August 26, 2026, 3:02 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Reports of fraud cases involving the so-called “mirror trick” frequently come from Italy. What this scam entails, why anyone could fall victim, and how to protect yourself–TRAVELBOOK has all the information.
At popular travel destinations in Italy, and now in other European countries, drivers should exercise increased caution: Fraud attempts using the so-called “mirror trick” continue, with scammers trying to extort cash from unsuspecting drivers.
According to ÖAMTC, the Austrian equivalent of ADAC, the scammers throw an object, such as a stone, at their victims’ cars while passing by to create a loud noise. They then follow the tourists’ car, overtake it, and try to force the driver to stop. If successful, the scammers quickly demand cash for alleged damages.
More Victims of the “Mirror Trick”
A tourist from Austria recently experienced this firsthand and posted about it on Facebook to warn others. As reported by the Austrian online news portal “5min.at,” the tourist was driving in mid-June in Lignano on the Italian Adriatic coast when he overtook another vehicle and suddenly heard a loud noise. It sounded like a stone had been kicked up and hit his car.
He then saw in his rearview mirror that the other driver was gesturing wildly and flashing his lights repeatedly. “I pulled over because I didn’t want to commit a hit-and-run,” he further shared according to “5min.at.” The other driver reportedly did not leave his vehicle and claimed, “I had hit his mirror, which was obviously rigged and slightly damaged, and tried to coerce me to move from the roadside to a nearby parking lot.” Fortunately, the Austrian was familiar with the mirror trick from the internet, refused, threatened to call the police, and quickly drove away.
Others weren’t so lucky. In the summer of 2024, another Austrian couple fell for the scam and handed over 560 euros in cash on the spot to settle a supposedly incurred damage to the scammer’s car.
How to Protect Yourself from the Mirror Trick
According to travel law expert Jan Bartholl, while the tricks of criminal scammers are varied, the underlying system is always the same. “The scammers exploit a shock moment and put their victims under time pressure to push them into rash actions,” Bartholl confirmed to TRAVELBOOK. He advises staying calm in any (supposed) accident abroad. Additionally, victims should inform the police and avoid engaging in any conversation until they arrive–and not hand over cash or valuables to anyone on site.
The ÖAMTC also recommends this approach–as the perpetrators usually flee once the police are mentioned. Even simpler: Just continue driving without stopping and don’t be swayed, as long as there are no noticeable issues with your own vehicle.