British vacationers heading to Europe this summer have been warned of the growth of airport scams targeting jewelry, designer goods and watches. The burglars reportedly operate in busy terminals and use distracted travelers with baggage belts, tax-free counters and taxi ranks.
Scams include distraction theft and what experts call “switch” tricks. Here, valuable items like Rolex are secretly exchanged for fakes without the owner realising. Security warnings have been issued for flights to Spain, Italy, France and Turkey, urging tourists to stay vigilant around major airports.
Travelers say it's not just high-end items. Midrange watches and accessories are also targeted by organized gangs.
According to Danny Toffel, Managing Director of Watches2U, fraud is becoming more common in European holiday destinations.
“We're seeing an increasing number of reports from customers who have had close calls and actual thefts at airports overseas,” Toffel said.
“It often starts with a small distraction, and offers to someone seek instructions, help with the bag, or cause minor fuss.
“These scams have been reported in major European tourists, especially Spain, Italy, France and Turkey. Here, organized theft rings often work at airports such as Barcelona El Pratt, Roma Fium Sino, Paris Charles Degaul, and Istanbul airports.”
One of the most common hot spots is the luggage recovery area, where people often get tired and distracted.
Thieves tend to attack if they leave their bags or trolleys alone for a while.
Duty-free shops are also popular targets. Especially when customers are busy trying out items and looking at the display.
Outside taxi ranks and pickup zones, gangs often work in pairs to find and grab valuables while loading.
Toffel warns that wearing high-end items in appearance or placing watches in easy-to-access bag pockets will become a major target.
“Cheaters tend to look for signs that someone is carrying something expensive.
To stay safe, he recommends keeping the watch on your wrists and safe baggage and beware of overly kind strangers in busy areas of the airport.
“If you're flying to a busy tourist hub, wearing a cheaper travel watch is a wise move,” Toffel said.
“Store expensive pieces for a safe evening or hotel safe, not an airport terminal.”
He added:
