Rick Steves Warns Travelers To Never Trust The 'Tourist Police' With Your Wallet

Wandering around an unfamiliar city in an unfamiliar country where you don't speak the language, or aren't knowledgeable about customs, the culture, or even the local authorities, might be detrimental on your next trip. Savvy travelers will know how to avoid getting scammed by fake tour guides, but travel expert Rick Steves warns tourists that there's a scam involving 'tourist police,' and why you should never trust them with your wallet.

Tourist police may look trustworthy, wearing freshly-pressed uniforms while strolling along old town streets, chatting among themselves in what looks like a fairly normal scenario. What tourists may not know is these 'tourist police' may be chatting about their next victim. Avoiding tourist traps and scams like a tuk-tuk tour that takes you to all the shops instead of where you want to go to try and get you to buy from their friend, might seem easy to detect once it's happening, but if 'tourist police' approach you and firmly ask to see your wallet, don't comply.

On Steves' blog, he touches on this popular scam that preys on tourists who are compliant and may not be fully aware it's best not to hand over your wallet to an officer of any kind. "Two thieves in uniform — posing as "Tourist Police" — stop you on the street, flash bogus badges, and ask to check your wallet for counterfeit bills or "drug money" or to establish your nationality. You won't even notice some bills are missing until after they leave. Never give your wallet to anyone."

While tourist police are an actual thing, there are imposters that roam the streets unbeknownst to the average tourist who may put too much trust in what may seem like an authority figure. Typically, fake tourist police may come up to you in the street and demand that you hand over your wallet, as they're looking for counterfeit bills. Before you hand it over, stay calm, because instilling too much trust can definitely backfire quickly.

Scammers posing as "the good guys" often make it seem as though they want to help you and that they're on your side. Naive tourists hand over their wallets thinking that it's status quo, then the fake officer thumbs through your bills, checks them over after some time, and hands it back to you. As you stuff your wallet back into your bag and walk away, you're absolutely clueless that your stack of Euros is a little lighter.

Fake authorities roam busy areas that are packed with tourists. They can also be found roaming train stations, hotels, or even roadblocks. This happened to me once when I was asked to hand over my passport as collateral, and I simply stated that it was against the law in Canada to hand over my passport and just like that, no questions asked. Just as you would never hand over your passport to anyone, never give your wallet, or any personal documents to anyone just because they're in uniform.

There are certain destinations in Europe where you're most likely to get pickpocketed, however imposter tourist police can be found in booming tourism areas worldwide. Fake tourist police have been known to try and intimidate timid tourists by imposing a fine or a ticket for not complying when asked for their wallet. If you're ever faced with this scenario, with the utmost confidence, tell them to issue you the fine and you'll deal with it at the local police station if need be.

Keep in mind that real police officers will never ask to see your wallet while walking around any major city in the world. If a 'tourist police' approaches you and requests that you hand over your wallet, stay calm, request their official I.D., and kindly, but firmly decline to consent to a search. This shows the scammer that you've done your research and aren't one to fall prey to their tricks.

Legitimate tourist police are genuinely there to help travelers, but it's smart to stay alert. Just because someone wears a badge, does not mean you should hand over your wallet without question. The next time you're traveling solo, or even with friends, understanding how to handle stressful encounters with fake tourist police will make a big difference in your safety and peace of mind while abroad.