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Avoiding Street Scammers and Con Artists
Learn how to spot and avoid popular tourist scams on Berlin streets. more
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Learn more about where pickpockets strike in Berlin and how to protect yourself from them.
Tourists in particular are welcome victims for pickpockets in Berlin. Their carelessness makes it easy for pickpockets to steal smartphones, credit cards and cash. Pickpockets' favorite places are busy squares, shopping arcades, public transportation and events. Jostling and pushing are the most common tricks they use to get their prey.
Valuables such as important documents, credit cards, cash and keys should never be stowed in your jacket or back pocket. Handbags and backpacks are also easy prey for pickpockets. It is better to store valuables in inside pocket, front trouser pockets or pouches worn across the torso. These are more difficult for pickpockets to access.
Pickpockets especially like to strike in shopping crowds and large gatherings of people. Here, cross-body bags should be avoided. In general, bags and backpacks should always be closed and carried under the arm or on the front of the body.
Be especially vigilant and wary if someone is harassing you, getting close to you, trying to get your attention or trying to distract you.
Never leave bags and backpacks unattended, such as in a shopping cart, under a table, or on the back of a chair in a restaurant. Do not leave valuables or keys in your pockets when leaving your jacket at the coat check.
Avoid counting your bills in public. Be especially careful when making cash withdrawals.
As a general rule, the theft should be reported to the police as soon as possible. Only then can they take action. A police report is also usually required for reporting the theft to the insurance company.
If your personal ID card or passport was stolen, report it to the police immediately. In addition, you need to contact your country's embassy.
Stolen debit or credit cards should be blocked immediately. The fastest way to do this is to call your bank or the nationwide German credit card and cell phone blocking hotline. It can be reached under the number 116 116. To ensure that debit and credit cards are blocked without any problems, it is advisable to write down the card numbers in advance and keep them in a safe place outside the wallet - the credit card companies will request the numbers.
Anyone whose cell phone or smartphone has been stolen should have the SIM card blocked immediately so that the perpetrators cannot make calls at the victim's expense. Stolen persons should also have the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of the cell phone at hand. This number is needed both to block the cell phone and to initiate a police search. You can find out what your phone's IMEI number is by pressing the key combination star-rhombus-zero-six-rhombus (*#06#). In most cases, it has 15 digits. For German phones, it usually starts with a 3 or 4.
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Learn how to spot and avoid popular tourist scams on Berlin streets. more
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Police stations, emergency numbers and other information about the police in Berlin. more