A traveller is warning holidaymakers about a simple new scam targeting tourists in Europe, where items left on restaurant tables are later used to demand payment. Ruben Chorlton-Owen, a 25-year-old content creator from Abersoch, North Wales, encountered the trick during a three-week trip across Italy, visiting Naples, Rome and Catania.
Ruben, who has 1.2 million followers on TikTok, described how he and his companions sat down at a restaurant and found a small ornament or souvenir already on the table. Nobody was trying to sell it, and it looked like it had simply been left behind. After a while, they were told it had been left there and they could take it if they wanted. Once they did, someone started following them and demanding payment.
How the souvenir scam works
“It was so strange. We sat down at a restaurant and there was already a small ornament or souvenir sitting on the table. Nobody was standing there trying to sell it and it looked like something that had been simply left behind,” said Ruben. “After a while, we were told it had been left there and we could take it if we wanted. Once we did, however, someone started following us and demanding payment. I’d heard of the usual bracelet and rose tricks before, but this was completely different.”
“It caught me off guard because the item was already on our table before we even arrived,” he added. Ruben found this scam to be quite common while in Pisa. In a clip that has racked up over a thousand views, he reveals the small and simple scam that is catching out tourists.
Other tourist traps in Italy
Another trick Ruben wishes he knew about before visiting Italy, specifically Rome, was fake ticketing. He said: “There are often fake touts around the [hot] spots, such as the Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum. They seem credible, too. But you still have to buy a valid ticket at the official kiosks to enter.”
In the clip, he explains five things every tourist should know before visiting Italy, including the souvenir scam. He also advised checking buses carefully, noting there are three different timetables – one online, one in person, and a different time given by people at the ticketing office. He warned to be very careful with valuables in Rome, especially necklaces, as locals had told him to keep them safe.
Dining and overall experience
Ruben also notes to check prices when dining out, as they vary quite a bit between different cities. However, he mentions that there were good deals to be found, such as a €1 Aperol Spritz and authentic pasta dishes for just €8.
“Overall, Italy was brilliant and we had an amazing three weeks. Travelling through so many different places showed me just how different each destination can be. And I wish I had known all of this before going there to avoid being caught out,” he added.
