An Austrian couple fell victim to the so-called “mirror trick” on a trip to Italy, as the daily newspaper “ Today “ reported. 75-year-old Franz S. and his wife, both academics, were overtaking a white BMW when they heard a bang. The BMW driver pointed to his broken mirror, drove past them and waved them into a nearby parking lot.
Payment immediately and in cash
After they stopped, the man immediately went to the passenger side of their car and pointed to what he thought was damage. In fact, he had drawn a “scratch” on their vehicle with a special chalk. The bang they had heard was probably the result of a targeted stone being thrown.
Pretending that they had damaged his mirror, the scammer showed them a replacement model on eBay for 800 euros on his mobile phone. He insisted that the costs be paid immediately and in cash, rather than using insurance to settle the claim.
“Everything was very credible and happened very quickly”
“My wife voluntarily gave him all of our cash reserves,” Franz S. told “Heute”. The fraudster drove off with a total of 560 euros. When the couple later looked at his dashcam videos, they noticed that the fraudster’s mirror had already been broken before the alleged accident.
Despite the slim chance of getting their money back, the Austrians plan to file a complaint on their next visit to Italy. But above all, they want to warn other holidaymakers. “These perpetrators are very well organized and really sophisticated. Everything was very credible and happened very quickly,” said the 75-year-old.
How to protect yourself
The scam has been known for several years. Tourists who are confronted with the trick should, according to “ Mercury “ and under no circumstances should you pay the money demanded. Instead, you should insist on calling the police, as most scammers then flee. It is also recommended that you keep valuables and wallets out of sight in your vehicle to prevent further theft.
But it’s not just in Italy that tourists are ripped off. For one father, the cheerful mood on his holiday in Greece was suddenly spoiled. A visit to a restaurant ended in a nasty tourist trap. The waiter pressured his family into ordering expensive food. The bill came to 360.80 euros, which was much higher than stated on the menu.