Safety and scams
How do you avoid tourist scams in Europe?
Fake police, distraction teams, inflated bar bills and street money changers. Which countries official advice warns about, and how to keep your money safe.
The short version
Most scams aimed at visitors in Europe are petty and avoidable. Official UK travel advice warns of pickpockets and drink spiking in every one of the eight countries we checked. Fake police officers appear in the advice for Spain, Czechia and the Netherlands; overcharging taxis and inflated bar bills in Czechia and Hungary; and street money changers in Czechia, Hungary and Spain. Your best protection is how you pay: under EU rules, if your card is stolen and used, your loss is normally capped at €50, while cash is simply gone. Carry a card, keep only a little cash, and never hand your wallet to anyone claiming to be police.
Who is this guide for?
Anyone visiting Europe's big cities who wants to know which tricks to watch for in each country, without being put off travelling. We read the UK Foreign Office's safety advice for eight popular countries on 16 October 2026 and recorded which scams each page mentions.
Which scams does official advice warn about, country by country?
The table shows which risks the official advice mentions for each country. A blank cell means the advice does not mention that risk; it does not mean the risk is zero.
| Country | Pickpockets and distraction | Drink spiking | Fake police | Taxi tricks | Inflated bar bills | Street money changers | Theft from cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Czechia | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, clubs | Yes | |
| Hungary | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Spain | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Italy | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Netherlands | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
| France | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
| Greece | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
| Portugal | Yes | Yes |
Source: GOV.UK foreign travel advice, safety and security pages for each country. "Taxi tricks" covers unlicensed or fake taxis and overcharging drivers; "Theft from cars" covers parked and hire cars, including Spain's "highway pirates" who target foreign-registered and hire cars.
How do the common scams work?
- Distraction teams. One person asks a question, spills something or shows you a map; another takes your wallet or phone. The advice for France, Spain and Portugal says thieves often work in teams.
- Fake police. Someone in plain clothes shows a badge and asks to check your wallet, cards or foreign currency for "counterfeit notes". In Spain, Czechia and the Netherlands, the advice warns that these people are thieves. Real police will not ask you to hand over cash or your PIN.
- Taxi tricks. In Czechia, drivers in unmarked cars pose as taxis and overcharge. Our taxi guide lists the fixed airport fares to know before you land.
- Inflated bills. In Hungary, the advice says some bars, clubs and restaurants charge very high prices, and that some taxi drivers are part of these frauds. Check prices before you order.
- Street money changers. Notes from people changing money on the street in Czechia and Spain are often counterfeit. Use a cash machine inside a bank instead.
- Drink spiking. Mentioned for all eight countries. Keep your drink with you and do not accept drinks from strangers.
Which way of paying protects you best?
If something does go wrong, the way you paid decides whether you get your money back. In the EU, the Payment Services Directive caps what you pay for unauthorised card payments after a loss or theft at €50, unless you acted with gross negligence, and says your bank must refund an unauthorised payment by the end of the next business day. UK rules set the cap at £35.
| Way to pay | If stolen and used | If a trader cheats you | Acceptance | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit card | Loss capped (€50 in the EU, £35 in the UK) | UK cards: Section 75 for purchases of £100 to £30,000, including abroad; chargeback below that | Wide | Strongest protection for big purchases | Foreign transaction fees on some cards |
| Debit card | Loss capped by the same rules | Chargeback through the card scheme; not a legal right and time-limited | Wide | Spends your own money; easy cash withdrawals | Money leaves your account while a dispute is open |
| Prepaid or multi-currency card (such as Wise or Revolut) | Covered by the same payment rules as other providers | Chargeback may be possible; ask the provider | Wide, as Visa or Mastercard | Freeze the card in the app; hold only a small balance | Weekend and allowance fees on some plans |
| Cash | No protection | No protection | Universal | Works where cards do not; no card details to steal | Lost for good if stolen; counterfeit risk from street changers |
Who should pick what: use a credit card for anything large or prepaid, such as tours and hotels, if you have one. For daily spending, a debit or prepaid card you can freeze from your phone limits the damage if it is stolen. Carry only enough cash for a day of small purchases and tips, and keep it apart from your cards.
What should I do if I am scammed or robbed?
- Freeze or cancel your cards straight away in your banking app, or by phone.
- Call 112 in an emergency; it works across the EU.
- Report the theft to the local police and get a written report. Insurers and banks usually ask for one.
- Dispute any unauthorised payment with your bank as soon as you can.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fake police scam in Europe?
People posing as plain-clothes police ask to check your wallet, cards or foreign currency, then steal from it. UK travel advice warns about it in Spain, Czechia and the Netherlands. Real police will not ask for your cash or PIN.
Am I liable if my card is stolen and used abroad?
In the EU, your loss from unauthorised payments after a card is lost or stolen is normally capped at €50, unless you acted fraudulently or with gross negligence. Under UK rules the cap is £35. Report the loss to your bank straight away.
Is it safe to change money on the street in Prague or Budapest?
No. UK travel advice warns against changing money on the street in Czechia and Hungary, and says the notes are often counterfeit. Use a cash machine inside a bank instead.
Which European countries have the most tourist scams?
No official source ranks countries. Of the eight countries we checked, UK travel advice mentions the widest range of scams for Czechia, Hungary and Spain, but pickpocketing and drink spiking are mentioned for all eight.
Where the figures come from
Checked on 16 October 2026. Official sources first; secondary sources are labelled.
- GOV.UK: Czech Republic, safety and security
- GOV.UK: Hungary, safety and security
- GOV.UK: Spain, safety and security
- GOV.UK: Italy, safety and security
- GOV.UK: Netherlands, safety and security
- GOV.UK: France, safety and security
- GOV.UK: Greece, safety and security
- GOV.UK: Portugal, safety and security
- EUR-Lex: Directive (EU) 2015/2366 on payment services, Articles 73 and 74
- legislation.gov.uk: Payment Services Regulations 2017, regulation 77
- Which?: Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act and chargeback
- European Commission: 112, the European emergency number