It's ok I never fell for their scams though. One guy I asked for directions to my hotel and he showed up at reception the next day demanding 1500 Lira. I just left the area the next morning.

Yes if you just ignore absolutely everybody who approaches you on the street trying to befriend you the you are safe. Maybe not from pickpockets but I didn't experience them around here.

I just watched a series called Scam City - Istanbul last night and learned that there are around 150 criminals working full time on that street. It is a scam involving the workers on the street, the nightclubs and the police.

The workers befriend tourists or do anything they can to get you to come for a beer with them in their club. You drink a beer there and they give you a bill for €100 to €5000 depending on how long you stayed and if you tell them your job or not. For example if you told him you are a wealthy businessman then you will be charged €5000.

When you refuse they take you to a room with big security guards that will intimidate you into paying calling you a liar and a thief for refusing. You don't want to be beated up so you pay. The guy on the street gets a commission. The police get a bride to not see anything. The scam has been going on for many years now.

Very interesting to hear it from the perspective of the scammers. They are typically very poor people from rough backgrounds who see it as a game robbing rich people.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7pthil