If you're a regular visitor to Butte Montmartre, you've probably come across these hustlers on the steps of Square Louise-Michel. Even if you're not a tourist, these bracelet-weavers may have already accosted you in an attempt to extort money from you, but their favorite target remains travelers, who have no idea of their scam and can get caught out. We'll explain it here, so you don't have to, as it can happen again in other tourist areas of the capital.
This involves forcibly tying a colored bracelet around the victim's wrist or even finger in a matter of seconds to trap them. And if you try to remove it, the scammer starts demanding money, since often,"once it's in place, it's impossible to get rid of the bracelet without the help of a knife or a pair of scissors", the Préfecture de police tells Le Parisien.
As soon as they approach, keep your hands to yourself and say no, without greeting them in any way, or move on as quickly as possible, to limit their sometimes aggressive attempts. While this dishonesty dates back several years, almost ten years, it was American influencer Jay Swanson,"Paris in My Pocket", who warned his subscribers on TikTok recently and made the buzz, allowing prevention to resume, while the capital is still so touristy, after the Paris 2024 Olympics.
