Common Tourist Scams in Baltimore (and How to Avoid Them)
Scams + the BWI airport-arrival routine
- BWI Airport (Baltimore/Washington International) taxi quoting: licensed taxis are metered; ride share (Uber/Lyft) zones are signposted. Decline anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering "private car" service.
- Catalytic-converter theft: high in Baltimore. F-150s, Toyota Priuses, Honda CR-Vs targeted. Hotel-garage parking strongly preferred.
- Aggressive panhandling at I-95 + I-83 off-ramps: keep windows up, locked doors. Not unique to Baltimore.
- Squeegee kids at downtown intersections: long-running Baltimore phenomenon. Most are non-aggressive; some have escalated to confrontation in recent years. City policy fluctuates. Windows up, ignore, drive on.
- Phone snatch from outdoor restaurants in Fells Point + Federal Hill: real on warm evenings. Phone in pocket, not on the table.
- Counterfeit Orioles + Ravens merch on game day: official team stores at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium are the licensed source.
- "Maryland-style crab cake" pricing: real crab cakes (jumbo lump, minimal filler) cost $25-45 each. Anyone selling them for $10-15 is using a different fish + filler. Faidley's at Lexington Market, Thames Street Oyster House, LP Steamers are the established ones.
FAQ
- What's the dominant scam or risk for Baltimore visitors?
- Car break-ins and catalytic-converter theft are the dominant property crimes — F-150s, Toyota Priuses and Honda CR-Vs are targeted. Use hotel-garage parking (attended garages at Inner Harbor) rather than street parking, and leave nothing visible in the car ever. Squeegee kids at downtown intersections are a long-running Baltimore phenomenon — most are non-aggressive but some have escalated to confrontation in recent years; city policy fluctuates. Windows up, ignore, drive on. Aggressive panhandling at I-95 and I-83 off-ramps follows the same protocol. BWI Airport licensed taxis are metered and the rideshare zone is signposted — decline anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering 'private car' service. Counterfeit Orioles and Ravens merch on game day — buy at the official team stores at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium.
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