Safety tips for backpackers in Europe.
Europe is a wonderful region to travel through, but unfortunately scams and cons are common and are often targeted at unsuspecting tourists. Helping tourists stay safe was the inspiration for Christophe Gadenne’s animated series ‘Safety Scouts Advice’. During his time as a French police man, he came across thousands of tourists who had been scammed and wanted to help in some way, of protecting tourists before they were hurt.
# Safety Scouts Advice
Safety Scouts Advice is a series of short animated videos aimed at preventing crime and fraud, with each episode explaining or advising against a specific travel scam. Most are surprisingly simple and relatively easy to avoid, so the best way to detect and avoid them is to be informed about them before someone tries one on you. All videos are written, created and produced in Christophe’s free time, and he receives no payment for them. His only goal is to help and encourage positive and safe travel around the world.
“I started this project to help tourists visiting Paris (and later other big cities) avoid being scammed and/or assaulted. My goal is to reach as large an audience as possible.” Christophe Gadenne.
The first episode was published in January 2015. Initial episodes focused on scams in Paris, but based on viewer feedback, the series has expanded to include common scams in other countries. Episodes are now published weekly on the series’ YouTube Channel, and are also shared via Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, and Youku.
SAFETY TIP: #1 Bracelet Scam.
Scenario: A stranger approaches you and offers you a bracelet, pretending it’s out of friendship or good luck. He ties it around your wrist and prevents you from leaving and demands you pay for it.
Advice: Refuse the bracelet gifts, don’t let him/her tie it around your wrist and do not give him/her any money.
# Watch Video
Follow Safety Scouts Advice on YouTube
Authors Bio:
Christophe Gadenne
Christophe Gadenne is the creator and producer of this animated series. He is a free spirit who combines his love of the Arts with his Police knowledge. He was employed by the National French Police in Paris, first in a patrol unit and then as a detective. During that time, he unfortunately came across thousands of tourists who had been scammed. He now works as a consultant for startup projects related to police and urban safety.