Beware of people claiming you dropped a gold ring, earring, money, etc. Suz and I had these encounters at least twice; and I witnessed and then had another one yesterday. I was not aware of this ruse; this is the first time it's happened to me. Walking towards you or beside you, someone suddenly bends down like they’re picking something off the pavement, subtly drops the treasure on the ground, and then pretends to pick it up and give it back to you. I think it’s all about distraction so that they can pickpocket you.
It happened to Suz when we were walking on my favorite bridge, pont Alexandre III; a guy approached her and she rudely walked away from him. Then we saw a lady do it with a guy on the Grand Boulevards (she wasn’t successful); but next she set her sights on us—walking just a little behind us so that both of us became nervous, stopped, and decided to cross the street. She knew we were onto her—she continued walking but looked at me as she dropped whatever on the ground, picked it up and held it out towards me, smiling. We crossed the street.
Yesterday, I was several yards behind a guy wearing a backpack walking along a path next to the Seine--not far from the Champs-Elysees. A lady approaching pulled the trick on him—he momentarily stopped but realizing he hadn’t dropped whatever she was holding, he continued on. She didn’t seem to pay me any mind but just a few minutes later, another lady came along. And I watched her stoop down right in front of me, drop the ring from her hands, say “ooh la la”—I kept walking. “Excuse me? Excuse me?” I wanted to say, “FAT CHANCE,” but didn’t think she’d understand that. I never turned around; I just kept walking. Beware of distractions!
