UK tourists in Barcelona warned 'be careful' and told 'you probably know this'

James Rodger

10 June 2024 at 8:06 am·2-min read

A Spain expat has warned UK tourists "be careful" as a Barcelona tourist scam can occur "right under your nose". Last year, data compiled by Quotezone.co.uk found that Spain was one of the worst destinations for tourist scams, along with France.

Katie, an American expat who lives in Spain, warned stolen phones is one of the biggest "scams" that Barcelona is "known for" and among "five popular tourist scams you need to be aware of if you are coming to Spain."

"You probably already know this but Barcelona is known for stealing phones," she warned. "If you have your phone in your back pocket or anywhere visible people will snatch it." She added: "I did have one of my friends get her phone stolen out of her hand so that can happen too. Be careful."

Katie said: "A lot of people will get those lanyard things that will attach your phone to your wrist because I'm not playing when it comes to my phone." In reply, a tourist told her: "Last week we were in Barcelona traveling from Valencia and stop for one site seeing so we park our car in proper parking infront of camera and once we came back from site seeing and we saw someone broker our rental car glass and took 6 big bags and valuable from car and it’s really not safe to travel Barcelona."

"Be vigilant!" a fan replied. "stealing," another said. "Barcelona is known about sterling phones and the scam in taxis," a third typed. "i am not sure but that happens anywhere you go .... scams," another commented in reply to the video.

One tourist said: "Our phone was stolen right off our table under our noses at a restaurant in Barcelona. The restaurant was empty except for us and this one guy who wandered in off the street and sat near us. The staff didn't give him a menu or approach him like they did with us when we arrived.

"We never saw him near our table and I wonder if maybe our waiter stole the phone and gave it to the guy? Either way, it was pure artistry. Nobody in our party of five saw anything and none of us would have believed it could happen."

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