Common Tourist Scams in New York City (and How to Avoid Them)
Scams and money
- Unmarked taxis at airports: refuse. Use official ranks only.
- Tourist hotel "ATMs" — high fees ($5-7 per transaction). Use major bank ATMs (Chase, Citi, Bank of America) instead.
- Ticket scalpers for Broadway shows: TKTS booth in Times Square is the legit discount source. StubHub is fine for major events.
- Restaurant tipping: 18-22% is standard. Many touristy restaurants now auto-add a "service charge" and still expect tip on top — read the bill.
- Bag fees / hidden charges at Yellow Cab — the meter has surcharges for night ($1), peak ($2.50), and the Manhattan congestion charge ($2.50). All legitimate.
FAQ
- What's the biggest scam to avoid in NYC?
- Times Square: costumed characters (Spider-Mans, Elmos, Statues of Liberty) demanding $20-50 after photos — decline the photo at start. CD-rappers handing you a 'mixtape' then demanding $20 — don't accept. Pedicabs without posted prices — agree price in writing before sitting. 'Black car' taxi touts at JFK/LGA — use Uber/Lyft or the official yellow-cab/green-cab rank, fares are regulated ($70 flat-rate from JFK to Manhattan).
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