It happened in the blink of an eye — and I never even saw him touch my phone.
I was sitting at an outdoor restaurant in Athens on a sweltering July afternoon. My husband had just gotten up to go to the bathroom, so I was alone at the table. A man approached the table with a tourist map in hand, gesturing and mumbling something about… what? Possibly a tour? Who knows. He was persistent and aggressive, and he kept pointing to the map, trying to get my attention. I knew I didn’t want any part of it-whatever it was—and kept trying to wave him away.
But I knew something was off. He was wearing long sleeves on an absolutely scorching day, and that struck me as odd — but not alarming enough to make a scene. When he finally wandered off, I felt a wave of relief that my bag with my passport was still tucked under my arms safely in my lap.
But then it hit me: my iPhone had been sitting right on the table, and now it was gone.
He’d used the map as a distraction and cover, likely sweeping my phone underneath while I was focused on keeping my valuables close. By the time I realized what had happened, he had disappeared into the crowd.
I’ve traveled extensively, and I like to think I’m pretty cautious, but this scam worked because it played on a simple moment of distraction. And according to local authorities, it’s incredibly common, especially in tourist-heavy cities.
Since then, I’ve completely changed how I carry my phone while traveling. I now rely on a wearable phone lanyard that keeps my device physically attached to me at all times. And I affix AirTags to just about everything when I travel — from my passport to my luggage, and even my kids.
If you’re traveling this summer, especially in busy European cities, take my advice: keep your phone off the table, wear your bag crossbody-style, and if someone seems unusually eager to show you a map… trust your gut and guard your gear.
How to protect your stuff from travel scams this summer
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