Venice is one of the most romantic city in this world. This attracts a lot of tourists every year and makes it popular for pickpockets and scam artists. To avoid being the next victim of scams, be extra careful to the following traps that you might encounter in Venice:

 

Trap 1: Private Water Bus Scam

If you want to ride the public Vaporetto boat into Venice from Tronchetto, be aware of the enthusiastic locals who are trying to help. Many of them will not direct you to the right public taxi dock, instead, they will direct you to the private taxi boats and you will be overcharged. 
 

Tips: 

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• Ask for direction before hopping onto the boat

• Look for the public vaporetto stop instead of the private ones 

 

Trap 2: Pickpockets

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The journey between Academia and Riatlo boat debarkation stops is notorious for pickpockets. The pickpockets will steal tourists’ wallets while the crowd is rushing towards the water taxis. 

 

Other tourists attractions such as Piazza di San Marco, Academia Museum, the Rialto Bridge are pickpockets' favourite. 

 

Tips: 

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• Beware of distractions, such as asking for directions or 'accidentally' spilling their food

Trap 3: Short Change Scam on Water Bus (Vaporetto)

Dishonest shop vendors will take advantage of impatient tourists. When tourists handed over 20, 50 or 100 euro notes to pay for the €6.5 water bus tickets, some ticket vendors would short change the tourists.
 

Tips: 

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• Check the change every time before leaving the booth

• Point out the error immediately if the change is inaccurate