Ep 9. Rome

Scam City is a thrilling documentary series that sheds light on some of the world's most crafty criminals and their nefarious activities. In season 1 episode 9, we are taken to the historic city of Rome, where we witness an array of scams that unsuspecting tourists may fall victim to.

The episode starts off with host Conor Woodman exploring the bustling streets of Rome, taking us from its iconic landmarks to some of its less-trodden alleyways. Conor speaks with locals and tourists alike, all of whom seem to have their own tales of being conned while in the city.

Conor starts off by visiting a bar where he meets a group of tourists who had their wallets and phones stolen while out clubbing the previous night. The barman tells Conor that Rome is known for pickpocketing, with many thieves targeting clubs and bars where people are more likely to have their guard down. Conor then heads over to the Spanish Steps, a popular tourist spot where he meets a group of students who had just been approached by some "flower sellers." Conor explains that these sellers are part of an infamous scam where they offer tourists roses or bracelets, insisting on it being a "gift," only to charge ridiculous amounts of money later on.

Moving through the bustling city, Conor heads to the Colosseum, one of Rome's most famous landmarks, where he meets a group of tourists who had been promised "skip-the-line" tickets. However, upon arriving, they found that the tickets were fake and they had wasted a significant amount of money. Conor explains that during peak season, Rome's attractions can see over 20,000 people a day, making it easy for scammers to sell fake tickets for a profit.

As the episode progresses, Conor ventures to some of Rome's less-frequented areas, where he encounters a group of so-called "gladiators" in full armor, offering to take pictures with tourists for a fee. Conor explains that these fake gladiators often intimidate or even threaten tourists who refuse to pay up, leaving them feeling vulnerable and distraught.

Lastly, Conor heads to a remote part of town where he meets a local psychic who claims to be able to predict people's futures with remarkable accuracy. However, Conor soon finds out that this "psychic" is just another clever conman, using information he'd gathered on Conor beforehand to make it seem like he had genuine psychic abilities.

Overall, Scam City season 1 episode 9 is a captivating and eye-opening exploration of the scams that unsuspecting tourists may encounter while in Rome. Conor does an excellent job of breaking down the various techniques that scammers use, providing invaluable insight to anyone planning on visiting the city. So, if you want to know how to stay safe during your travels, this is an episode that you won't want to miss.