Heads up to travelers about tactics that pickpockets are using in the train stations. This happened to us in Rome and in Florence. We were standing at the board looking to see if the platform for our next train had been posted when a very friendly woman walked up to us and asked if we needed help. We responded the first time it happened that no, we did not; we were just looking to see if the platform had been posted yet. She suggested that we follow her to another board and she would show us. Before we could hardly turn around, Trenitalia personnel swooped in and stepped between us and told us this was a pickpocket scam. They try to lead you away from the crowd to a secluded place. She took off quickly when the authorized personnel approached, although she did not leave the station as we saw her later trying the same thing with other travelers. From then on, when we were approached by these people who were not employees of Trenitalia, we responded with a very firm no and a stern look when they asked if we needed help.
As we were getting ready to board our train in Florence, there was a man trying to use a similar tactic by offering to help people find their particular carriage/car on the train. He went so far as to climb aboard the train. So, unfortunately, be very wary of friendly individuals who offer assistance-- don't be taken in by someone's "kindness" and offer to help. If you need help, seek out the information desk or uniformed employees!