Picture this: you return to your car, peacefully parked on the street, and there it is—a €50 bill tucked under your windshield wiper. Lucky day? Not quite.

What looks like a random stroke of fortune is actually a clever setup designed to steal your car in seconds. Here’s how this deviously effective scam works—and how you can avoid falling victim to it.

The Illusion of a Gift: A Trick That Takes More Than It Gives

In a world where every euro counts, spotting a €50 bill on your windshield is hard to ignore. But make no mistake—this bait was intentionally placed there by thieves. It’s strategically positioned so that you won’t notice it until you’re already sitting inside the car.

And that’s where the real danger begins.

Once you spot the bill and step out to grab it, chances are you’ve left the car running and the door open. That’s all it takes. A thief lurking nearby jumps in and drives off with your vehicle—faster than you can react. It’s a scam as quick and smooth as a magic trick.

The €50 Scam: A Well-Rehearsed Setup

This isn’t a new con. It pops up, disappears, and resurfaces again—like a TV drama you know the ending to but can’t stop watching. Police in Haute-Garonne, France, recently issued a warning about it in a campaign aptly titled “An Expensive Banknote.”

The setup never changes: a parked car, a discreetly placed bill, a thief waiting in the wings. And a driver caught off guard by their own curiosity—or temptation.