Check this before traveling to Paris!!

Got Scammed in Paris

HIGHLIGHT

Within 2 hours of entering Paris city, we got scammed at Bercy Metro station. The scam costed us 100€. The scam happened on May 26, 2023.

THE INCIDENCE

So, my friends and I were traveling to Paris from Germany on May 25, 2023. We were very excited to visit Paris as it was the beginning of summer. The weather was awesome, not so cold, not so hot.  After 10 hours of bus journey from Munich city to Paris, we had a quick breakfast in a French restaurant near the Bercy Metro stop.

We had done all the bookings online before the visit. Only thing we thought to purchase off-line (directly after reaching Paris city) was the day ticket. After finishing our breakfast, we headed to the nearest Metro station which was the Bercy Metro station. We stood in the queue to purchase the ticket. The amount for 4 people for a 3 Day ticket for 3 zone of Paris city was around 120€. When we approached the vending machine and put all details and selected to pay via card, the card was not acceptable by the vending machine. 

We stood out of the queue to make space for the other people standing behind us. We tried to talk to the information center, but no one was there. A lady wearing the identity card of the Paris transportation approached us. She enquired us about our problem and told us that she can help us in booking the tickets. She entered the queue in the middle and asked us which ticket we wanted. She inserted the details in the vending machine and selected "Cash" as the payment method. Lastly, she scanned her Identity card just before the machine gave out ticket.

The vending machine gave out 4 separate ticket. She told us that, as we faced problem in getting our ticket, and as a good-will she wants to give a 20€ discount to us and charged us only 100€. We were happy and thanked her for her kind gesture. But a one of our friends pointed out that in the place where the amount should be printed was scratched in all the tickets (see Left Image below). She didn't scratch it herself but the vending machine dispensed such a ticket. Upon asking, she replied, that's nothing to worry about and asked us back, " Where do you all want to go?" We replied her back about our destination which was in zone 3. She asked us to catch the particular train to go to our destination stop.

We got into the train towards our journey. We got down from the train to the intended station's platform and started moving towards the exit. We scanned the ticket in the exit to get out of the station, but the ticket was not recognized. We tried it multiple times but the door didn't open. Nearby, there was a machine with which we could make call to the help center. We called the help center using that machine and the person told us that sometime the ticket gets demagnetized. He suggested us to go to another exit gate and wait for the station helper to arrive there and help us. We did as per his suggestion. After waiting for 5-7 minutes, the station helper came and he said that the ticket that we had was not a 3-Day ticket but a limited journey, that we can use it within 1 zone for 10 times. And we were in another city zone (zone-3) and hence the gate was not opening.

• Left Image: The ticket with which we got scammed.  
• Right Image: The valid ticket which we used for the rest of the journey.

The station helper took us to his office and explained us that the ticket we purchased was "t+". That was a limited journey ticket and also the price is not mentioned in the ticket. He also explained that if we wanted to have a 3-Day ticket, we need to have a "Paris Visite" ticket. We had no other choice but had to buy the 3 Day pass again. We got a proper receipt for the ticket purchase and he also showed us that it was a legit ticket and that we were scammed by that person in Bercy. He also added that the cost of the "t+" ticket for 10 time usage was 10€. Which means the lady charged us 25€ instead of a 10€ ticket price. 

LESSONS LEARNT

1. Never book ticket with unknown person, and never go for discounted ticket from any individual.
2. If possible always book ticket from the official travel website of the city/ country.
3. Always ask for a receipt for your purchase.
4. Beware of such people and if possible report in the nearest authority about the incidence.
5. (Optional) Create an awareness content so the others can be informed about such malpractices happening across places.

We wish you a safer, nicer and memorable journey ahead you.