If you are traveling to Philippines and use the transit system, you might witness somebody dropping some coins “by mistake”. As the bus is moving and coins are spread all over the place, good citizens are trying to help picking them up and handing them back to the owner.

If that happens in front of you, be very careful at your belongings. Once you are distracted helping, criminals slash your bag or purse, stealing the contents.

Some victims even put down their bags while helping, which makes it easier for the crooks to steal the whole thing.

How to avoid: since they are doing this regularly, criminals have a very smooth yet fast way of operating. Hold your bag tight, especially if it’s busy. Meanwhile, protect your pockets, too. If coins are dropped right in front of you, it’s a good signal that you’ve been spotted as a potential victim.