7 Tourist Scams in Boston

A couple visiting Boston wanted to catch a Red Sox game at Fenway Park but the game was sold out. A man outside the park offered two tickets for $120 each — roughly double face value but not unreasonable for a rivalry game. They paid $240 cash. At the gate, both tickets were rejected — the barcodes had already been scanned by someone else. The scalper had printed identical copies and sold the same barcodes to multiple buyers. Only the first person to scan gets in. TripAdvisor's Boston Forum is filled with warnings about this practice. Some scalpers use a more sophisticated approach: they purchase a legitimate digital ticket, screenshot the barcode, then resell the screenshot to multiple people while using the original to enter themselves. Tickets purchased from scalpers outside Fenway routinely exceed $100 each. Massachusetts has a 1924 anti-scalping law that requires resellers to be licensed and limits resale to no more than $2 above face value — but enforcement is minimal on game days.

A tourist who rented a car in Boston received a text message while sightseeing that read: 'City of Boston: You have an unpaid parking invoice. Pay immediately to avoid additional penalties.' The message included the city's official logo and a link to what appeared to be a legitimate .com website. The URL was not boston.gov — it was a fraudulent phishing site designed to harvest credit card information. The Massachusetts State Police issued a formal warning about fake QR code stickers being placed on parking meters as a 'quick pay' option that directs users to fake payment websites. Boston25 News reported that the text scam 'absolutely looked real' and saturated Boston area codes, with victims losing hundreds of dollars to the phishing site. In Boston's Seaport District, an NBC10 investigation found what locals call 'The Phantom Meter' — a parking meter placed in a location that is actually a no-stopping zone, causing drivers who paid the meter to receive legitimate tickets anyway.

A group of friends sat down at a bar near Faneuil Hall and ordered a round of beers and appetizers. The menu had no prices listed — the server said prices were 'standard.' The bill arrived at $187 for four beers and two appetizer platters. A 20% 'service charge' had been added automatically, which was printed in tiny text at the bottom of the menu. The group felt pressured to pay since the charge was already on the card. TravelSafe Abroad and multiple travel safety guides identify restaurant overcharging as a significant tourist scam risk in Boston, particularly in the Faneuil Hall area where captive tourist foot traffic allows inflated pricing. Some establishments near the Freedom Trail add charges labeled as 'tourist tax' or 'entertainment fee' that are not clearly disclosed before ordering. The problem extends to bars, where tourists unfamiliar with Boston prices may not realize that a $16 draft beer or $22 cocktail is a markup designed for out-of-towners.

A traveler on Boston Common was approached by a man in a lanyard and polo shirt offering 'discounted' whale watching tickets at half price — $37 instead of $74. He said he worked for the cruise company and had leftover inventory from a group that cancelled. The tickets turned out to be completely fake — photocopied vouchers with no valid booking number. At the dock, the cruise company had no record of any booking. The MBTA has also issued warnings about people selling fake CharlieCards and transit passes on the street and on Craigslist. The Massachusetts Attorney General's office warns that buying tickets from third-party vendors or private parties significantly increases the risk of fraud. Some scammers have become more sophisticated, offering 'insider tours' of Boston that locals supposedly get — these are unlicensed guides charging premium prices for information freely available on the official Freedom Trail website.

A tourist visiting Boston had her wallet lifted from her open tote bag while watching a street performer at Faneuil Hall. She did not realize it was gone until she tried to pay at her next stop. The Boston Globe published a detailed investigation into pickpocketing techniques used in the city, identifying the 'spill and clean' method as the most common: a pickpocket 'accidentally' spills a drink or bumps into the victim and offers to help clean up, while an accomplice lifts the wallet from the distracted victim's bag. The Holidify safety guide for Boston states that pickpocketing is 'very common' in the city, particularly in crowded tourist areas. Common techniques include bumping into victims in crowded T stations, creating distractions on the MBTA Green Line, and the classic 'accidentally' spilling something on clothing. TravelSafe Abroad warns visitors to be especially vigilant on public transit and in areas where large crowds form around street performers.

A family found a beautiful Back Bay apartment on Craigslist for $150 per night during fall foliage season — well below the $300+ market rate for the neighborhood. The listing had professional photos and a responsive 'host' who communicated via email. He asked them to wire $1,800 directly to 'avoid platform fees.' They arrived to find the real tenant had no idea about any rental — the photos were stolen from a legitimate listing. The Boston Police Department issued a formal public advisory on apartment rental scams, warning that scammers 'fraudulently pose as landlords or rental agents' using listings that 'either do not exist, have already been rented, or have been copied from legitimate advertisements.' GBH News and NBC Boston both reported surges in these scams during peak tourist seasons. The scam is particularly effective during Boston Marathon weekend and Red Sox season when hotel prices spike and visitors search for affordable alternatives.

After a Celtics game at TD Garden, a couple was approached by a pedicab driver who offered a 'quick ride to the North End — just a few bucks.' They hopped in without confirming a price. The ride was six blocks and took four minutes. At the destination, the driver demanded $60, claiming the rate was $15 per person per five minutes. When they protested, the driver became aggressive and insisted the pricing was posted on a small placard they had not seen. This bait-and-switch tactic — quoting a vague low price then charging per person per minute — mirrors the well-documented pedicab scam pattern. The practice is common enough that multiple US cities have passed regulations requiring upfront fare disclosure. Tourists leaving events at TD Garden and Fenway Park are particularly targeted when rideshare surge pricing makes a pedicab seem like a convenient alternative.