As an East Asian, being racially profiled is not something I can naturally empathize with, at least in America. The closest I can imagine is being a tourist in Paris, and having what feels like decidedly more scammers come my way (I literally had 3 people try the "oh look at this ring I found!" scam within a distance of 2 blocks). And who can blame them, it most definitely is the efficient strategy.

It also helps if you've ever been stopped by a police officer for any reason, such as a traffic stop. I've been on a couple of ride-alongs so I've also witnessed it from the officer side. When you hear of someone complaining about just being searched (as opposed to being beaten/arrested/shot), it can sound like whining. Unless you've been the target yourself and you've at least experienced how damn inconvenient it is (regardless of any racial motives from the officer). You really have to be the model of patience to go through that process and think, at the time, "Nevermind me being late, he's just doing his job!"

Imagine being stopped like that as a not-uncommon part of life, just because someone of your general descriptor did some assholish thing. Besides the search/frisk/force part, I think the most annoying thing is how hard it is to argue against that logic without sounding like a politically-correct whiner.

I didn't know about the scam:

http://europeforvisitors.com/paris/articles/paris-gold-ring-...

Yeah that's it, and there are several variations. I know it seems easy to just say no to buying a stupid ring, but it's much, much easier to not even open that door because, from what I've heard from a friend, they will just so aggressively be in your face that giving them even anything will seem worth it after the scene they create. I know pre-googling a country sounds so tech-bubbley a tactic, but that scam is not at all I would of anticipated so I'm glad I stumbled on it.

(note in the link above, the writer says it happened to her 3 times in an hour. I had it happen one right after another, as if the second/third person didn't see me push the first one aside. So it's not just an Asian thing, I was just saying the rate that I perceived is how I empathize with being stereotyped at a quick glance)

I remember a different variation from the 1990s: a wallet instead of the ring, and an offer to split the cash. While you talk with the baiter, the "owner" shows up saying you stole it and threatens with police or just hints a violent payback. The baiter then begs the victim "we both" have to pay the "owner", or else.

There has to be a site somewhere listing them all.

"Oh well we better contact the police and have them sort this out" pulls out phone and dials the local equivalent 911 before waiting for a response. Any responsible traveler should have this number memorized for where they are going an be sure they get a phone that works in their destination.

It's clearly possible to get out of, just as most scams like these are based on combo of intimidation and greed. You just have to stand your ground. Outright mugging is a whole different thing and typically less subtle.