This brings me to the heart of my story. One particularly common scam, especially in Andalusian cities but also in places like Barcelona and Madrid, is one where Romani women (they vary in age but often middle-aged or elderly) stand in high-traffic areas holding sprigs of rosemary (romero in Spanish; occasionally it might be a flower or some knickknack).  The setup is simple and relies on surprise, politeness, and distraction. She´ll approach someone with a smile and offers a small sprig or flower or whatever. She may place it directly into the person’s hand, pin it onto clothing, or insist that it is a gift “for luck,” “for love,” or “for protection.” Sometimes she might offer to read the person’s palm or tell their fortune.

Read more in my post The Common Rosemary Street Scam in Spain.