Finding the gold ring and other Paris, France Warning Or Danger Tips

July 3-18, 2008 I visited on and around the Eiffel Tower. My husband I were approached by not only the "Bosnian Refugees" as they claimed to be, but we were overwhelmed by the number of men and women who (while walking toward you) would pretend to find a shining gold ring on the ground. As this happened over and over again, it was easy to see the scam unfold. I even got good enough to pick out the people as they approached. The women always had their long, brown hair tied back into a ponytail, and wore a bag across their shoulder to their waist. Anyway... IF you were foolish enough to fall for the scam, they would show you how the ring was just too large (or small, depending on the person scamming you) and offered it to you. I later saw people take the ring, thinking nothing of it. Then as they would walk away, the scammer would run up to you and say that even though the ring didn't fit, they sure could use some money to compensate them for the loss. (I don't know EXACTLY what they said, but while sitting on a bench near the river, I saw the plot unfold again and again... I even started taking pictures of them doing it -- to which they became annoyed). (I'll certainly add a picture for your entertainment as soon as I download -- we just returned.)

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