How do you react, especially when they try to escalate the situation when you ignore them? I never encountered it but apparently, it’s a common scam in the countries I’ll be visiting hehe.
Tell them you want to speak to your embassy. I pull out a card with the embassy address on it. Once confronted with real authorities, they run away.
This happened to me in Russia. I had a layover in Moscow, going to St. Petersburg to visit a friend. While standing outside, getting some air, a ‘Police Officer’ asked me if I needed help and wanted to see my boarding pass. It was gate D, upstairs. I remember this because I’ve been here a few times before. Anyway, he insists that a cab can take me to my gate much faster and signaled a nearby car over. He opened the back door and tried to get me inside. At that point, I said I was going to ask the Officer standing inside the terminal, and he split. Walked away fast. The driver, too. Since then, I always have a cover on my passport to hide where I’m from (American). And nod or shake my head when asked a question to hide my accent. Take heed.
@Hadden
Damn, which year did this happen?
This was a few months before the World Cup, Spring 2018.
This was a few months before the World Cup, Spring 2018.
Wow, that’s wild. I wonder what would have happened if you went in the car? Russia always seemed the most paranoid place I’ve been as an American, like how you have to keep documents of where you are staying on the off chance cops ask for your papers. They wouldn’t even give me a visa in 2012, had to get it through another country, and even then they only let me in for six days for whatever reason. Weird-ass country.
@Hadden
Why would you have your passport out anyway? Mine is in my underwear till I need to show it to the security screening or boarding gate/immigration.
Dallas said:
@Hadden
Why would you have your passport out anyway? Mine is in my underwear till I need to show it to the security screening or boarding gate/immigration.
That’s not weird. I kept my boarding pass inside the passport book in my coat pocket. I had to take it out to show him the boarding pass.
@Hadden
You don’t have to show anyone your boarding pass, police or not, unless they are at a screening point or to board the plane is my point.
Dallas said:
@Hadden
You don’t have to show anyone your boarding pass, police or not, unless they are at a screening point or to board the plane is my point.
I think you missed the point of this thread. I suppose next time, I should keep my passport and boarding in my underwear.
@Hadden
Now you know why security screening wears gloves.
[deleted]
Emerson said:
[deleted]
Nigeria though… sorry for your loss!
Reverse uno, tell them you are their boss. You like what you’ve seen, now get back to their next case.
Wei said:
Reverse uno, tell them you are their boss. You like what you’ve seen, now get back to their next case.
I could see this working somewhere 
What vector are these fake officers using?
I think I had this at Rome Termini; some guys who didn’t look like officers asked to see our IDs for ‘covid’ reasons. (2021) As far as I know we didn’t get robbed, and after my friend asked a couple of times why they asked this and showing them the IDs (not handing them over I believe), we were free to go. Can anyone explain?
“Nice to meet you, I’m FBI”. Works well, and they quickly scurry off.
Call the actual police.
As noted, the actual police can be a more common issue. Mexico, Mozambique…