Once, I was in Venice.
A random guy with a bunch of roses approaches a couple.
He gives a rose to the girl.
‘How much?’ the girl asks.
‘Keep it.’
‘No, no. I don’t want.’
‘Keep it. You are nice.’
After a few ‘take it- keep it’ lines, he gives her two more roses and says ‘Keep these also. Stay happy. Keep smiling.’ and pretends to walk away.
The girl is genuinely smiling now as some random guy at a famous holiday place has given her roses and wished her happiness.
A few seconds later, the guy gives the boyfriend unasked information: ‘Go straight for the tower entrance.’ or ‘Beware of the pickpockets.’ and then asks, ‘Take care, sir. By the way, some money, please?’
The boyfriend understands the scam now. He looks at his girlfriend and her smile now. He can’t take back the roses and let the smile drop.
So he gives him the money.
The lesson here is
In this busy, bustling world, especially at a tourist place, no one has the time to come to you genuinely and do you favours without your asking.