An Austrian couple fell victim to the so-called ‘mirror trick’ during a trip to Italy, the daily reported.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 gestured them to a nearby parking lot.
Payment of costs immediately and in cash
After they stopped, the man immediately walked to the passenger side of their car and pointed to what appeared to be damage. In fact, he had drawn a “scratch” on her vehicle with special chalk. The bang they heard was probably the result of deliberately throwing a stone.
The fraudster pretended they had damaged his mirror and showed them a replacement model on his mobile phone on eBay for €800. He insisted that the costs be paid immediately in cash, instead of settling the damage through insurance.
“Everything was very believable and happened very quickly”
“My wife voluntarily gave him all our cash reserves,” Franz S. said today. The fraudster drove away with a total of 560 euros. When they subsequently viewed their dashcam videos, the couple noticed that the fraudster’s mirror was broken before the alleged accident.
Despite the slim chance of getting their money back, Austrians want to do so on their next visit in Italy To file a complaint. But above all, they want to warn other holidaymakers. “These perpetrators are very well organized and very sophisticated. Everything was very believable and happened very quickly,” said the 75-year-old.
This is how they protect themselves
The scam has been known for years. Tourists confronted with the trick should be careful, he saidMercury“Do not be intimidated and under no circumstances pay the money requested. Instead, they should insist on the Police call, because most fraudsters then usually flee. In addition, it is recommended that valuables and wallets are not visible in the vehicle to prevent further theft.
But it’s not just Italy where tourists are being ripped off. For a family man, the cheerful mood was… Greece-Holiday suddenly spoiled. Because a visit to a restaurant ended in a bad one Tourist trap. The waiter pressured his family to place expensive orders. With a bill of 360.80 euros, this was much higher than stated in the menu.