Common scams in United States

The scams you'll actually run into

1. Times Square / Hollywood costumed characters

   People dressed as superheroes, Elmo or the Statue of Liberty pose with tourists (especially kids), then demand $20–40 per person and can get intimidating when refused.

   H.A.C.K. · Hurry

   The move — Agree a price out loud before any photo, or don't engage. If they've posed, hand over a couple of dollars total and move on.

2. Unlicensed airport “rides”

   At JFK, LAX, Miami and Vegas, men in the arrivals hall offer a “taxi” or “town car” and charge two to four times the metered or app fare, sometimes with add-ons at the destination.

   H.A.C.K. · Authority

   The move — Ignore anyone offering a ride indoors. Use the official taxi line or an app pickup from the marked rideshare zone.

3. “You've won a free cruise / vacation”

   A booth, phone call or scratch-card says you've won a Bahamas cruise or resort stay; claiming it means a long timeshare presentation, booking fees, and a package worth far less than promised.

   H.A.C.K. · Comfort

   The move — You didn't enter, so you didn't win. Walk away from the booth; hang up on the call.

4. CD / mixtape hand-off

   Someone puts a CD in your hand, asks your name, writes it on the case “as a gift”, then demands $10–20 and follows you, working in pairs near Times Square and Venice Beach.

   H.A.C.K. · Comfort

   The move — Keep your hands down and don't take it. If it's in your hand, set it down and keep walking — a “gift” with a price isn't a gift.

5. Resort fees and hidden car-rental charges

   Hotels advertise a nightly rate then add a mandatory “resort fee” of $30–50 at check-in; rental counters push prepaid fuel, tolls transponders and insurance you may already have.

   H.A.C.K. · Authority

   The move — Check the total with taxes and fees before booking. At the car counter, decline extras and say you'll use your own insurance and pay tolls directly.

6. Grandparent / IRS / arrest-warrant phone scams

   Callers claim to be a grandchild in jail, the IRS, or police with a warrant, and demand payment by gift card, wire or crypto to avoid arrest. Numbers are spoofed to look official.

   H.A.C.K. · Authority

   The move — No real agency takes gift cards. Hang up, and call the person or agency back on a number you look up yourself.

What these scams have in common

Most United States scams lean on Authority. Whatever the trick, the way out is the same three moves — Pause · Assess · Talk: stop before you pay, hand over a document or follow someone; ask what the request really wants; then say it out loud to someone you trust, or your bank on the number from your card.

United States travel-scam FAQ

Official travel advisories for United States

Fraud and scam wording pulled from the official Canadian and New Zealand travel advisories. Use the government sources for current travel decisions.

Scam guides for nearby destinations

H.A.C.K. — the four pressure tactics

Every scam on this page is tagged with the tactic it uses. Recognise the tactic, not the trick.

H Hurry

Urgency. A deadline, a countdown or a “right now” that leaves no time to check.

A Authority

Officialdom. A badge, a title, a uniform or an official-sounding request you feel you can't question.

C Comfort

Familiarity. A friendly local, a routine or an emotion that makes the request feel safer than it is.

K Kill-Switch

The cut-off. The moment you're pushed to pay, click, hand over a document or follow someone — before you can verify.

The way out of all four: Pause · Assess · Talk.