The rose and rosemary scam is a forced-gift hustle that preys on courtesy. A stranger presses a flower or a sprig of herbs into your hand — or your partner's — insists it's a free gift, sometimes offering to "read your fortune," and then demands payment and turns aggressive when you try to give it back. It doubles as a distraction for a pickpocket. It's easy to avoid: the rule is simply don't accept anything handed to you on the street.
How the Rose & Rosemary Scam Works
The approach is warm and quick. In Spain, it's often a woman who presses a sprig of rosemary into your hand "for luck," may grab your palm to "read your fortune," and then demands money — becoming loud and insistent if you refuse, while the encounter distracts you from a partner working your bag. In Italy and France, the same script uses a rose, frequently handed to a woman walking with a companion so the man feels obliged to pay for it. In every version, the "gift" is the hook and the payment demand is the point.
Where You'll Encounter It
It clusters around markets, monuments, and romantic spots:
- Barcelona and across Spain: the rosemary "fortune" version, often near markets and the Sagrada Família.
- Rome and Italy: the rose handed to couples at restaurants and piazzas.
- Paris and other European cities: roses and "free" trinkets near landmarks.
The Red Flags
- A stranger offers you a flower or herb and insists it's free.
- They reach for your hand, or offer to tell your fortune.
- The "gift" goes to your companion to create social pressure to pay.
- A demand for money follows immediately once you've accepted it.
How to Avoid It
Keep your hands closed and at your sides, and don't let anyone take your hand. Don't accept the rose or rosemary in the first place — a clear "no, gracias" without breaking stride is all it takes. If it's already in your hand, set it down or hand it straight back and keep walking; you owe nothing for something forced on you. Because it's often paired with a pickpocket, keep your bag worn across your front and a hand on it during the encounter.
What to Do if You're Targeted
Decline, return the item, and move on — there's nothing to resolve and no reason to pay. If the encounter was cover for a pickpocket and something is missing, get to a safe place, report it to local police (dial 112 across the EU) for a claim, and cancel any stolen cards with your bank. Our guide on what to do after a scam covers the rest.
See the full destination guides for every scam you'll meet on the ground, area by area.
Tourist scams in Barcelona →