Paris Ticket Scam
Aug 3rd 2004, 12:42 pm
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Paris Ticket Scam
Are you really sure that this was a scam?
1. stolen Chip+Pin Card
Even if they are on a credit card, this function is not the classical credit
card function.
If someone has really a stolen card incl. PIN number
a) why this hassle to obtain this rather small amount of money. Why not
withdrawing some cash or go shopping for items of higher value.
b) this will always work only a short time - until the card is known to be
stolen.These machines have all online connections. Why take the risk at a
place where police is in the same building around the clock and which is
under full camera surveillance?
2. 50.10 instead of 10.50?
This sounds more like a language related problem.
a) he assumes that you don't know the real value.
But than he could have asked for any amount. 15,00 maybe. Not an amount
which is really uncommon high. And besides this - to ask for 50,10 is really
strange. One may have to give back at least 3 coins. Not really useful.
Better to ask for EUR 49,60 - here you can hope that the "stupid" tourist
gives you a EUR 50,00 note and doesn't want the change.
b) he assumes that you know the value
Even if one may not be sure about the french words for this 2 prices - most
people know the difference of the amount of 10,50 and 50,10. A bit risky in
my view.
Typically in such circumstances someone asks for a slightly higher price and
hopes that the tourist will give in to spare any trouble. But for this EUR
50,10 is really to much.
Are you really sure you have not met one of these extremly *rude* Parisians?
You only would know if you would have handed him EUR 10,50 and his reaction
on it.
"Joe Gradeless" <[email protected]> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:[email protected]...
> I've just got back from a great four-day break in Paris (first time).
> However I thought I would warn people about a ticket scam which operates
in
> the Metro ticket hall at the Gard du Nord - but no reason not to assume it
> doesn't work elsewhere.
> I waited in a longish queue to buy a carnet of tickets for the metro (10
> tickets for the price of 7 cost 10.50 Euro). I was approached by a man who
> told me that there were ticket issuing machines available in another part
of
> the hall. I (foolishly) went with him. He bought me the tickets using his
> credit card (although I have no doubt it was stolen) - he told me the
> machine only accepted French cards. He then wanted the money for the
tickets
> (50.10 Euro). I realised I was the potential victim of a scam and told him
I
> only had a credit card (I must remember to confess my lie). He wasn't very
> happy.
> I rejoined the queue and noticed that there were 2 other (at least)
> operating the same scam.
> Jo
1. stolen Chip+Pin Card
Even if they are on a credit card, this function is not the classical credit
card function.
If someone has really a stolen card incl. PIN number
a) why this hassle to obtain this rather small amount of money. Why not
withdrawing some cash or go shopping for items of higher value.
b) this will always work only a short time - until the card is known to be
stolen.These machines have all online connections. Why take the risk at a
place where police is in the same building around the clock and which is
under full camera surveillance?
2. 50.10 instead of 10.50?
This sounds more like a language related problem.
a) he assumes that you don't know the real value.
But than he could have asked for any amount. 15,00 maybe. Not an amount
which is really uncommon high. And besides this - to ask for 50,10 is really
strange. One may have to give back at least 3 coins. Not really useful.
Better to ask for EUR 49,60 - here you can hope that the "stupid" tourist
gives you a EUR 50,00 note and doesn't want the change.
b) he assumes that you know the value
Even if one may not be sure about the french words for this 2 prices - most
people know the difference of the amount of 10,50 and 50,10. A bit risky in
my view.
Typically in such circumstances someone asks for a slightly higher price and
hopes that the tourist will give in to spare any trouble. But for this EUR
50,10 is really to much.
Are you really sure you have not met one of these extremly *rude* Parisians?
You only would know if you would have handed him EUR 10,50 and his reaction
on it.
"Joe Gradeless" <[email protected]> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:[email protected]...
> I've just got back from a great four-day break in Paris (first time).
> However I thought I would warn people about a ticket scam which operates
in
> the Metro ticket hall at the Gard du Nord - but no reason not to assume it
> doesn't work elsewhere.
> I waited in a longish queue to buy a carnet of tickets for the metro (10
> tickets for the price of 7 cost 10.50 Euro). I was approached by a man who
> told me that there were ticket issuing machines available in another part
of
> the hall. I (foolishly) went with him. He bought me the tickets using his
> credit card (although I have no doubt it was stolen) - he told me the
> machine only accepted French cards. He then wanted the money for the
tickets
> (50.10 Euro). I realised I was the potential victim of a scam and told him
I
> only had a credit card (I must remember to confess my lie). He wasn't very
> happy.
> I rejoined the queue and noticed that there were 2 other (at least)
> operating the same scam.
> Jo
Aug 3rd 2004, 4:59 pm
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Paris Ticket Scam
Joe Gradeless writes:
> I've just got back from a great four-day break in Paris (first time).
>
> However I thought I would warn people about a ticket scam which operates in
> the Metro ticket hall at the Gard du Nord - but no reason not to assume it
> doesn't work elsewhere.
>
> I waited in a longish queue to buy a carnet of tickets for the metro (10
> tickets for the price of 7 cost 10.50 Euro). I was approached by a man who
> told me that there were ticket issuing machines available in another part of
> the hall. I (foolishly) went with him. He bought me the tickets using his
> credit card (although I have no doubt it was stolen) - he told me the
> machine only accepted French cards. He then wanted the money for the tickets
> (50.10 Euro). I realised I was the potential victim of a scam and told him I
> only had a credit card (I must remember to confess my lie). He wasn't very
> happy.
>
> I rejoined the queue and noticed that there were 2 other (at least)
> operating the same scam.
Next time perhaps you won't be so naïve.
--
Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.
> I've just got back from a great four-day break in Paris (first time).
>
> However I thought I would warn people about a ticket scam which operates in
> the Metro ticket hall at the Gard du Nord - but no reason not to assume it
> doesn't work elsewhere.
>
> I waited in a longish queue to buy a carnet of tickets for the metro (10
> tickets for the price of 7 cost 10.50 Euro). I was approached by a man who
> told me that there were ticket issuing machines available in another part of
> the hall. I (foolishly) went with him. He bought me the tickets using his
> credit card (although I have no doubt it was stolen) - he told me the
> machine only accepted French cards. He then wanted the money for the tickets
> (50.10 Euro). I realised I was the potential victim of a scam and told him I
> only had a credit card (I must remember to confess my lie). He wasn't very
> happy.
>
> I rejoined the queue and noticed that there were 2 other (at least)
> operating the same scam.
Next time perhaps you won't be so naïve.
--
Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.
Aug 3rd 2004, 5:00 pm
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Paris Ticket Scam
Joe Gradeless writes:
> He told me the machine only accepted French cards.
They accept cash.
--
Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.
> He told me the machine only accepted French cards.
They accept cash.
--
Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.
Aug 3rd 2004, 5:41 pm
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Paris Ticket Scam
> > So why not use your card to get the tickets? even if it was a scam, the
> > perp showed you a better way.
> I think he was telling the truth: you have to have chip + PIN to use the
> French ticket machines and foreign cards won't work in that case.
I must be missing something here; I've bought many Metro tickets using my
US-based credit card, via the machines in the Metro (the funny ones with the
"scroll wheel" and a large button to the left and right of it for "accept"
and "annul" or something like that).
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
> > perp showed you a better way.
> I think he was telling the truth: you have to have chip + PIN to use the
> French ticket machines and foreign cards won't work in that case.
I must be missing something here; I've bought many Metro tickets using my
US-based credit card, via the machines in the Metro (the funny ones with the
"scroll wheel" and a large button to the left and right of it for "accept"
and "annul" or something like that).
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
Aug 3rd 2004, 8:08 pm
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Paris Ticket Scam
"Mxsmanic" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Joe Gradeless writes:
> > He told me the machine only accepted French cards.
> They accept cash.
As opposed to non-French cards (I knew they accepted cash) The scammer was
quite insistant that only a French card, and not my UK one, would work.
Joe
> --
> Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.
news:[email protected]...
> Joe Gradeless writes:
> > He told me the machine only accepted French cards.
> They accept cash.
As opposed to non-French cards (I knew they accepted cash) The scammer was
quite insistant that only a French card, and not my UK one, would work.
Joe
> --
> Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.
Aug 3rd 2004, 8:15 pm
#21
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Paris Ticket Scam
"Tam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:BD359A4E.1EA01%[email protected]...
> On 3/8/04 13:08, in article [email protected],
> "jcoulter" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > So why not use your card to get the tickets? even if it was a scam, the
> > perp showed you a better way.
> I think he was telling the truth: you have to have chip + PIN to use the
> French ticket machines and foreign cards won't work in that case.
My UK credit card has a chip and PIN but I have only been required to use
the PIN once is the 3 months I have had the card - all other times including
France I have used a signature.
I think the reason is that PIN cards are only just now being introduced in
the UK so many businesses will not have the facility to read PIN cards. In
France they assume that my card is of the signature type.
A nice bit of technology I found in the French restaurants is a mobile
wireless card reader into which the waiter places your card. The
verifiaction and printing of the transaction slip takes place at your table.
It saves staff time and means your card does not disappear from view.
Jo
news:BD359A4E.1EA01%[email protected]...
> On 3/8/04 13:08, in article [email protected],
> "jcoulter" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > So why not use your card to get the tickets? even if it was a scam, the
> > perp showed you a better way.
> I think he was telling the truth: you have to have chip + PIN to use the
> French ticket machines and foreign cards won't work in that case.
My UK credit card has a chip and PIN but I have only been required to use
the PIN once is the 3 months I have had the card - all other times including
France I have used a signature.
I think the reason is that PIN cards are only just now being introduced in
the UK so many businesses will not have the facility to read PIN cards. In
France they assume that my card is of the signature type.
A nice bit of technology I found in the French restaurants is a mobile
wireless card reader into which the waiter places your card. The
verifiaction and printing of the transaction slip takes place at your table.
It saves staff time and means your card does not disappear from view.
Jo
Aug 3rd 2004, 8:45 pm
#22
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Paris Ticket Scam
We went by Eurostar from London. Booked travel and Hotel on-line. You get
some good bargains at present - see the Eurostar site www.eurostar.co.uk.
You don't need to book travel to use the hotel booking service. We stayed at
the Best Western Nouvel Orleans in Montparnasse, about 15 mins by Metro from
centre. The metro station is right opposite the hotel. No problems about
hotel. We would go there again.
Sightseeing boats with commentary cost about 10 Euro for a one hour round
trip on the Seine typically Jardin des Plantes/Notre Dame to Eiffel tower
and back. You can get a boat without commentary (Batobus) for 11 Euro for
one day pass, 13 Euro for two days and 22 Euro for a month. You can get off
and on at about 8 points along the Seine and make as many trips as you like.
They run about every 10 to 15 mins. Route is as above. It's a good way of
sitting down and relaxing.
Queues to use the lift for the Eiffel tower were very long so we elected to
walk to the second level. To reach the top you need to go by lift (from
ground level - you can't join from 2nd level). Cost of walking up is 3.50
euros and taking lift to top about 10 euros. Walking up is not too bad - we
are both in our late 50's and survived the ascent.
It was our first visit to Paris. We walked about 8 miles a day - my wife has
a pedometer! We decided not to visit museums this time but to come again to
see the museums.
Jo
"Sam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> thanks for the kind information Joe. I am heading to Paris next week
> for 5 days and would be very interested in reading about your visit.
> Sam
> "Joe Gradeless" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> > I've just got back from a great four-day break in Paris (first time).
> >
> > However I thought I would warn people about a ticket scam which operates
in
> > the Metro ticket hall at the Gard du Nord - but no reason not to assume
it
> > doesn't work elsewhere.
> >
> > I waited in a longish queue to buy a carnet of tickets for the metro (10
> > tickets for the price of 7 cost 10.50 Euro). I was approached by a man
who
> > told me that there were ticket issuing machines available in another
part of
> > the hall. I (foolishly) went with him. He bought me the tickets using
his
> > credit card (although I have no doubt it was stolen) - he told me the
> > machine only accepted French cards. He then wanted the money for the
tickets
> > (50.10 Euro). I realised I was the potential victim of a scam and told
him I
> > only had a credit card (I must remember to confess my lie). He wasn't
very
> > happy.
> >
> > I rejoined the queue and noticed that there were 2 other (at least)
> > operating the same scam.
> >
> > Jo
some good bargains at present - see the Eurostar site www.eurostar.co.uk.
You don't need to book travel to use the hotel booking service. We stayed at
the Best Western Nouvel Orleans in Montparnasse, about 15 mins by Metro from
centre. The metro station is right opposite the hotel. No problems about
hotel. We would go there again.
Sightseeing boats with commentary cost about 10 Euro for a one hour round
trip on the Seine typically Jardin des Plantes/Notre Dame to Eiffel tower
and back. You can get a boat without commentary (Batobus) for 11 Euro for
one day pass, 13 Euro for two days and 22 Euro for a month. You can get off
and on at about 8 points along the Seine and make as many trips as you like.
They run about every 10 to 15 mins. Route is as above. It's a good way of
sitting down and relaxing.
Queues to use the lift for the Eiffel tower were very long so we elected to
walk to the second level. To reach the top you need to go by lift (from
ground level - you can't join from 2nd level). Cost of walking up is 3.50
euros and taking lift to top about 10 euros. Walking up is not too bad - we
are both in our late 50's and survived the ascent.
It was our first visit to Paris. We walked about 8 miles a day - my wife has
a pedometer! We decided not to visit museums this time but to come again to
see the museums.
Jo
"Sam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> thanks for the kind information Joe. I am heading to Paris next week
> for 5 days and would be very interested in reading about your visit.
> Sam
> "Joe Gradeless" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> > I've just got back from a great four-day break in Paris (first time).
> >
> > However I thought I would warn people about a ticket scam which operates
in
> > the Metro ticket hall at the Gard du Nord - but no reason not to assume
it
> > doesn't work elsewhere.
> >
> > I waited in a longish queue to buy a carnet of tickets for the metro (10
> > tickets for the price of 7 cost 10.50 Euro). I was approached by a man
who
> > told me that there were ticket issuing machines available in another
part of
> > the hall. I (foolishly) went with him. He bought me the tickets using
his
> > credit card (although I have no doubt it was stolen) - he told me the
> > machine only accepted French cards. He then wanted the money for the
tickets
> > (50.10 Euro). I realised I was the potential victim of a scam and told
him I
> > only had a credit card (I must remember to confess my lie). He wasn't
very
> > happy.
> >
> > I rejoined the queue and noticed that there were 2 other (at least)
> > operating the same scam.
> >
> > Jo
Aug 3rd 2004, 8:51 pm
#23
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Paris Ticket Scam
"Joan McGalliard" <jem*NO-SPAM*@netspace.net.au> wrote in message
news:1ghynpx.nt0n541w5s3e6N%jem*NO-S...etspace.net.au...
> Joe Gradeless <[email protected]> wrote:
> > I rejoined the queue and noticed that there were 2 other (at least)
> > operating the same scam.
> Is your French good enough to report it to the station officials? If
> so, what action did they take?
Joan,
I spoke to the ticket clerk, whose English was good (far better than my
French). He was aware of the problem and understood the word 'scam'. No
action was taken by him. it was obvious who the scammers were - you just
needed to look about you.
Jo
>
> thanks
> joan
> --
> Joan McGalliard, UK http://www.mcgalliard.org
news:1ghynpx.nt0n541w5s3e6N%jem*NO-S...etspace.net.au...
> Joe Gradeless <[email protected]> wrote:
> > I rejoined the queue and noticed that there were 2 other (at least)
> > operating the same scam.
> Is your French good enough to report it to the station officials? If
> so, what action did they take?
Joan,
I spoke to the ticket clerk, whose English was good (far better than my
French). He was aware of the problem and understood the word 'scam'. No
action was taken by him. it was obvious who the scammers were - you just
needed to look about you.
Jo
>
> thanks
> joan
> --
> Joan McGalliard, UK http://www.mcgalliard.org
Aug 3rd 2004, 8:53 pm
#24
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Paris Ticket Scam
"Mxsmanic" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Joe Gradeless writes:
> > I've just got back from a great four-day break in Paris (first time).
> >
> > However I thought I would warn people about a ticket scam which operates
in
> > the Metro ticket hall at the Gard du Nord - but no reason not to assume
it
> > doesn't work elsewhere.
> >
> > I waited in a longish queue to buy a carnet of tickets for the metro (10
> > tickets for the price of 7 cost 10.50 Euro). I was approached by a man
who
> > told me that there were ticket issuing machines available in another
part of
> > the hall. I (foolishly) went with him. He bought me the tickets using
his
> > credit card (although I have no doubt it was stolen) - he told me the
> > machine only accepted French cards. He then wanted the money for the
tickets
> > (50.10 Euro). I realised I was the potential victim of a scam and told
him I
> > only had a credit card (I must remember to confess my lie). He wasn't
very
> > happy.
> >
> > I rejoined the queue and noticed that there were 2 other (at least)
> > operating the same scam.
> Next time perhaps you won't be so naïve.
Indeed you are right. I am a slow learner but have learned my lesson. (slap!
slap!)
> --
> Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.
news:[email protected]...
> Joe Gradeless writes:
> > I've just got back from a great four-day break in Paris (first time).
> >
> > However I thought I would warn people about a ticket scam which operates
in
> > the Metro ticket hall at the Gard du Nord - but no reason not to assume
it
> > doesn't work elsewhere.
> >
> > I waited in a longish queue to buy a carnet of tickets for the metro (10
> > tickets for the price of 7 cost 10.50 Euro). I was approached by a man
who
> > told me that there were ticket issuing machines available in another
part of
> > the hall. I (foolishly) went with him. He bought me the tickets using
his
> > credit card (although I have no doubt it was stolen) - he told me the
> > machine only accepted French cards. He then wanted the money for the
tickets
> > (50.10 Euro). I realised I was the potential victim of a scam and told
him I
> > only had a credit card (I must remember to confess my lie). He wasn't
very
> > happy.
> >
> > I rejoined the queue and noticed that there were 2 other (at least)
> > operating the same scam.
> Next time perhaps you won't be so naïve.
Indeed you are right. I am a slow learner but have learned my lesson. (slap!
slap!)
> --
> Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.
Aug 3rd 2004, 8:59 pm
#25
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Paris Ticket Scam
<[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Joe Gradeless <[email protected]> wrote:
> > "Mxsmanic" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Joe Gradeless writes:
> > > > He told me the machine only accepted French cards.
> > > They accept cash.
> > As opposed to non-French cards (I knew they accepted cash) The scammer
was
> > quite insistant that only a French card, and not my UK one, would work.
> 'makes sense, really. You still sign when paying in the UK with plastic?
> Here in France, we have four-digit PINs. Hard to imagine the machine
> spitting out a slip of paper for you to sign, and feed back in.
I can buy up to £40 (60 euros) worth of petrol at my local supermarket using
my credit card and no PIN or signature.
Jo
> Joe Gradeless <[email protected]> wrote:
> > "Mxsmanic" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Joe Gradeless writes:
> > > > He told me the machine only accepted French cards.
> > > They accept cash.
> > As opposed to non-French cards (I knew they accepted cash) The scammer
was
> > quite insistant that only a French card, and not my UK one, would work.
> 'makes sense, really. You still sign when paying in the UK with plastic?
> Here in France, we have four-digit PINs. Hard to imagine the machine
> spitting out a slip of paper for you to sign, and feed back in.
I can buy up to £40 (60 euros) worth of petrol at my local supermarket using
my credit card and no PIN or signature.
Jo
Aug 3rd 2004, 9:31 pm
#26
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Paris Ticket Scam
Joe Gradeless <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Mxsmanic" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Joe Gradeless writes:
> > > He told me the machine only accepted French cards.
> > They accept cash.
> As opposed to non-French cards (I knew they accepted cash) The scammer was
> quite insistant that only a French card, and not my UK one, would work.
'makes sense, really. You still sign when paying in the UK with plastic?
Here in France, we have four-digit PINs. Hard to imagine the machine
spitting out a slip of paper for you to sign, and feed back in.
> "Mxsmanic" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Joe Gradeless writes:
> > > He told me the machine only accepted French cards.
> > They accept cash.
> As opposed to non-French cards (I knew they accepted cash) The scammer was
> quite insistant that only a French card, and not my UK one, would work.
'makes sense, really. You still sign when paying in the UK with plastic?
Here in France, we have four-digit PINs. Hard to imagine the machine
spitting out a slip of paper for you to sign, and feed back in.
Aug 3rd 2004, 10:48 pm
#27
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Paris Ticket Scam
In <[email protected]>, Joe Gradeless wrote:
> As opposed to non-French cards (I knew they accepted cash) The scammer was
> quite insistant that only a French card, and not my UK one, would work.
Well, he was a scammer, so of course he was lying. The machines (at least
the "scroll wheel" ones) _do_ accept non-French credit cards, as another
poster here has already noted. In fact, I have _only_ used non-French,
non-chip, striped credit cards in those machines and I have never had any
problems.
--
Herbie J.
Famous Curator
> As opposed to non-French cards (I knew they accepted cash) The scammer was
> quite insistant that only a French card, and not my UK one, would work.
Well, he was a scammer, so of course he was lying. The machines (at least
the "scroll wheel" ones) _do_ accept non-French credit cards, as another
poster here has already noted. In fact, I have _only_ used non-French,
non-chip, striped credit cards in those machines and I have never had any
problems.
--
Herbie J.
Famous Curator
Aug 3rd 2004, 10:50 pm
#28
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Paris Ticket Scam
Hello :-)
I am a French student, I travel often and I hate the idea that foreign
tourists "benefit" from rip-offs for their first paris experiences.
Gare du Nord is THE most crowded train station in Europe (and I think
in the world, second to NY) and since there are high tourists numbers,
it attracts those little crooks.
Last time I was there I could save an American traveller 50 Euros...
These little ticket scams are cunning. They don't buy anything because
the card they have in hand is just plain paper - the one I saw
pretended he was a RATP employee and that he was using his company
card to buy the tickets (into an SNCF machine, by the way, which would
have seemed strange to a railway fan ...)
In fact he just threw with lots of agility a bunch of old tickets in
the machine, pretended to order a one week ticket, running his fingers
on the machine so quick you couldn't make it up, and asked the
ridiculous price of 50 euros for it.
Then I went out, and warned the American guy he was about to lose 50
euros for a used ticket Of course the other one wasn't very happy, but
they cannot hurt you - there are policemen and armymen everywhere in
the station so they won't take any risk...
So, beware of these, and prefer to queue, it's much safer. (You can
use ATMs too, anyway, but you need a Visa/Mastercard **with a chip and
a PIN**).
Et bon séjour en France ...
Stanislas
"Joe Gradeless" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I've just got back from a great four-day break in Paris (first time).
>
> However I thought I would warn people about a ticket scam which operates in
> the Metro ticket hall at the Gard du Nord - but no reason not to assume it
> doesn't work elsewhere.
>
> I waited in a longish queue to buy a carnet of tickets for the metro (10
> tickets for the price of 7 cost 10.50 Euro). I was approached by a man who
> told me that there were ticket issuing machines available in another part of
> the hall. I (foolishly) went with him. He bought me the tickets using his
> credit card (although I have no doubt it was stolen) - he told me the
> machine only accepted French cards. He then wanted the money for the tickets
> (50.10 Euro). I realised I was the potential victim of a scam and told him I
> only had a credit card (I must remember to confess my lie). He wasn't very
> happy.
>
> I rejoined the queue and noticed that there were 2 other (at least)
> operating the same scam.
>
> Jo
I am a French student, I travel often and I hate the idea that foreign
tourists "benefit" from rip-offs for their first paris experiences.
Gare du Nord is THE most crowded train station in Europe (and I think
in the world, second to NY) and since there are high tourists numbers,
it attracts those little crooks.
Last time I was there I could save an American traveller 50 Euros...
These little ticket scams are cunning. They don't buy anything because
the card they have in hand is just plain paper - the one I saw
pretended he was a RATP employee and that he was using his company
card to buy the tickets (into an SNCF machine, by the way, which would
have seemed strange to a railway fan ...)
In fact he just threw with lots of agility a bunch of old tickets in
the machine, pretended to order a one week ticket, running his fingers
on the machine so quick you couldn't make it up, and asked the
ridiculous price of 50 euros for it.
Then I went out, and warned the American guy he was about to lose 50
euros for a used ticket Of course the other one wasn't very happy, but
they cannot hurt you - there are policemen and armymen everywhere in
the station so they won't take any risk...
So, beware of these, and prefer to queue, it's much safer. (You can
use ATMs too, anyway, but you need a Visa/Mastercard **with a chip and
a PIN**).
Et bon séjour en France ...
Stanislas
"Joe Gradeless" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I've just got back from a great four-day break in Paris (first time).
>
> However I thought I would warn people about a ticket scam which operates in
> the Metro ticket hall at the Gard du Nord - but no reason not to assume it
> doesn't work elsewhere.
>
> I waited in a longish queue to buy a carnet of tickets for the metro (10
> tickets for the price of 7 cost 10.50 Euro). I was approached by a man who
> told me that there were ticket issuing machines available in another part of
> the hall. I (foolishly) went with him. He bought me the tickets using his
> credit card (although I have no doubt it was stolen) - he told me the
> machine only accepted French cards. He then wanted the money for the tickets
> (50.10 Euro). I realised I was the potential victim of a scam and told him I
> only had a credit card (I must remember to confess my lie). He wasn't very
> happy.
>
> I rejoined the queue and noticed that there were 2 other (at least)
> operating the same scam.
>
> Jo
Aug 3rd 2004, 10:55 pm
#29
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Paris Ticket Scam
(see my other message)
I did not even care to report what happened to RATP or police
officials. Why, would you ask?
The most they could do is ""asking"" them to leave. And in the next
hour they'll be three other ones.
It may seem strange to you, but the RATP has neither time nor "energy"
to sue these people for selling counterfeited tickets... and police in
the station rather concentrate on haschich dealers or illegal
immigrants.
Not tom mention the tension that arises with terrorist threats.
So...
Stanislas
jem*NO-SPAM*@netspace.net.au (Joan McGalliard) wrote in message news:<1ghynpx.nt0n541w5s3e6N%jem*NO-SPAM*@netspace.net.au>...
> Joe Gradeless <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
> > I rejoined the queue and noticed that there were 2 other (at least)
> > operating the same scam.
>
> Is your French good enough to report it to the station officials? If
> so, what action did they take?
>
> thanks
>
> joan
I did not even care to report what happened to RATP or police
officials. Why, would you ask?
The most they could do is ""asking"" them to leave. And in the next
hour they'll be three other ones.
It may seem strange to you, but the RATP has neither time nor "energy"
to sue these people for selling counterfeited tickets... and police in
the station rather concentrate on haschich dealers or illegal
immigrants.
Not tom mention the tension that arises with terrorist threats.
So...
Stanislas
jem*NO-SPAM*@netspace.net.au (Joan McGalliard) wrote in message news:<1ghynpx.nt0n541w5s3e6N%jem*NO-SPAM*@netspace.net.au>...
> Joe Gradeless <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
> > I rejoined the queue and noticed that there were 2 other (at least)
> > operating the same scam.
>
> Is your French good enough to report it to the station officials? If
> so, what action did they take?
>
> thanks
>
> joan
Aug 3rd 2004, 11:08 pm
#30
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Paris Ticket Scam
Herbie Jurvanen <[email protected]> wrote:
> In <[email protected]>, Joe Gradeless wrote:
>
> > As opposed to non-French cards (I knew they accepted cash) The scammer was
> > quite insistant that only a French card, and not my UK one, would work.
>
> Well, he was a scammer, so of course he was lying. The machines (at least
> the "scroll wheel" ones) _do_ accept non-French credit cards, as another
> poster here has already noted. In fact, I have _only_ used non-French,
> non-chip, striped credit cards in those machines and I have never had any
> problems.
I've never gotten them to work, and my UK cards work in other countries-
used one to buy local rail tickets from machines in the NYC area. So,
while the Parisian machines must work, as you used them, they certainly
seem flaky.
I've also had problems recently in Barcelona...
David
--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
> In <[email protected]>, Joe Gradeless wrote:
>
> > As opposed to non-French cards (I knew they accepted cash) The scammer was
> > quite insistant that only a French card, and not my UK one, would work.
>
> Well, he was a scammer, so of course he was lying. The machines (at least
> the "scroll wheel" ones) _do_ accept non-French credit cards, as another
> poster here has already noted. In fact, I have _only_ used non-French,
> non-chip, striped credit cards in those machines and I have never had any
> problems.
I've never gotten them to work, and my UK cards work in other countries-
used one to buy local rail tickets from machines in the NYC area. So,
while the Parisian machines must work, as you used them, they certainly
seem flaky.
I've also had problems recently in Barcelona...
David
--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
