- 5 days ago
Scam City S02E06 India Mumbai
Category
🦄
CreativityTranscript
00:00They're the world's greatest cities, famous for their culture and beauty, but there's
00:07something else waiting in the shadows. The scammers, the hustlers, the thieves, and they're
00:13all looking for tourists to con.
00:16State against the what? Russian roulette. Are you joking me?
00:19I'm Connor Woodman, and in Scam City, I set myself up as bait.
00:24This is like being kidnapped.
00:26A willing victim to be fleeced.
00:28I'll catch the scammers in the act, and reveal the tricks of the trade.
00:34Sorry, I'm not talking about that.
00:35Because why? It's too dangerous?
00:37And I'll expose them face to face.
00:39We are filming you scamming me.
00:42Scam City.
00:43I get scammed, so you don't have to.
00:56I'm in Paris, city of love and romance, and I'm trying to make friends with a gang of
01:02street hustlers.
01:04Paris.
01:04I recognise you.
01:05What?
01:07I recognise you.
01:08I recognise you.
01:08It's the same white.
01:09You know me?
01:10Same glasses, different shirt.
01:11First day where they come here.
01:12First day?
01:13You came here?
01:14It's not going according to plan.
01:17We are stupid.
01:18Good for us.
01:29Paris is full of inspiring beauty, a city of fashion and elegance.
01:39Every year, around 30 million people come here.
01:44With that many tourists, there's bound to be a lot of scams.
01:49And I've come here to find out whether they've taken it to an art form.
01:54The first thing I need to pay for is a taxi ride into the centre of town.
02:04Now, I've been ripped off by taxis in cities all over the world, but I'm expecting the
02:09creme de la creme of taxi scams in Paris.
02:17OK, merci.
02:21Well, he took me here by a direct route.
02:24He's given me the right change.
02:25He's even given me a receipt, which is all a bit disappointing.
02:28If I can't rely on the taxi drivers to rip me off here, then this could be a bit harder
02:32than I thought.
02:45My first port of call is one of the city's highest points, the Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre.
02:54It's a magnet for tourists, so the scammers can't be far away.
03:05It soon becomes clear that despite the police keeping a close eye on everything, there's
03:11some kind of hustle going on.
03:17But from where I'm standing, I can't really see what it is.
03:22Time for a closer look.
03:24What are you doing, man?
03:26What's this?
03:31London.
03:31Africa.
03:32It's the first time you come here.
03:33Where are you from?
03:34Where in Africa?
03:34Ghana.
03:35You know Ghana?
03:35I know Ghana, yeah.
03:37I'm not sure why, but he's tying a bit of string around my wrist.
03:42Now you make your wish, guy.
03:43One, two, three.
03:44OK.
03:45I'm going to make a wish.
03:46Yeah.
03:46Secret, don't tell your wife.
03:48Don't tell my wife.
03:50Look at your wallet, you give small paper.
03:52What's this?
03:53Yeah, you give something, OK?
03:55Look at your wallet, you pay small paper.
04:11You make more money if you smile more.
04:19I seem to upset my new friend.
04:21Look at this guy.
04:22You want to be more like this guy.
04:23Look at this guy.
04:24Look at this guy.
04:25He's got a big smile, you see?
04:27I want to give this guy money, you see?
04:28Because he's smiling at me, yeah?
04:32I hand over some money, but I still don't understand the meaning behind the bits of string.
04:37What's this all about?
04:38This is Kuna Matata.
04:39Yeah, yeah, yeah.
04:40It's good for Bumble.
04:44OK, so that finally makes sense to me.
04:46You put one of these on before you make Bumble?
04:48Yeah.
04:50By selling lucky charms that they claim will help you in the bedroom, these guys have found
04:54a way to capitalize on Paris' reputation as a center of romance.
04:59OK, my friend, I'm going to go.
05:00OK.
05:01Nice to meet you.
05:02Thank you, man.
05:02Thank you very much.
05:02Keep smiling, man.
05:03Keep smiling.
05:04Bye.
05:05You too, man.
05:06Bye.
05:06You have to wonder why anyone would really fall for this scam.
05:10As charming as it is, my sights are set on something bigger.
05:27From the Sacré-Cœur, it's a short stroll to the shops of Montmartre.
05:36This part of Paris was home to famous artists like Monet, Picasso and Van Gogh.
05:46But even when they worked here, this place was all about the hustle.
05:53Today, Montmartre is lined with dozens of galleries, each one filled with hundreds of paintings
05:58that catered to the tourist demand for genuine but affordable French art.
06:06There must be a lot of money being made here.
06:09And my instincts tell me that where there are lots of tourists, there are usually scams.
06:20I nurse a coffee at the Place du Tetre and watch the action.
06:26The square is packed with tourists, all looking for a taste of the real Paris art scene.
06:34And giving them their fix are plenty of wannabe Renoirs.
06:40What are you doing?
06:42Picasso.
06:43You're Picasso.
06:45Are you?
06:46You've been missing for a while.
06:50What are you drawing?
06:52You.
06:52Me?
06:53Yes.
06:53Oh, why?
06:54Because you are like Leonardo DiCaprio.
06:58That's very kind of you to say.
07:01Painting portraits uninvited.
07:03I'm not sure Picasso did that.
07:07Voila, man.
07:10That's how you see me.
07:11My interpretation.
07:12Your interpretation of me.
07:13So what do you do with this now?
07:16You pay?
07:17I pay?
07:18I thought you were just painting me because you wanted to.
07:22Normally it's 80, for students it's 50.
07:24That's a lot.
07:26How long did that take you?
07:2710 minutes?
07:27I didn't ask for this.
07:29This is a donation.
07:33Okay.
07:34See you.
07:36I give him 20 euros and take another look around.
07:40I'm sure there's something more sophisticated going on around here.
07:45But even as a moving target, you're not safe.
07:49Sorry?
07:50No.
07:51Where do you come from?
07:52From London?
07:53London.
07:53Another artist tries to catch my portrait.
07:56This time in silhouette, with scissors and paper.
08:02Ah.
08:03Now I see the price.
08:05Just souvenir from Paris Montmartre.
08:07It's a good souvenir.
08:09Yeah.
08:11One time in the life, mister.
08:1220 euros.
08:13Seems like a lot.
08:14It's pretty quick.
08:15Two seconds?
08:1815 euros.
08:19Okay.
08:20Thanks, man.
08:21It's good.
08:22Yeah.
08:22Super, man.
08:23Super.
08:29Meeting one Picasso is amusing, meeting two, and the joke's already wearing thin.
08:41But I am on a hat trick, so I take up another position overlooking the square.
08:47And I don't have to wait long.
08:50How do you feel, Montmartre?
08:51I'm feeling pretty good.
08:53A lot of people are taking an interest in your picture of me.
08:55Yeah.
08:56I'm looking forward to seeing it.
08:57Because it's horrible.
08:59I can do you beautiful, but I don't want to do you beautiful.
09:02Okay.
09:04At least he's not claiming to be Picasso.
09:07Let's see what he comes up with.
09:11Is this something I'm going to want to put on my wall?
09:14Oh, it's not for a wall.
09:15This is not for a wall.
09:16This is more for a bank.
09:18Because if somebody knows that you have my paintings in your wall, your house will be
09:22robbed.
09:24Well, I don't know about that.
09:26But it's nice having my portrait painted and getting to know the artist a little bit.
09:31Which makes me wonder.
09:32Do you think all of the art that's for sale here is all made here?
09:36Or do you think some of it is imported?
09:38Here?
09:39Yes.
09:40In the galleries around, you can find the Chinese.
09:43But here, everybody must work in the place.
09:48But the fakes, they're in the galleries, maybe?
09:50Not in all galleries.
09:51But in some?
09:52But in some galleries, you have Chinese paintings.
09:55But do they ever say that it's French when actually it's Chinese?
09:58You should ask the people in the gallery.
10:01I really don't know.
10:04Oh, wow.
10:05This is beautiful.
10:08All you need is love.
10:13Thank you very much.
10:15That's all for me?
10:17He's a good man.
10:18I like English.
10:27That artist seemed like the genuine article.
10:30Almost like a throwback to the famous painters of the past.
10:35But what he said about Chinese art in the market has me thinking.
10:40Is there a problem with fake paintings?
10:51I go down to the Seine to meet a local contact, Natalie, who's offered to take me to a street
10:57where there are scams wherever you look.
11:06We go to the Rue de Stankirk, where I'm confronted by a familiar sight.
11:19This looks like a French version of the three-card Monty, a game I've seen played in many different cities
11:26and in many different languages.
11:31One thing remains the same, though.
11:33It's a complete scam.
11:39The dealer uses sleight of hand, which encouraged the victim to believe he can spot the winning bet.
11:48But play this game and you will lose your money.
11:54The dealer's teammates are planted in the crowd and appear to win, which makes you think you can win, too.
12:02Look at this. Black for me, black for me, the white. This and this.
12:06Time to make our bet.
12:08What is this?
12:0920, middle one.
12:09No, minimum 50, please.
12:12It's 41-100.
12:13You think it's on the middle one?
12:14Yeah.
12:14This?
12:15This one?
12:15No, no, this one.
12:16Ah.
12:19Black for me, white for you.
12:22Or lady, yes.
12:23You think it's this one?
12:24Okay.
12:25Open this.
12:26This!
12:26Open this!
12:27No!
12:28Open this!
12:29Just like that.
12:30This?
12:32It looks like some of these dealers are making a lot of money very quickly.
12:37And there's several three-card Monty games taking place on this street.
12:44They've taken all my money, but the dealer's acting nervous.
12:50all at once they start to disperse taking the evidence with them this is the biggest
12:56three card Monty operation I've ever seen and it makes me wonder how organized it is
13:02and whether there's one person behind it all
13:11Paris is enchanting it's no surprise that the city of light inspired so many world-famous artists
13:22but I want to scratch a little beneath the surface and see if the art world on the Montmartre is
13:28all
13:29that it seems the possibility that Chinese fakes are corrupting the art market in Montmartre has
13:52been bugging me I bought a painting from a gallery who claimed it was by a local French
13:58artist but after what I heard I'm not so sure I'm meeting a local artist Madani Mbaki founding
14:07president of the Association Paris Montmartre he might be able to tell me whether I've been scammed
14:15so I bought this yesterday and I'm very happy with it I think it looks lovely it's it's from a
14:23French
14:23artist I believe from an art school in Ren and I'm just wondering what you think of it wow wow
14:32wow wow
14:33this is immediately I see the style China style China style yeah so you don't think this was produced in
14:42France and what things can you see on this that make you 100% sure that this is China
14:51anything anything this style the the view the the colors in China they the parties they take it to
14:58tomorrow for this one right it's not art from a matter but they can sell this no problem but they
15:03have to put it mad in China it's all right okay but this doesn't say made in China no no
15:10way and you
15:11what they tell you in the shop he told me it was this guy Edwidge yeah you know an up
15:17-and-coming French
15:18artist trained at the at the Ren school of art they said they added the name they buy this without
15:24signature and they added name but is is is there actually an art school in Ren we have it called
15:31that everywhere in each town in France we have we called that of course but this is not our style
15:39not
15:39the we know we know everybody now this style it's China style I just like 100% this is produced
15:45in
15:45China thousand percent right I need to go I need to go back to the gallery I think I hope
15:52he give you
15:53back your money and he says excuse me I am I am not the good man we'll see yeah I
15:59think I think yeah
16:07well it looks like I've been ripped off what I thought was a work of art by a genuine French
16:13artist may well come from a sweatshop in China I'm going back to the gallery not to get my money
16:21back
16:21but just to get the truth unfortunately I'm not sure I get to the truth the gallery insists it's a
16:31French painting and they refuse to appear on camera it's disappointing that the gallery owners won't
16:46cooperate I suspect an awful lot of Chinese paintings are being sold here and that's a hot subject after
16:58all who wants to buy a genuine Mon Mata painting that's made in China I decide to go back to
17:07the
17:07street where the three card Monty players are working this time I want to find out who the boss is
17:17because
17:17whoever it is he must be making a lot of money but this time the street is empty and I
17:34can't see the game
17:35being played anywhere maybe it's because the police are on patrol but then I spot the cardboard boxes
17:43which means the players must be nearby well I've been up and down that street looking for the three
17:53card Monty guys I saw before and there's no sign of any games and I can't see any recognizable faces
17:58either I have to come back another time I want to find a game Paris has one thing in common
18:15with many
18:16other major cities around the world it's got a pickpocket problem
18:27so I'm on my way to the Louvre to meet an expert in the art of lifting other people's belongings
18:40on my way I put my wallet in an obvious place to see if I can catch any pickpockets on
18:45the Metro
18:57the pickpockets aren't biting today but at the Louvre it's been a different story
19:11the world's most famous art gallery has been a big target for
19:15pickpockets out to steal from the hordes of tourists who come here every day it now looks
19:24like the authorities are doing their best to clamp down on the thieves pickpocket warning signs are
19:44everywhere I've come here to meet a professional called Christophe who says he wants to give me a pickpocketing demonstration
19:51not as a crime but as an art form and what better location than Paris's biggest art gallery so if
20:01you don't mind I'm going to run my
20:03it's secret cameras yeah and I'll follow along behind you and I'll watch what you do okay if I do
20:10something I will get it to you so if you take something you're going to pass it on to me
20:15yeah I give it to you okay and I'm going to give it back to the person someone catch me
20:19here sorry okay fine you can just so you know I have to find the person I have to give
20:23it back to you yeah okay well let's see you at work let's go
20:29stop
20:30I
20:38Christophe surveys the crowd
20:42like a master painter
20:44contemplating a blank canvas
20:50I check his back but he has nothing
21:07Fine art painting is often about different ways of seeing the world.
21:11Right now, I'm starting to see things from a pickpockets point of view.
21:15And a tour guide saw us.
21:18Yeah, I know.
21:19It's why I said, OK, it's not possible.
21:26OK, we'll go close to the information desk because people are waiting there to watch information.
21:32So it's the best place to steal people.
21:52Finally, Christophe has found a target.
21:54The blonde girl with the red jacket?
21:57Yeah.
21:57Are you not worried that her friends are going to see?
22:00We need more people.
22:06Christophe asks a member of our camera crew to be his decoy.
22:10You will come close to me, like we're friends, we talk about the museum.
22:16OK, so...
22:17We move in.
22:18I think the Mona Lisa is kind of...
22:20And take up positions around the mark.
22:22I think it's this way.
22:24Yeah, OK.
22:25And now it's up to Christophe to apply the master stroke.
22:29Do you speak English?
22:31OK, I'm looking for the Mona Lisa.
22:34Christophe steals the woman's purse.
22:38And then I move closer so he can hand it off to me.
22:41OK, we're back.
22:42Now I've got to return the purse to its owner.
22:45I just hope she appreciates the art of pickpocketing as much as I do.
22:52Excuse me.
22:53Hi, my name's Connor.
22:55Hi.
22:55What's your name?
22:56Were you approached about two minutes ago by two gentlemen?
23:00Yeah.
23:00Yes.
23:01Yeah?
23:02One of them is a pickpocket.
23:04But can you just check in your bag?
23:12I think you're looking for this.
23:13Oh, yes.
23:16I'm very, very sorry.
23:18It's OK.
23:18He picked you out as somebody who was vulnerable.
23:21And he's very good at what he does.
23:24Our victim took it well.
23:26But she'd better be more guarded about her possessions in the future.
23:31With our mission completed, Christophe and I head outside for a chat away from the security cameras.
23:40Pickpocketing is an art for me.
23:42You know?
23:43It's not only still people, OK?
23:45It's a way how you do it.
23:47Because you have to have a skill.
23:50So you're the Leonardo of French pickpockets.
23:53Yeah, I think so.
23:55And what's the most you ever made in one hit?
23:57I'm sure.
23:59Two hundred Japanese guys and maybe about 2,000 euros.
24:042,000 euros?
24:05Yeah, yeah.
24:06Just in cash, one lift like that?
24:08Japanese in cash.
24:08So do you think you're an artist?
24:10Yeah, I think so.
24:11Because you have to have a skill.
24:15I think pickpocketing is like commedia dell'arte, you know?
24:20You are funny sometimes, sometimes you are sad.
24:23You have...
24:23Yeah, you are an actor.
24:25The best, and when you have two people, so as we did.
24:29Yeah.
24:29So you have nothing on you.
24:31OK, sorry, I have nothing.
24:32You can check on me.
24:33I have no your...
24:34Nothing.
24:35No your wallet, nothing.
24:37So...
24:37OK.
24:38Why is the lobby the best place?
24:40There is no camera.
24:41In the lobby there is no...
24:44No piece of art.
24:45And so do you think most of the skill is in the actual...
24:48The lift, or is it in picking the right person?
24:51Picking the right person.
24:53Yeah.
24:54How did you pick that lady that you stole the purse from?
24:57She has his phone on his hand.
24:58On hand.
24:59She put it in her bag.
25:01And if her bag is still open, it means she is waiting for a call.
25:06So for me it's perfect, you know?
25:07It's amazing, isn't it, that all around that museum there are posters saying beware of pickpockets.
25:13And yet she can stand there with her bag here, open, phone, wallet, everything just waiting to be stolen.
25:20Yeah, but the human nature, you become lazy.
25:25And pickpockets are waiting for that.
25:27So it's the perfect crime.
25:29It's not a crime, it's an art.
25:35Well, I've seen a few pickpockets in my time, but that guy is something else.
25:39I love the way, bold as brass, he talks about what he does, not as a crime, but practicing his
25:43art in the most famous art gallery in the world.
25:58I'm back up at Montmartre to see if the three card Monty scam is up and running.
26:05From what I've seen so far, this has all the hallmarks of organised crime.
26:10So what I need is a cunning plan to flush out the main players, and maybe even the boss.
26:17OK, so I have a little trick up my sleeve, going back to where the three card Monty guys were
26:22operating yesterday.
26:23And one of the things that they do is they operate as a gang.
26:26And the dealer, I've got pictures of from yesterday's footage.
26:31For example, that was one of the dealers there.
26:33But what's crucial to break their cover, I think, is to expose the fact that they're operating as a gang.
26:41Now, the three or four people pretending to play around him are all operating under cover as well.
26:47But if they're there again today, then the obvious question is,
26:50how come you're back betting at the same place again today?
26:53And if they deny that they were there yesterday, well, I've got pictures of them,
26:57which might encourage them to talk to me.
27:05I go back to Ruder Steinkirk, and I'm in luck.
27:08The three card Monty is in full swing.
27:14Now that I've got my photographs, some of the faces around here are recognisable.
27:22The guy to the left of the dealer with the sunglasses was one of the players from yesterday.
27:27He must be part of the gang.
27:32Yeah, I recognise you.
27:34What?
27:35I recognise you.
27:36I don't know you.
27:37I know, I say white.
27:38You know me?
27:39Yeah, you were playing here yesterday.
27:41Yeah.
27:41First day when I came here.
27:43First day?
27:44You came here?
27:45Yeah.
27:45I think you were playing here yesterday.
27:47No, you make a mistake.
27:50I know, I don't know you.
27:51You make a mistake?
27:52I think that's you.
27:55From yesterday, yeah?
27:56That's you, same glasses, different shirt.
27:58Why you make pictures with me?
28:00I'm interested in what's going on here.
28:02Would you talk to me a little bit about it?
28:04Not a problem.
28:05I'm not from the police or anything like that.
28:06Not interesting.
28:08My friend is not good for this, for what you make.
28:10No?
28:11No.
28:11Because it's not good for me.
28:13I'm not going to make a problem at all.
28:14Why you make pictures?
28:15Because this is what I do.
28:15I go around the world making a kind of TV show about the kind of things that happen
28:19to tourists.
28:20Not good for us.
28:21His team is getting really nervous about me talking to him.
28:25Let's try to understand a bit about how the game works.
28:26How you guys kind of operate with me.
28:27At the first sign of trouble, these guys disappear.
28:30I don't want to cause a problem for you.
28:31I don't want, you know.
28:32I don't know.
28:34I don't want...
28:34I don't want a TV show or something like this, you know, because it's not good.
28:39It's not something good that I make, I know.
28:42It's not something good.
28:43What about if we compensate for your time?
28:45He's still suspicious.
28:46But slowly he starts to talk to me.
28:49Maybe because I have his photograph.
28:51But I see this game all over the world.
28:53I see it in America.
28:54I see it in...
28:55Yeah, but it's all around the world.
28:57It's something like this, you know?
28:59Yeah, yeah.
28:59I like the game.
29:00I find the game clever.
29:01I find the way that it works.
29:02It's not clever.
29:02It's something stupid, you know?
29:05Who has played this game is stupid, really.
29:08Whoever plays the game is stupid.
29:09Yeah, it's stupid.
29:10Because they can't win.
29:10Yeah.
29:11Yeah, yeah.
29:11You know?
29:12Yeah.
29:13I mean, I'm genuinely interested to hear more about the game.
29:16It's dangerous, you know?
29:18Because...
29:19When you come, you can go to jail.
29:21For how long?
29:22Three months.
29:23Three months?
29:24Yeah.
29:24True.
29:24Do you ever do the dealing or are you always the actor?
29:27Yeah.
29:28You're an actor?
29:29Something like this.
29:30Okay, I was right.
29:32He's a member of a team and his role is to fool members of the public into thinking they
29:37might win.
29:38But the person I really want to speak to is his boss.
29:43Where are you from?
29:44Where are you from, for example?
29:46I'm from a country east.
29:50Oh, from East Europe?
29:52Yeah.
29:52From what?
29:52Romania?
29:53Yes.
29:54Okay.
29:54What's your name?
29:56Christian.
29:56Okay, Christian.
29:57Maybe another day.
30:00Can we?
30:01Yeah.
30:02Can I get a number?
30:03Can I call you?
30:04Do you have a French number?
30:05Christian gives me a number.
30:07Hopefully, I'll get to meet him and his boss tomorrow.
30:13Okay.
30:14See you.
30:21I was so not sure whether he was going to flip or not.
30:23When I first started speaking to him, he was adamant.
30:26No way.
30:26I was not here yesterday.
30:27I don't know you.
30:29I don't know anything about this game.
30:30And then when I showed him the picture, you see that little moment of doubt in his eyes.
30:34Come on.
30:35Come with me.
30:35And then he started talking.
30:37And, well, clear as day.
30:39Anyone who plays this game is an idiot.
30:40They're just going to lose their money.
30:42But what's brilliant is that I've gone in with that gang.
30:48And if he does meet me tomorrow, then I've got a question for him.
30:54Who's in control of the three-card Monty operation on that street?
31:12There's another type of hustler in Paris.
31:18One who isn't after money, but sex.
31:24Known as the city of love, couples come to Paris and padlock their devotion to each other on the famous
31:31Pont des Arts.
31:32So it's the perfect place for pick-up artists to declare undying love when the only thing they're after is
31:39a one-night stand.
31:43Do they prey upon women who are seduced by the city's romantic aura?
31:50Louise is a friend of the crew.
31:51She's agreed to act as bait so we can observe a pick-up artist in action.
31:57Connor, nice to meet you.
31:58Nice to meet you.
31:59Let me step in quietly over here.
32:01I've got a plan.
32:03Okay, so I've heard there's a whole bunch of pick-up artists that operate over here by the fountain around
32:10this kind of time.
32:11And I want to see kind of how they operate.
32:13Right.
32:13And a girl like you is absolutely perfect to be bait for me over there.
32:18What I'd like to do is put a microphone on you.
32:20Yep.
32:21Okay?
32:21Maybe get you to carry a camera.
32:23Okay.
32:24This is going to be your secret camera.
32:25Yeah.
32:26And we're just going to put that over the shoulder.
32:28Yeah.
32:29And I'm in the shot.
32:30Yeah, cool.
32:31Perfect.
32:32Let's see what happens.
32:33Okay.
32:33Great.
32:39Now we sit and wait.
32:56There are loads of guys walking by checking you out.
32:59I mean, this is Paris, and this is a romantic place.
33:05The man holding his jacket seems to be on the prowl.
33:11Oh.
33:12Oh, no.
33:13There's a guy.
33:14I so thought he was going to talk to a couple of guys already.
33:17It's that close to coming and talking to her.
33:23There's another guy there checking her out now.
33:32Oh, he's gone in.
33:33I don't understand.
33:34Sorry.
33:34You don't understand.
33:36Are you speaking English?
33:37I do, yeah.
33:38Where are you from?
33:39I come from London.
33:40That's cool.
33:41And you just come here for vacation?
33:43Yeah.
33:43Yeah.
33:44He speaks English.
33:45She's good.
33:46He's established that she's from London.
33:47She's playing it perfectly.
33:49She hasn't said that she lives here.
33:50You just come alone here, or what?
33:51I'm meeting up with friends in a couple of days.
33:54Ah, so you're just alone now?
33:55For the time I'm being out.
33:56Oh, that's okay.
33:57I was with some friends.
33:59And you lost them?
34:00Yes, I lost them now.
34:01Oh, he's lost his friends.
34:03Oh.
34:04I can see what you do.
34:05Very busy.
34:05But you'll be very nice.
34:07Maybe I can take your number.
34:08I don't know.
34:09Hey.
34:10Oh, he's got his phone out.
34:11He's asked for a number.
34:12You get to know me later, you know?
34:14Yeah.
34:16Because what do you have to do tomorrow?
34:19Tomorrow I have time.
34:20You have time?
34:21Okay.
34:21He's taking a number.
34:235-8.
34:24He's taking a number.
34:25Excellent.
34:26What's your name?
34:27My name is Louise.
34:28She used her real name?
34:29Oh, brilliantly.
34:30Okay.
34:31Oh, a couple of kisses.
34:33They've exchanged numbers.
34:34Excellent.
34:35Okay, brilliant.
34:36Oh, she's done a great job.
34:41You made a little friend.
34:43Yes, I did.
34:45So you've exchanged numbers?
34:46I gave him my number.
34:47Okay.
34:47And he said he was free tomorrow night
34:48and he wants to go for a drink.
34:50Yeah.
34:50Okay, brilliant.
34:51Yeah?
34:51Because what might be kind of funny...
34:53Yeah.
34:54...is if you arrange to meet him for a drink...
34:57Yeah.
34:58...but rather than you turn up...
35:00We send someone else.
35:01You go.
35:02Ah!
35:03That would be amazing.
35:04Let's see what he has to say for himself then, shall we?
35:12With so many people looking for love, Paris must be the ideal spot for a pick-up artist.
35:19But tomorrow, I'll try to persuade one to reveal the tricks of his trade.
35:43The next day, I get a call from Christian from the three-card Monty gang.
35:51He says his boss wants to negotiate giving an on-camera interview.
35:57Hey.
35:58Hi.
35:58We decide to secretly film the meeting.
36:03He's very nervous.
36:05He has only one thing on his mind.
36:07There's nothing left.
36:08If you want to make a speech, a big trick, if you're allowed to pay, yes.
36:12Otherwise, it's not the end.
36:13I'm going to explain because I'm well worth my life.
36:17It's not the end of my life.
36:18I'm not gonna let it go for nothing.
36:19Because I don't lose my time.
36:20I'll explain how to go.
36:22I'll explain how to go, how to go, how to go, how to go, how to go, how to go,
36:26how to go,
36:27how to go, how to go, how to go, how to go, how to go, how to go.
36:27How to attack the tourists.
36:29But not for nothing.
36:30I can't do that to balance everyone.
36:33I don't need 100, 200, 300 euros.
36:35For me, it doesn't regard me.
36:36That's not the reason for me.
36:39I've been working for one hour and I've earned my part 800 euros.
36:43You understand?
36:44Right.
36:45But I'm not here to pay them.
36:47I've come here to get information.
36:49Are you going to play today?
36:52Of course.
36:5215 minutes, 20 minutes.
36:53It depends on the police.
36:54We have all the guards.
36:56We have all the guards.
36:57We have all the guards.
37:00We have all the guards.
37:02We have all the guards.
37:03I'm a manipulator.
37:04Why are you doing things?
37:08Why do you know it?
37:10Why aren't you doing things?
37:10Because he doesn't know it.
37:11He knows what to do.
37:12He knows what to do.
37:13My scam is to keep him talking.
37:16He's happy to chat.
37:17Without him realising it, he reveals a few tricks of the trade.
37:21I was 14 years old.
37:25There's no school.
37:26It's natural.
37:28It's not a question of speed here, it's not your speed, it's in my hand, it's in your head and
37:35in my hand.
37:36I speak a little English, a little Italian, I speak a little Spanish, and I'm doing the base for the
37:41game.
37:41You have to tell people, you can explain, stop recording.
37:45These guys clearly aren't stupid.
37:48He realises he's saying too much, and he guesses that I've been filming all along.
37:54OK, stop.
37:56OK, fine. Even if I have an hour, they're not interested.
37:58Oh, no!
37:59No, no, no.
38:00And with that, he's off.
38:02Merci beaucoup.
38:03Merci.
38:04He's adamant that he won't tell me anything more about his scam, but I've already heard quite a lot.
38:11I'd like to know even more, but I'm not going to hear it from him.
38:18I've still got Christian's number, but in the meantime, I've got a hot date.
38:36OK, Louise has arranged to meet her French pick-up artist at a little cafe down here.
38:41What he doesn't realise is that she's not going to turn up.
38:44I'm going to turn up in her place.
38:46And then, I'm going to see what he has to say for himself.
38:57Hi, is anyone sitting here?
38:58Yes, of course.
39:00Maybe you were expecting someone else tonight.
39:02Maybe a tall, beautiful blonde girl called Louise.
39:08Don't worry.
39:08Don't worry.
39:09I'm not the boyfriend.
39:10OK, OK.
39:11I've got a confession to make.
39:13Yes, OK.
39:14I set you up a little bit.
39:17I heard the place where you met, Louise, yesterday was where lovers meet in Paris.
39:24Yes, sometimes, yes.
39:25It's a very beautiful place.
39:26Yeah.
39:27Indeed.
39:27Indeed.
39:28And I also heard it's the kind of place that men sometimes go and pick up girls.
39:34Sometimes, yes, of course.
39:36So, when you were doing your magic, I'm afraid I was watching.
39:43Ah, yes.
39:44Yeah.
39:44That's better.
39:45Is that a place that you go and pick up girls often?
39:48Paris is a really, really beautiful city, so everywhere is a good place to meet girls.
39:56Do you think there's more beautiful women in Paris than anywhere else?
39:59There are the most beautiful women in the world in Paris, I guarantee you.
40:03Guarantee me?
40:04Yeah, I guarantee.
40:04All my money back.
40:05Yeah, yeah.
40:06So, you know, I kind of got an idea maybe that you're a typical example of a French, what we
40:14would call in English a pick-up artist.
40:16I like the word artist because everybody do it his own way, you know?
40:21There's not one way to meet and seduce women.
40:25How many women do you think you have seduced in your life?
40:30Too many women, but...
40:31More than a hundred?
40:32Maybe more.
40:33And what would you describe your style?
40:36I like to be, uh, direct with women.
40:40For example, if you want, uh, if you want sex, you just said to the woman, are you attracted to
40:47me?
40:49If she doesn't answer, it's yes.
40:52Okay.
40:53If she answer yes, it's yes.
40:54And if she answer no, maybe it's yes.
41:00Okay, here's a suggestion.
41:02You understand?
41:02Okay, so what I'm doing here in town, I'm making a TV show.
41:05Ah, okay.
41:06Okay.
41:06So what would be fun, maybe, if you were a game, is maybe we could film you doing your thing.
41:16Okay.
41:17Okay.
41:17You do that?
41:18Okay.
41:18But this is because it's you.
41:20I think he's flirting with me now.
41:23I'd better watch it.
41:29We rig our man up with a hidden camera.
41:33And then we watch him go to work.
41:38Groups is not good usually, you know.
41:39Better to meet a woman alone, a woman we are looking for.
41:44It's a beautiful woman who wants to meet a guy.
41:48The way you say it sounds easy.
41:49No, it's just you want to visualize.
41:52I don't know what's your type of woman.
41:54For example, this woman is alone.
41:55He spots a woman passing by and he makes his move.
42:26Okay, that's a good start.
42:28He's already got her laughing.
42:34Now he's playing the sympathy card.
42:36Let's see if it works.
42:39I discovered that I took his phone.
42:40I discovered that it took three weeks to sleep with a guy.
42:44It took eight months to sleep with her.
42:47I discovered that I love your body.
42:51I love your body.
42:52I want to touch me.
42:53I touch myself in the conservatory.
42:55Things like that.
42:56Do you think it's normal?
42:58No.
42:59I don't know.
42:59I don't know.
43:01But...
43:01Do you want to take a beer?
43:03Uh...
43:04Yeah, if you want.
43:05It's you who are going to take a beer.
43:07And I?
43:08Well, we'll take a beer.
43:09We'll go there.
43:10It's cool.
43:12Yeah, okay.
43:13He's like a pro.
43:15She's even buying the drinks.
43:27And he's gone.
43:29Just like that.
43:30It took him about 90 seconds to pick up a girl.
43:32About another two minutes.
43:33And he's gone for a drink.
43:35There isn't a woman in Paris safe with that guy around.
43:38Not a single one.
43:40Yeah.
43:42Yeah.
43:43Yeah.
43:44Finally, a member of our crew reveals our secret to the unwitting girl.
43:48To give her a beer...
43:49She'sa's.
43:51She'sa's.
43:53She'sa's.
43:54She'sa's.
43:55She'sa's.
43:56She'sa's.
43:56She'sa's.
43:57She'sa's.
43:58I grew up with you.
44:00I was at the end.
44:03I, I was at the end.
44:04She did not really do it.
44:05I am...
44:06Because, for me, after that, all these women will see me internationally.
44:26Later that evening I make a final call to Christian, my contact in the three-card Monty gang.
44:34He agrees to meet me, but in secret, without his dealer.
44:41This could be my final chance to find out who is in charge of the three-card Monty operation.
44:54Hey, man. Nice to see you.
44:55Hi. Thanks for meeting me again.
44:58One thing, one big question for me, when I walked up the street, there were eight, nine, ten games.
45:07Yeah. Are they all working individually or is it one organised game?
45:15One game.
45:18Everybody works for his team.
45:23Everybody has one team.
45:24If you make three thousand, you don't give for another.
45:28No. So it's like a competition.
45:31Something like this.
45:33Yeah.
45:34So it's not organised crime.
45:37It's every man for himself.
45:40And how much is a good day now for a table?
45:44You can make a thousand, two thousand, maybe three thousand.
45:48Three thousand euros in one day?
45:50Each table.
45:51And what is it that he does?
45:52How does he do it?
45:55He has, here is the white, white, and there is the black.
46:00Black's on the bottom and white's on the top.
46:04It's one of the oldest scams in the book.
46:07And yet people still queue up to lose their money to it.
46:13For this game you need exactly 21 euro.
46:19Because you need one newspaper for this.
46:23And this is 20 euro.
46:26So you need one euro for the newspaper.
46:28Yeah, and this 20 euro.
46:2920 euro for the discs.
46:30And then you can make a thousand euros in a day.
46:40Well, I've got to say I'm pretty surprised that there's no one individual running all of those tables down that
46:45street.
46:46But actually, once he started to explain it to me, I could kind of see why.
46:50All you need are a couple of cardboard boxes, three black discs, and half a dozen friends who know how
46:55to play the game.
46:56And you're in the three card Monty business.
47:11Paris' elegance is obvious for all to see.
47:17And it's easy to be seduced by its charms.
47:24But don't get too distracted by its artistry.
47:30Because its scam artists could leave you with a very different impression.
47:52And it's easy to leave.
47:53You