Petition and bracelet scams: how to step away
You can decline an approach without debating it. Keep your belongings close and avoid letting a small interaction become a pressured payment.
You do not have to sign a petition, accept a bracelet or pay for an object somebody has put in your hand. A brief, clear refusal and a step away are usually more useful than a long explanation of why you are not interested.
France's official tourist-security advice warns about false petitions used to solicit money. The practical warning is about the behaviour, not someone's age, nationality or claimed disability.
Keep control of the interaction
If an unfamiliar person approaches with paperwork, leave your bag closed and keep your phone and wallet put away. You can choose to support a charity later through its official website, after checking the organisation independently.
If someone tries to tie a bracelet around your wrist or give you an unwanted item, decline before it is attached or accepted. Do not hand over a card just to bring an uncomfortable exchange to an end. Move towards a staffed place if the person keeps pressuring you.
Avoid turning the situation into a confrontation. There is little benefit in proving that you recognise a scam while people crowd around you. Give yourself space and focus on getting away safely.
If money has already changed hands
Once you are somewhere safe, note the location, time and what happened. If a card was used, check the amount through your bank's own app or contact number. Report an unauthorised transaction promptly and follow the bank's instructions.
For threats, physical contact or theft, contact the local police. Use the emergency number if there is immediate danger; use the local reporting service for a past incident without an ongoing emergency.
Keep any receipt or transaction record. Do not return alone to recover the money or photograph the people involved at close range.
The pickpocketing guide covers the related problem of distraction in crowds. A calm routine for your bag and phone helps without turning every friendly encounter into a reason for suspicion.