New pick pocket scam: a pigeon pooped on you

Sorry this happened to you but the bird dropping distraction technique is not particularly new. This along with the found ring or the sign my petition ploys have been ongoing for years.

Carry nothing extra on your person. All anyone really needs is ID, some cash, and a credit card. Leave everything else locked in your hotel safe. Travel around the city as though you are about to be pick pocketed because you might be.

Sorry about this traumatic experience. Unfortunately this isn't a new scam....except that her jacket was also involved. Unfortunately they are professionals at this. Also know the kindly old couple that wants to help is just as professional at their scam. A true act of kindness would have just offered the wipes and not touched you.
Hope you can put it past you and enjoy the rest of your trip.

i will add wherever you travel for tourism never put a credit card or debit card in a bag keep that under your clothes close to the skin always.

Unfortunately the pigeon poo pickpocket distraction in not new. Happened to a Brit I met who "lost" his wallet and to a friend who "lost" his cell phone, both cases a number of years (>10) ago.

Sorry that this happened to you. This is not new and not specific to France. I know people who this happened to in Rome and in Rio de Janeiro in the 1990s.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! It's good to know what areas they are targeting.

I know this is silly to ask, but which side of the river were you on. I'm sure they move back and forth but just wanted to know. I just walked by that cool Russian Orthodox Church near the bridge on my March visit.

There are pickpockets all over where tourists go not one specific place.

If you ever really do get pigeon-bombed, do clean it off as quickly as possible, with water. (But don’t fall for anyone’s offer to help). Pigeon poop is caustic and ruined my nice silk sweater when we were in Venice.

Along with everyone else, I am so sorry about this and know how upsetting it was and probably still is. I am so glad you posted your unsettling experience, though, and hope others will be on alert for this (and others!) now. Thank you. Now you know one more scam to be on the lookout for and I applaud your attitude in moving on and not letting this impact your enjoyment of your trip.

Sorry this happened. But the scam is common (it’s not “new”) and this is the message: 1) pickpockets often work in teams and will distract you. Knowing the “bird poop” scam will not protect you from the dropped baby, the old woman who falls, or any of the countless ways they do this. And most importantly, 2) your stuff is not safe unless it’s under your clothes in a money belt or similar. No amount of zippers, layers of zippers, situational awareness or the like will protect you from these skilled and determined thieves if your stuff is not secured under your clothes. It’s how they make a living and they are good at it!

Lowlifes like that are garbage & will get there just desserts hopefully sooner than later.

Actually they're human beings like us, with their own set of issues, like us. Pickpockets and petition girls are not born that way, they're made that way by the people they trusted.

“Lowlifes like that are garbage.”

What an ugly thing to say about other human beings. They are a pain in the neck, they are petty thieves, but they are not garbage. Probably the Roma, who were exterminated during WWII, had to deal with the “garbage” simile, too.

"There are pickpockets all over where tourists go not one specific place."

I understand that and I'm familiar with some of the area near where they got hit. I asked because while the Left Bank side is near-ish the ET and the Trocadero area the closest "site" is Quai Branley Museum. I guess there are some tourist buses that park along the side streets but it just didn't seem like this would be a particularly high traffic area and might not be as lucrative as other areas like how things used to be around Notre Dame. In March I did see all the trinket sellers from the base of the ET retreat to across from Quai Branley when the police made a show of "chasing" them.

Basically, just curious.

It is a crime of opportunity, wherever

RE: It is a crime of opportunity...

Not true. "Crime of Opportunity" is: "a crime that is committed without planning when the perpetrator sees that they have the chance to commit the act at that moment and seizes it. Such acts have little or no premeditation".

A pigeon poo pick pocket operation is a team work theft clearly planned and practiced in terms of team actions. The team is likely targeting high value low risk tourist.

As Edgar notes, these are not crimes of opportunity, they are well planned and professional. If they get your wallet you will often have 20K on the credit card before you have a chance to call the company to report it. The squirt of mustard and helpful people with wipes (who just happened to be there with wet wipes miraculously -- how wonderful for you) is at least 50 years old, probably variations are 1000 years old. This was being done the first time I was in Europe in 1960. This kind of distraction is easy to fall victim to and unlike many scams it doesn't rely on you being gullible or trying to cheat yourself like the 3 card monte games in Montmartre or the 'found ring'.

Easy to imagine anyone falling for it if not aware in advance which is why the key to security is how you carry your valuables not your alertness or whatever.

Going to back up Continental here, by giving the benefit of the doubt that by “garbage” she didn’t mean they should be exterminated like Norma suggested, but that they should be prosecuted under the law! No one is forced to steal from others, it’s a choice. And I think lowlife is an accurate description. I’ve read enough of this forum to have tead about these scams that appear to take place at popular tourist sites. Why can’t the authorities do more?

is it not a crime of opportunity if they see you as an easy target off the tourist track since they know instantly what to do

It is a nuisance experience all around. Luckily it has never happened to me. Basically , a diversion manoeuvre that what they pulled on you two.

The first thing you should do once you are/were aware of the "poop" is to get away from them...that woman and guy "wanting" to help you. They are helping themselves. I suggest ducking into a corner or some space where you two can see what actually happened.

Bottom line...get away from "them" period.

I remember seeing years ago a film documentary about a Roma encampment somewhere in former Yugoslavia. The boys were trained to be thieves and pickpockets. The young girls were to be beggars and the other women had babies which were used by the begging females as ploys. These people were trucked to another encampment outside of Rome, and then daily into Rome
to practice their “arts”. Punishment ensued if the daily “take” was below expectations. The so called “Gypsy King”, a middle aged man, would visit the encampment from time to time in his fancy expensive car, and all the girls and women would flock to see him and adore him.

The message I got was that these people, male and female, had no choice but to do as trained to do. They knew no other life, were uneducated and totally dependant on the “commune”. They become despicable, certainly, but they are our fellow human beings.

I appreciate all of the comments. In answer to an early on question we were on the left bank right by Pont d’alma bridge. Lots of construction around and we had just walked under a tree. No one else around but some man hanging out a little ways off looking out at the river. He walked away in the midst of it and we made eye contact. I wonder now if he knew what was going on or was part of it. Oh well, lesson learned, we came out of it not losing anything thanks to Barclaycard, and just a sleepless night, a little hurt pride or feeling foolish and traumatized. It’s a sad situation all around based on all your comments.

Thank you so much for the added information. Yes, traumatic but glad you are OK and your credit is safe.

And really...I'd be hard-pressed to spend 8,000E in that short a time but that's part of it. Doubtless the card was immediately handed off to someone and there is a plan on what to purchase.

Very sorry. Glad you are able to work everything out and not interrupt your trip too much.

The bird poop scam isn't really new.

The answer to all scams is to be a hard target. Keep your valuables in a safe wallet (money belt, neck wallet, leg wallet, hidden pocket - whatever you like best) under your clothes. Don't carry valuables and/or shopping bags carelessly. Keep your game face on in crowds, walk with a purpose and only look at a map after you find an out of the way place to sit down and take your time. Don't let any stranger touch you or crowd you. If they do, assume they're a thief.

The more burdened, hurried, harried, tired and/or lost you look, the more likely a thief will take a closer look at you. Thieves are looking for the easiest way to get the most value. If you're a hard target, they'll go to someone else.

It’s been around for years; not new. My wife has actually been pooped by birds on a couple occasions.

My wife has actually been pooped by birds on a couple occasions.

They are birds specially trained by the Roma to poop on you to help their scam seem legit.

Trained pooping birds! What a concept! If only all tourists could be trained to be pickpocket proof.

I'm not justifying or excusing it but unfortunately for many of the people involved in this type of crime they don't have much of a "choice" in whether they participate in it, especially the women. It's very easyto say they don't need to do it but family and cultural pressures, threats of violence etc can play a huge part.

I totally agree with the above statement. Few people are 'garbage' but have to do what they have to do to survive. Some of us just started further up the ladder for an easier life this time around anyway.

This whole experience was unfortunate, so don't mistake the meaning of my next questions, but I'm still trying to picture how this happened. I'm still curious how they got through three zippers without being noticed. Where was the bag? Was the bag on the ground? Was it a backpack? If it's a crossbody/messenger bag, which is on hip (or for me in front). That person had to be in your personal space? I'm just trying to picture this because if I need to change my systems I want to know.

There have been numerous of times while out and about in Paris I must have looked harried, lost, tired, clueless, if possible, but that was the just the look, never saw the poop scam done on anyone or experienced it myself, be it alone traveling in Paris or with the Mrs. Of course, with the Mrs around, I feel much more confident...a purely subjective observation. But, then I don't use any sort of day bag, messenger bag, backpack, or anything fitting that purpose, only a waist belt.

Thank you for the info and I'm sorry this happened to you. We're traveling to Paris in October and I'm driving myself a little nuts trying to figure out the best way to carry my 'stuff' when wandering the city. I bought a cross-body bag which I thought I could carry under a jacket (figuring it will be chilly enough for a jacket) - would that be enough? I did buy a neck wallet and was told that my husband and I should split up our cash and carry small amounts in different pockets - some for him and some for me. I know not to use back pocket - but even a front pocket or an inside jacket pocket isn't enough? I can't imagine someone going through a front pocket without me being aware, but from what everyone is saying these thieves are ingenious and skilled at their 'craft'. Thanks for all the tips.

better to use a money belt or neck pocket. Front pockets are not necessarily safe. Just keep enough in the pockets for that day's use. Neither money belts nor neck pockets should be accessed in public.

Mostly, if you things put away safely, just enjoy. Have a great time.

"Trained pooping birds! What a concept!"

Don't laugh. I trained my pet Scarlet Macaw, Ernesto, to drop bombs on my wife’s yenta friends as they too often sip tea in my living room. Usually accompanied by a scathing remark. For example, Ernesto might squawk: “Take that, Brenda my dear, and spread it on some toast for that layabout husband of yours.”

Ernesto has got into the habit of wearing aviator goggles lately, his own idea.

We just got home from France last evening and I woke up early this morning so I have been catching up on this thread and thought I would answer a few other questions. My husband was using a one of the belt loop, zippered, fold inside the front of your pants things and it worked great. The day we got targeted, he had chosen to take a cross body bag so he could carry camera, water, etc. and he had the belt loop, zippered pouch in a zippered compartment in the zippered cross body bag. I told him he should wear the belt loop pouch as usual and he chose not to; big mistake to skip that step. When the woman in the scam got him busy helping her clean my blouse and hair, the guy with her was evidently able to get into the three zippered compartments when his bag was not right in front of him. My back was turned to all of them, which I imagine they intended so I didn't see but I still had my hand over the zippered and locked middle section of my Travelon cross body purse that I carried everyday with no issues. My Travelon bag has little metal loops that you hook from the zipper to "lock" the zipper although I am sure that an expert pickpocket knows how to quickly unlatch the little lock mechanism. But I always had my hand on that spot of my bag just walking around and I always had it in my sight basically. So if my husband had stuck to the belt loop pouch being where it should be, I don't think it would have happened. The thief left his passport, Navigo Decouverte card in the pouch, probably so when we got ready to use the metro, he might not notice the other items were gone. In talking with a few Parisians over the next few days, one of the servers at a cafe said that one of their employees had his credit card stolen one time when they were unloading a bunch of boxes of produce, etc. for the cafe and some guys came up and volunteered to help them! Another couple we talked with at a cafe said that a lot of the pickpockets are not legal residents and have no identity that is registered so they have no way of being found.

When I checked our credit card activity on line this morning at home, none of the transactions of the theives are even listed; it is as if they never happened, although I did get emails about them posting initially on my phone while we were still there. I was checking our balances and credit limit by calling the customer service everyday while we were still in Paris to make sure we were ok, but I had not used my phone to go on line to check anything because I prefer not to do those types of things on my phone. So I hope this answers some of the other questions and comments. I will be posting a trip report in the next week. Thanks everyone!

Thank you for sharing and I’m terribly sorry this happened to you. We’ve traveled a decent amount now and I’ve never heard of this particular scam; you never know who you might help with sharing information and I appreciate it.

My husband did get pooped on by a pigeon in Venice while we were on our honeymoon. Poor guy :)

DPalmier, I am very sorry that this happened to you. What a drag. I am glad your credit card holder didn’t charge you and you had alternate cards.

I guess your husband will listen to you next time when you tell him he needs to wear the small pouch with the valuables inside his pants!!

As to the person who asked above, no, putting something in a front pocket will not deter a thief. Go ahead and wear a money belt or neck wallet as per Rick’s recommendation and that of many travelers on this site.

Jb93003, here is the link to where Rick discusses his guidance for keeping valuables safe when traveling.

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/theft-scams

My wallet goes in the front left pocket whereas the Eagle Creek "hidden pocket" is worn near the front right pocket looped from the belt.

I do sometimes get a bit nervous in a crowded situation since that wallet is potentially vulnerable to being picked; as another layer of "defense" that wallet is covered my three to four 3x5 note cards fastened by two binder clips.

I have to say, that I was just in Lisbon and sitting down at a restaurant when the waiter said a bird had pooped on me. I remembered reading about this scam and I think I freaked the waiter out a little by my reaction. It turned out that a bird, had in fact, pooped on my sweater, rather badly. I had to have my hotel send it out to be laundered. But I did pay attention to what I read about on this forum.