An Australian has warned tourists travelling to Europe to beware of beggars who ask for money while appearing to fake their injuries.
The woman filmed a local begging for money while limping with a crutch outside a restaurant on the Greek island of Paros.
However, the next morning he saw the woman walking perfectly through the white streets of the island with the crutch in her hand.
Sharing the video on social media, the Australian revealed that she had given the beggar some money but felt cheated by the experience.
The post also caught the attention of other tourists who had encountered the beggar or others using the same tactic.
“I literally watched this 15 minutes ago and I felt so bad thank you for this,” one commented on TikTok.
“She did that to my boyfriend and I in Paros last year and then got on the same ferry as us the next day,” another person wrote.
A third said he saw a supposedly injured homeless man in Europe “walking up a hill three minutes later”.
An Australian woman on holiday in Europe has warned others after giving money to a “beggar” who needed a crutch to walk (pictured) before appearing to walk fine the next day.
“I once saw a lady sitting with her other leg against a wall asking for money,” wrote another.
‘The wall was made of glass and when you entered the store you could see his other leg.’
Others were sympathetic to the woman, arguing that she may have had a more complex injury or was forced into scamming to make money.
“I have a spinal injury, when my back hurts I have to use a cane or sometimes a wheelchair,” wrote one.
“But sometimes I don’t have to resort to disability support, don’t be so quick to judge.”
“In my opinion, your government is not helping. Why should you, coming from another country, when probably your home country has its own problems?” said another.
Tourists have been warning of beggars using the same trick at major tourist spots in Europe for years.
“I once saw a homeless man with no legs. As soon as the police arrived, his legs appeared out of nowhere and he started running away,” said one Reddit user about his time in Prague.
Other scams that occur across the continent and that tourists should be aware of include pickpockets and taxi drivers who purposely take longer routes or charge exorbitant amounts.
According to other tourists, the woman is often seen on the picturesque Greek island of Paros (pictured) during the summer.
Finder personal finance expert Sarah Megginson said the fake injury scam “has been around for decades” but is also “relatively harmless”.
“But some of these scams have the potential to ruin your holiday if they take a good chunk of your money,” Ms Megginson said. Yahoo.
‘If you feel like something isn’t right, it probably is. Don’t be afraid to speak up, ask for time to make a decision if you feel pressured, and walk away from a situation if you feel uncomfortable.’
He added that tourists should be especially wary of pickpockets, urging them to carry cash in a belt or anti-theft bag and to be careful with their belongings when travelling in crowds.
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