These are the tourist scams Trzly has documented across Stati Uniti, grouped by destination. Each one is real, with a clear way to stay safe. Read before you land.
Come funziona: Performers dressed as superheroes or showgirls pose for photos on the Strip, then aggressively demand a cash tip afterwards, sometimes for more than one person in the photo.
Come evitarla: Only pose if you intend to tip, agree the amount first if asked, and feel free to decline and walk on if you did not ask for the photo.
Come funziona: Booths on the Strip offer free show tickets or attraction discounts in exchange for attending a timeshare presentation, which turns into a long, high-pressure sales pitch.
Come evitarla: Assume any 'free ticket' booth on the sidewalk is a timeshare lead generator, and skip it unless you genuinely want to sit through a sales presentation.
Come funziona: Promoters outside nightclubs offer 'free entry' or 'no line' deals, then steer you toward marked-up bottle service or drinks once inside.
Come evitarla: Confirm exactly what is included before agreeing to follow a promoter, and check menu prices before ordering once inside.
Come funziona: Some taxi drivers take a longer route than necessary, including looping via the airport tunnel, to inflate the metered fare on trips along the Strip.
Come evitarla: Use a rideshare app with a fixed upfront price where possible, or ask about the route before departing; most Strip resorts are a short, direct ride apart.
Come funziona: Counterfeit or wildly overpriced tickets for resident production shows, concerts and arena events are sold near venues like T-Mobile Arena, MGM Grand Garden and Allegiant Stadium, or through resale sites and social media, and may not scan at the door.
Come evitarla: Buy tickets only from the venue's official box office, the show's official website, or a well-known ticketing platform. Be wary of anyone selling tickets in person outside a venue on event night.
Come funziona: Workers on the Strip and Downtown sidewalks aggressively flick and hand out cards advertising adult entertainment, sometimes blocking your path or following alongside to press a card into your hand.
Come evitarla: Keep walking and decline without engaging; the practice is a persistent nuisance rather than a safety threat, and stopping to argue tends to prolong it.
Come funziona: In Times Square, people dressed as cartoon characters or painted performers pose for photos, then aggressively demand a large 'tip', sometimes surrounding tourists.
Come evitarla: Do not accept a photo unless you want to pay. If you do, agree a small amount first and have a dollar or two ready. A firm no and walking on is enough; you are not obliged to pay.
Come funziona: Someone presses a CD or 'demo' into your hand as a gift, sometimes asking you to sign something, then demands cash and blocks your way until you pay.
Come evitarla: Do not take anything handed to you on the street. Keep your hands free, decline clearly, and keep walking; you owe nothing for an item you did not ask for.
Come funziona: Touts near major sights sell 'discount' tickets for observation decks, bus tours or ferries that are overpriced, invalid, or for services that do not exist.
Come evitarla: Buy only from official websites, box offices or the venue itself. Ignore street sellers and anyone offering to skip the line for cash near the entrance.
Come funziona: A minority of drivers take unnecessarily long routes, claim the meter is broken, or quote an inflated flat fare instead of using the meter, especially from the airports.
Come evitarla: Use the official taxi rank, insist on the meter, and know the fixed JFK-to-Manhattan flat fare. Watch the route on your phone and use a licensed ride-hailing app as an alternative.