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Highway in Italy: A Swiss escapes a scam at the “rear view mirror”
To simulate an accident, crooks have shot a bullet against his motorhome on the highway. In Italy but also elsewhere, this type of scam is up to the resurgence.
Patricia told her story about Instagram and above all she had the presence of mind to film the crooks.
DRPatricia, a 26 -year -old Swiss, and her companion almost fell into the trap of a well -established scam on an Italian highway. Indeed, at the height of Livorno, their motorhome has banned a BMW. A passenger then dropped a window and thrown an object, undoubtedly a bullet or a stone, against their van. “We then heard a big noise and we wondered what it was”.
The crooks then made headlight calls to attract their attention. But Patricia immediately understood the ploy: “The drivers of the BMW wanted us to believe in a collision to push us to pay in cash”. The young woman leaves to film the crooks by the rear window. “It scared them. They abandoned and took the next outing. ” The Swiss couple, in shock, was then able to continue their road without incident.
Case resurgence
Patricia and her companion almost be victims of a “rear -lighter scam”. A well -known entouroupe which consists in making tourists believe that they have damaged a vehicle, often retro. The crooks then force them to stop, show them the retro (already broken before), and require cash in cash. The amount requested is quite low, generally 100 to 300 francs, so that the victims pay “out of facility”.
The scam, which also frequently targets seniors and in Geneva, is in resurgence in Europe. France has reported many cases since this spring. And Italy also becomes a hot spot, especially in Tuscany. Several German tourists have been fooled in recent months. As for Patricia, still shaken, she hopes that her testimony will be able to raise awareness as any travelers as possible. “I would have been fooled if I had not known the scam.”
Never pay money at the moment
Before leaving abroad, check the condition of your vehicle, to find out if a shock is credible or not in the event of an incident. If you think you are a victim of a scam, demand to make an official observation and threaten the police. This can scare away a crook who wants everything to be amicably. Also check, with a damp cloth, if the damage is simulated. Some crooks sometimes use special soluble chalk to simulate scratches. As in the case of Patricia, filming may also be enough to discourage them. But a rule is essential: never pour cash money at the time!