Holidays in Mallorca: How to protect yourself from scammers!

Holidays in Mallorca: How to protect yourself from scammers!

In Mallorca, a popular travel destination for many tourists, con artists are always a significant problem. In particular, the so-called shell players, also known as “Trileros”, have increasingly been up to mischief on Playa de Palma in recent years. These scammers attract countless tourists who often spend a lot of money on their vacation. Loud derwesten.de Holidaymakers spend a lot of money on flights, hotels, restaurants, souvenirs and shopping, making them tempting targets for fraudsters.

The police have been warning about shell players for years and are increasingly keeping an eye on the fraudsters' presence, even during the high season. Every year, especially at the start of the season at Easter, con artists, pickpockets and other petty criminals are particularly active. Despite police efforts to catch these fraudsters, they continue to be present at the popular and busy places, making the situation alarming for the tourists. During the police vigil, the shell players try to conceal their activities using clever diversionary tactics in order to continue their schemes.

How the shell game works

The game itself is simple but deceptively staged. The shell players use three hollowed-out potato halves under which a small red ball is hidden. The players have to guess which of the halves the ball is under. The stake is usually 10, 20 or 50 euros, while the supposed profit from a correct tip is twice the stake. But the reality is that the ball is never below the correct half. Accomplices, posing as neutral passers-by, assist the scammers by also betting money and supposedly showing winnings amid applause, which boosts viewers' confidence, as mallorcamagazin.com reported.

Generally, a group of five to six people works together. One member of this group acts as a scout, watching for police officers to approach. However, when threatened by the police, the fraudsters disappear in a flash. It is important to note that anyone caught playing the shell game will face fines ranging from €31,000 to €450,000.

Beware of pickpockets

In addition to the shell players who captivate tourists, pickpockets are also a problematic aspect of holidays in Mallorca. These thieves use diversionary tactics by approaching victims to ask for directions or offer them souvenirs. Meanwhile, an accomplice steals the wallet unnoticed. Holidaymakers are particularly at risk on the beach, where they should never let their bags and valuables out of their sight. Pickpockets also take advantage of crowds on public transport to carry out their thefts.

Holidaymakers should always be aware of the dangers and, in the event of theft or fraud, contact the police on the emergency number 092.