Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France

All Topics about Marseille All Cities in France

1. Les Voie Navires Scam

Street performers in Marseille's old port may offer to guide you to their 'secret' restaurant. Decline and find your own way.

Unsolicited Guides: They claim to be locals offering tours, but they often lead you to a restaurant where they receive commission.
Commission-based Tourism: These guides make money by directing you to specific restaurants that pay them for each customer brought in.
Avoiding Scams: Be cautious when approached by street performers offering tours or directions.

Fake police officers may approach you asking for your wallet or passport to 'verify documents'. They are scammers. Keep your belongings secure.

Impersonation of Authorities: Scammers often pose as police officers to extract money or valuable items from tourists.
Lack of Identification: Legitimate police officers will always show identification upon request. If they don't, be suspicious.
Reporting Incidents: If you believe you are being scammed by someone pretending to be a police officer, find a real one or go to the nearest police station immediately.

Taxis from Marseille-Provence Airport may overcharge tourists. Agree on a price before starting the journey.

Airport Taxi Overcharging: Some taxi drivers take advantage of tourists by charging excessive prices.
Pre-negotiated Price: Always agree on a price before starting the journey to avoid unexpected charges.
Registered Taxis: Make sure the taxi is licensed and has a meter, or negotiate a fixed price in advance.

Some vendors at the Les Puces market sell counterfeit goods. Stick to reputable shops for authentic items.

Counterfeit Items: Vendors may sell fake designer goods at lower prices.
Reputable Shops: Find shops that are well-established and have good reviews for authentic items.
Legal Ramifications: Buying counterfeit goods may lead to legal issues if you're stopped by customs on your return home.

The Vieux Port is a target for pickpockets. Keep your belongings secure and be aware of your surroundings.

Crowded Areas: Pickpocketing occurs most frequently in crowded, tourist-heavy areas like the Vieux Port.
Secure Belongings: Use a secure pouch or bag that is difficult to open quickly.
Stay Alert: Be aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas where pickpocketing is common.

Some unofficial car parks may overcharge or even damage your vehicle. Use official parking facilities.

Overpriced Car Parks: Unofficial car parks may charge higher prices than official ones.
Vehicle Damage: Your vehicle may be damaged if left in an unofficial or poorly maintained car park.
Official Parking Facilities: Use official parking facilities with good reviews and clear signage.

Some accommodation listings may overcharge for poor-quality rooms. Research your options thoroughly.

Inflated Prices: Some accommodations charge higher prices than they should for lower-quality rooms.
Thorough Research: Research your accommodation options and read reviews before booking.
Reputable Accommodations: Choose accommodations with good reviews, clear policies, and transparent pricing.

Free Wi-Fi hotspots may be set up by scammers to steal your data. Only use secured, trusted networks.

Data Theft: Scammers can intercept your data from unsecured Wi-Fi networks.
Secure Networks: Use secured, trusted networks when accessing the internet on your device.
VPN Use: Consider using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) for added security and privacy.

Some tour guides may not be licensed, leading to poor service or even fraud. Use only licensed tour guides.

Lack of Licensing: Unlicensed tour guides may provide poor service or engage in fraudulent activities.
Licensed Guides: Only use licensed tour guides to ensure they meet safety and quality standards.
Legal Ramifications: Using unlicensed guides can lead to legal issues, such as fines or deportation.

Some street artists may claim their work is for sale but return later to demand payment. Avoid buying street art.

Demanding Payment: Artists may create a piece of artwork and then demand payment at a later time.
No Legal Proof of Sale: Without a legal proof of sale, there is no way to prove that you have bought the artwork.
Avoiding Scams: It's best not to buy street art to avoid potential scams and confusion.

Charity collectors may not be legitimate. Donate to established charities only.

Illegitimate Collectors: Some collectors may pretend to represent a charity but keep the donations for themselves.
Established Charities: Donate to charities with a proven track record and clear affiliations.
Research: Research charities before donating to ensure they are legitimate and use your donation effectively.

Some souvenir shops may overcharge for tourist items. Compare prices before purchasing.

Inflated Prices: Souvenir shop owners may charge higher prices than necessary.
Comparison Shopping: Compare prices at multiple shops before making a purchase.
Reputable Shops: Choose reputable shops with good reviews and clear policies for the best deals.

Unofficial exchange bureaus may offer lower exchange rates or charge hidden fees. Use official exchange services.

Lower Exchange Rates: Unofficial exchange bureaus may provide lower exchange rates than banks and official services.
Hidden Fees: Some unofficial exchange bureaus charge hidden fees for their services.
Official Exchange Services: Use official exchange services with good reviews and clear policies to avoid scams.

Some shore excursions offered by cruise ships may be overpriced or low-quality. Research and book in advance.

Overpriced Excursions: Cruise ship excursions may charge higher prices than equivalent local tours.
Low-Quality Excursions: Some cruise ship excursions may not offer the best tourist experiences.
Advance Booking: Research and book your shore excursion in advance to get the best deals and avoid disappointment.

Some money exchange kiosks may provide lower exchange rates or charge hidden fees. Use banks for exchanges.

Lower Exchange Rates: Money exchange kiosks may offer lower exchange rates than banks and official services.
Hidden Fees: Some kiosks charge hidden fees for their services.
Banks for Exchanges: Use banks with good reviews and clear policies to avoid scams and get the best exchange rates.