This is how they scam tourists in a European capital. "A disgrace to the waiter profession."

Are restaurants willing to raise prices when they recognize foreign tourists? This is the conclusion of an investigation by the French daily "Le Parisien." After several complaints on online forums about inflated prices and forced tips, the journalists decided to investigate.

They checked whether the tourist would pay more

So they sent a writer disguised as a tourist to a restaurant. Mathieu Hennequin went there wearing a baseball cap and an Eiffel Tower T-shirt. The second journalist looked like a "typical Parisian." Both men ordered the same thing during their visits: lasagna, Coke, and water. It turned out that the "American" paid more for the Coke; he was only offered a medium or large. After choosing a medium, he paid €9.50. He wasn't offered a free carafe of water either, so he paid €6 for the bottle. The Frenchman, on the other hand, received a can of Coke for €6.50 and a free carafe of water. At another establishment, the "fake tourist" was encouraged to leave a tip and was told that "service is not included," which is not true. In total, the "American" bill at both establishments was up to 50 percent higher than the French customer's.

Tips for tourists in Paris. What to watch out for in a restaurant

Franck Trouet, representing the hotel and restaurant group GHR, said that treating foreign customers differently is "a disgrace to the waiter's profession." "You should know that in France, water and bread (served at the table – ed.) are free. You can refuse a bottle of water. A tip is a thank you for the service if you are very satisfied with it," he noted.

A Guardian columnist who worked as a waitress in France wasn't surprised by the results of this clever investigation. She admitted that she used sales techniques (e.g., suggesting a bottle instead of a glass of cider), but she didn't deceive customers. She offered readers some advice on how to minimize the risk of being scammed. She believes that politeness and inquisitiveness are key.

"Avoid places with touts; say 'bonjour' when you enter and 'please' and 'thank you' when you order," she advised. She added that always ask for tap water instead of bottled water, check the final amount on the bill and the payment terminal, and ask about the prices of suggested side dishes or other types of wine the waiter offers when ordering.

Read also: Tourist ripped off on a vacation island. Over 4,000 złoty for three courses. Read also: "A receipt for cheapness" on the Baltic Sea. This is how much a traveler paid for dinner in Poland.