Rome especially has a reputation for ripping off tourists. Though really I think the rumors are worse than reality as time goes on, it's best to have an idea of when and where someone might try to get some extra euros out of you. So here's some more common scenarios, and whether or not you were just ripped off!
You take a taxi from Fiumicino airport to your hotel, which is in the city center near the Pantheon and a 35 minute ride. When you arrive the fare is about 75 euros. Were you ripped off? YES! Newer regulations with cabs strictly say that from either the Ciampino or Fiumicino airports to any location in the city center (within the city walls) is a flat rate of 40 euros (or 30 from Fiumicino). Conversely any location outside the city walls is metered, but really unless you're going very far the fare will probably be 50-65 euros max.
You order a cappuccino at the bar and sit down at a table outside. After some minutes the waiter/waitress brings in to you, and its not too hot, not too cold, with some cocoa on the foam...perfect. When you get the bill, it says you owe 5 euros...but didn't it say on the sign inside that a cappuccino is 2.50 euros? Were you ripped off? NO. Well technically no. Every bar/café' you go into charges you about double the price to take your drink to a table. And usually if you look closer at their wall menus, you'll see two prices for everything: one for drinking it at the bar, and the other for taking it to a table. In this case the menu probably said "Cappuccino: 2,50/5,00".
Suddenly you're stricken with thirst near the Colosseum, and buy a bottle of water from one of those portable food trucks. It cost you 3 euro! Were you ripped off? YES and NO, really. The cost of things and food in general tends to be pretty expensive around very touristy areas, hence around the Colosseum 3 euros for a bottle of water is pretty standard. When it comes to keeping hydrated, my advice is always have an empty bottle with you. You'll see loads of "fontanelle", or drinking fountains, all over the city. This is the cleanest water you can get (its maybe even cleaner than what comes out of your hotel room tap!)....and it' FREE!
You are eating at a restaurant, enjoying warm bread and appetizers of fried zucchini, a whopping plate of 'cacio and pepe' pasta, and then after some tiramisu and after dinner drinks. When the bill arrives it for more than you had expected. Maybe it's not a lot extra...maybe only 10 to 15 euros more, but still. Were you ripped off? NOPE! You just didn't read the small print probably. Restaurants can have small hidden charges. For one, that basket of bread they put on the table in front of you is NOT free! Each basket they bring out might cost 2 euros each...and sometimes also per person. Also, some places charge a type of service fee (which works out to be sort of the tip included without having to leave a tip).
You want to make a quick phone call back home to check-in, tell them how amazing the gelato is that you're currently eating, etc. At the payphone you see a sign/sticker about making a collect call from the payphone, or using your credit card to make a call. Is it a rip-off? YES...LORD YES! Firstly, that collect call can and will cost the person billed something upwards of $60 per minute! The credit card ad is about the same, where a 3 minute phone call might cost you $60 or $70. As for the credot card "company" there's one well known in the credit card customer service world called "CALL LD", usually with an 800 number such as 800-607-9470.
In the event you feel like somebody made a dishonest euro off of you, there are some people you can and should report it to. Even if they can't necessarily help you get what you lost, it's a way of consumer-protection agencies to keep track! RomeBuddy is a website that is pretty useful as a forum where you can get and give advice. And there's also a Rome-based lawyer named Sergio Scicchitano who offers free support for a service which passes on tourist-related complaints to the right offices. He can be emailed at s.scicchitano@comune.roma.it. There's loads of other consumer rights protection agencies links right here!
This all bing said, you probably won't have to worry. Just keep an eye open and your brain alert and you should be just fine!
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