Comments on: Stockholm: Avoid this popular tourist scam in Gamla Stan

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 09:05:12 +0000

These scams are operated by Eastern European gangs and are common everywhere, not just in Stockholm.

Just stay away from them and you’ll be fine.

By: Hazel

Hazel — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:11:53 +0000

I visited Stockholm April 2013. My husband and I were walking along the streets and this guy across the street pointed to the back of my jacket to say that I have had bird shit on my jacket. There was a huge patch of white liquid of the back of my jacket. He then walked away.

Another guy on the same side of the street came to say the same thing and pointed to the nearest bus stop and asked that I removed my jacket etc. while we followed him towards the bus stop my husband smelled the liquid and realised it was fragrant. We then decided to go to a nearby hotel to borrow the bathroom. That guy followed us. We felt he was being wierd and decided to stay at the hotel lobby for another 15 mins and he left.

It turned out that the liquid was just moisturizer. It was a lot of moisturizer and there was no way they stained my jacket accidentally.

By: chin

chin — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 00:45:52 +0000

This has been happening for a long time now, In 2006 we were there for workshop which was organized by our employer and one of my friend lost month worth of salary to these ball hiders in Gamla Stan. I don’t know how these people are operating avoiding police

By: Jakob Svensson

Jakob Svensson — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 16:02:46 +0000

these guys took two of my kids for a total of 1000 kronor. I went after them noisiliy demanding my kids’ money back and telling them I had called the police and would follow them all night until we got our money back. This worked and they gave it back. Make a lot of noise, hurt their business in front of a lot of people and these cowards and cheats will give in. Attention costs them time and money. Fight back!

By: italien tourist

italien tourist — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:56:02 +0000

Hi, we have been to Stockolm, 3 months ago, some Swedish men, tried to make us visiting a historical, old town (the Stortorget .Big Square) , we trusted them..

during the walk, in a small street , one of them showed us his arm, and forced us to give him all what we have (money and phone) just pay attention to people who insist to you to visit any things there…or invite you for anythings..especially to play a fake game…many of our friends had the same troubles ..

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:37:10 +0000

We got caught up in this game in Budapest today so I decided to look it up. Foolishly we got involved and handed over 10,000 Ft (about £30). When we realised what had happened, we were determined to win our money back. Unfortunately…this meant risking losing another 10,000 Ft. My sister watched carefully as the guy moved the ball around the three boxes yet point blankly refused for the vendor to lift the box himself (which would have enabled him to hide the coin). A small altercation occurred but once my sister persuaded him to let her lift the box herself and pointed to the ball, we made him return the 20.000 Ft we handed out. As we watched others play (his conmen) and how he let them pick the box up themselves, we didn’t back down! A little bit of force and firm talking can make you win…admittedly you do have to be silly enough to get involved!

By: Gurer

Gurer — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 11:32:03 +0000

Yes I witnessed this in both Stockholm’s and in Copenhagen’s busy streets. A man was scrambling three boxes and a ball hidden (!) in one of them and people were paying 100 USD or EUR to make their guesses. They were so sure that they would win but eventually all lost the game. One man paid even the last penny in his wallet. Once in Copenhagen I was going to play and stepped on scammers hand to make him stop. In the same moment, there were 4 more feet on mine. Scammer asked me to pay 100 EUR to play but in the last moment I gave it up (Thanks GOD)