What are the most common pickpocket scams in Madrid?

Five patterns concentrated in Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Sol Metro and Gran Vía: the petition clipboard (often presented as 'support deaf children'), the dropped item, the spilled drink/ice-cream, the Metro escalator squeeze, and the fake football shirt seller. The Policía Municipal SATE office processes 40-60,000 tourist incident reports a year, ~85% of which are these distraction patterns.

What do I do if I'm pickpocketed in Madrid?

Cancel cards immediately via your bank's app. Use Find My iPhone / Google Find My Device to locate the phone (if moving, helps the police). Walk to SATE at Calle Leganitos 19 (5 minutes from Sol) or any Policía Municipal officer. SATE issues the denuncia in English. If the phone was Apple Pay / Google Pay loaded, mark cards as lost in the wallet app — this stops fraudulent use.

Common Tourist Scams in Madrid (and How to Avoid Them)

By The Kakapo Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-05-26 · Part of the Madrid safety guide

FAQ

What are the most common pickpocket scams in Madrid?: Five patterns concentrated in Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Sol Metro and Gran Vía: the petition clipboard (often presented as 'support deaf children'), the dropped item, the spilled drink/ice-cream, the Metro escalator squeeze, and the fake football shirt seller. The Policía Municipal SATE office processes 40-60,000 tourist incident reports a year, ~85% of which are these distraction patterns.
What do I do if I'm pickpocketed in Madrid?: Cancel cards immediately via your bank's app. Use Find My iPhone / Google Find My Device to locate the phone (if moving, helps the police). Walk to SATE at Calle Leganitos 19 (5 minutes from Sol) or any Policía Municipal officer. SATE issues the denuncia in English. If the phone was Apple Pay / Google Pay loaded, mark cards as lost in the wallet app — this stops fraudulent use.

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Sources

Scores are the Kakapo Safety Index — compiled from government travel advisories and public crime, health and transit data. All data sources.