Seriously.
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In Paris they’re fair : they sell apples €5 for locals and €5 for tourists. 
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I saw that very scam (?) perpetrated not a month ago on a visit to the quarter. Seemed to me like it did to you - a bit of fun and a good way to hook a customer. Plus, the catch seemed to come with a song. You’re paying for the performance as well as the shine.
Can you rephrase the scam part? Right now I have no idea what happened… I think there were two rolls of money? One of yours and one of theirs? Why would you mix them together? It sounds a bit like a bad dream to be honest 
An alimentary solution.
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They don’t need to be fast. Could you prove that camera they are holding is yours? Do you know the serial number? A lot of people coudln’t even tell you the model number of an item they own.
How about if a couple of “helpful strangers” pop up to defend the other party to the cop? Or if the area is crowded, they just do a fast hand off to someone.
Watch the first 10 minutes of The Sting. You’ll see this one in action.
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“Officer, that camera is full of photos of the two of us, and I can describe where they were taken. I can show you how it works, too…”
I’ve seen a lot of cameras where it takes about two button presses to delete everything and even more where you can pull the memory card (the size of a fingernail clipping these days) and lose it fast.
Someone really clever might just have a card with pictures of themselves and swap it. (Never underestimate the speed of a practiced street thief, most sleight of hand magicians could take lessons.)
“These pictures appear to be the man’s family who is holding the camera. We do not like foreigners who come here and insult honest people. You’ll have to come with me. Falsely claiming someone stole from you is not taken lightly.”
Lots of places in the world where seeing a “rich” (to the locals) American get theirs is a spectator sport.
In my travels, I’ve always made sure to have my wallet in a non-normal place (I prefer a pocket the buttons or zips shut) and be skeptical if anyone is trying too hard for my attention. So far so good!
One useful tip I’ve heard for places in India is to bring candy. When the street urchins swarm you, you give them candy which is nice, and then they leave for marks who give them cash.
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I saw the Rose for your Girlfriend happen in Rome, actually…pretty much exactly as described, except it was less “make you feel like a bad boyfriend” and more “intimidate the guy until he pays up”. Also less “offer her a rose” and more “shove it in her hand while she’s looking elsewhere”.
Keep your hands in your pockets at the Trevi Fountain, I guess is what I’m saying
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A few months ago I visited NYC and was given a bracelet by a monk. While I stood there confused for a few seconds a policeman arrived and told him to go away, and then told me to watch out for scams like that. So much for friendship 
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No not really, it’s a generic term for traditionally traveling people’s.
But blaming a particular ethnic group still stinks.
…Or it refers to the Romani, and is considered an ethnic slur.
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Here’s what happens when a stage magician takes on shell game scammers in Paris:
(I don’t know if there are subtitles somewhere)
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Arrived in Miami yesterday. Was told to expect a 30 dollar cab ride to our hotel, but the guy didn’t have his meter running. At the end of the trip we got a bill for 80 on his personal phone payment app.
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