach pockets.
- Watch your belongings when someone approaches or distracts you.
- Keep large luggage within sight on trains.
If it happens to you
Ask for help and report the theft at a police station. In Rome, you can shout "Aiuto, al ladro!"
- Move to a safe, staffed place. If you are threatened or need urgent help, call 112.
- If a card or card details were stolen, contact your card issuer immediately. Freeze or cancel the card and flag unauthorised payments.
- Write down what happened, the time and the location. Save receipts, journey details and any other evidence.
- Report the incident at a police station and ask for a copy of the report. In Rome, go to the Carabinieri station nearest where the theft happened.
- Contact your insurer. A police report helps support an insurance claim. If your passport was stolen, contact your embassy or consulate.
- Secure any affected accounts and arrange replacement cards or documents. Do not chase a thief or put yourself at risk to recover property.
What travellers report
Posts about this scam on other sites, summarised in our words. Open one to read the original.
- Redditr/rome2023Roma Termini pickpocketA visiting family describes women directing them into an elevator, creating confusion with a spray and allegedly attempting to pick their pockets.Read on Reddit
- Redditr/rome2025Pickpockets?Commenters describe coordinated theft attempts near the Trevi Fountain and a child apparently distracting metro passengers while women brushed past them.Read on Reddit
- Government advice2026Italy Travel Advice & Safety | SmartravellerAustralian authorities warn that groups distract train passengers with requests, dropped objects or messes while accomplices steal valuables.Read on Government advice
Questions
What is the pickpockets and distraction teams scam in Italy?
Thieves take valuables from pockets or bags. They may work in pairs or teams. One person distracts you while another steals. Street vendors or an insistent beggar may act as the distraction.
How can I spot it early?
Someone keeps demanding your attention in a crowd. A distraction draws your eyes away from your bag.
How do I avoid pickpockets and distraction teams in Italy?
Keep your bag closed and in front of you in crowds. Keep cash and valuables out of easy-to-reach pockets. Watch your belongings when someone approaches or distracts you. Keep large luggage within sight on trains.
What should I do if it happens to me?
Ask for help and report the theft at a police station. In Rome, you can shout "Aiuto, al ladro!"
Where in Italy does this happen?
Crowds, public transport, railway stations, tourist sights and busy nightlife areas. It has been reported in Rome, Naples, Florence, Genoa, Milan.
How common is this scam in Italy?
Common. Italy is generally safe, but tourist scams and petty theft are common in busy visitor areas. The main risks are pickpockets, taxi tricks, pushy street sellers and people offering unwanted help at ticket machines.
Are there similar scams in Italy?
Yes: ticket-machine cash-return theft, purse and bag snatching, friendly drunk distraction.
Who can I report it to?
Polizia di Stato or Carabinieri: go to a police station to report a scam or theft. You can ask any police officer for help. Request a copy of the report for insurance and replacement documents. Carabinieri in Rome: for theft, generally visit the station nearest where it happened. Ask people nearby where to go. Emergency services: call 112 for urgent help or when unsure which service you need. The WhereAreU app can also call 112 and share your phone's GPS position, including when you cannot speak. Card issuer or bank: use its official app or contact number to freeze a stolen or compromised card and dispute unauthorised transactions. Travel insurer: contact its claims service and provide the police report, receipts and other evidence. Embassy or consulate: contact your country's embassy or consulate if your passport or travel documents are stolen.
What number do I call in an emergency in Italy?
General emergency help: 112, Polizia di Stato — State Police: 113, Guardia di Finanza — Financial Police: 117, Fire Department: 115, Medical Rescue: 118, Coast Guard: 1530, State Forestry Department: 1515.
Reviewed by @snuck