6 Tourist Scams in Montreal

CBC News reported that Montreal issued thousands of parking tickets during a single major snowfall event, even as the city eased some parking rules after massive snowfall. The SpotAngels 2026 Montreal parking guide documents the complex system of temporary parking bans that are posted during snow removal operations from November to April. Signs are changed with as little as 12 hours notice, and tourists who park legally at night can wake up to find their car ticketed and towed by morning. TripAdvisor's Montreal forum features multiple threads about parking confusion, including one titled 'Parking and crime in Montreal' where a visitor reported their car being broken into in a valet parking lot in Old Montreal. The city's parking rules are notoriously complex: different sides of the street have different restrictions on different days, signs are in French only, and the winter overnight parking ban catches virtually every tourist who drives. The MTL Blog published a guide titled 'Avoid Tickets and Towing In Montreal This Winter With 3 Car Parking Hacks,' confirming that towed vehicles cost $77.12 for the first 10km plus $2.56 per additional kilometer, plus $15 per day in the impound lot, on top of the parking ticket fine of $52-106. The Agence de mobilite durable enforces parking rules 24/7 with zero tolerance during snow removal operations.

The Daily Hive Montreal published an article titled 'Montreal tourist traps: 8 things NOT to do when visiting the city' identifying Old Montreal restaurants and Crescent Street as the top traps. Restaurants in Old Montreal are described as 'grossly overpriced, simply because they are in the area,' with poutine costing $12 for a serving that costs $6-8 elsewhere. BeaverTails vendors near Place Jacques-Cartier charge nearly $20 for the pastry. Hoodline's '5 Tourist Traps Montreal Locals Know to Avoid' confirmed that Crescent Street is 'a collection of overpriced bars and restaurants just geared towards tourists,' noting that tourists believe it is the hottest spot in the city while locals frequent St-Laurent or St-Denis streets instead. The Smart Mouth newsletter's Montreal guide warns: 'Don't Fall for Tourist Traps in Montreal' and directs visitors to Plateau Mont-Royal and Mile End for authentic dining at fair prices. Most remarkably, CBC News reported that Montreal's No. 1 restaurant on TripAdvisor, 'Le Nouveau Duluth,' did not actually exist. It had 85 five-star reviews and was completely fabricated as an experiment by a food writer, demonstrating how unreliable tourist-targeted review platforms can be in Montreal. The fake restaurant ranked above legitimate establishments, proving that tourists cannot rely solely on TripAdvisor rankings for Montreal dining recommendations.

CBC News reported that Montreal police arrested six suspects in November 2024 in connection with two bank fraud schemes that generated nearly a million dollars in losses from approximately 50 victims. Earlier, Montreal's debit card fraud ring yielded $1 million in an ATM skimming operation that led to multiple arrests. The schemes used skimming devices installed on ATMs and point-of-sale terminals to capture card data. The Travelsafe-abroad 2026 safety rating for Montreal lists credit card skimming as a medium risk, particularly at standalone ATMs and small convenience stores (depanneurs) in tourist areas. The LoansCanada rental scam guide documents 36 common scams in Canada, with ATM skimming ranking among the most financially damaging. Skimming devices have become increasingly sophisticated, using Bluetooth-connected overlays that transmit data remotely. The Montreal police (SPVM) recommend using ATMs inside major bank branches (Desjardins, TD, RBC, BMO) and being cautious with debit card transactions at small businesses. The Infocrime Montreal reporting site notes that card fraud often goes unreported because victims do not discover unauthorized charges until weeks later when they have returned home from their trip.

The Travelsafe-abroad 2026 safety rating for Montreal documents increased phone thefts at major events, with a notable incident in January 2025 when multiple phones were stolen at a crowded event. Montreal hosts dozens of major festivals annually that draw millions of visitors into compact outdoor areas, creating ideal conditions for pickpockets and phone snatchers. The SPVM (Montreal police) issued warnings about festival-season theft, advising attendees to keep phones in front zippered pockets or neck pouches rather than back pockets or open bags. The Igloo Fest winter dance festival, where attendees wear thick coats with easy-access pockets, has been specifically identified as a target for thieves who exploit the cold weather: people have their hands in their pockets and are less likely to notice a phone being lifted. The Daily Hive Montreal reported on increasing brazen theft tactics in 2024, including groups who create mosh-pit-like conditions in crowds to mask the physical contact needed for pickpocketing. Grand Prix weekend, when hundreds of thousands pack downtown Montreal, is another peak period. Victims often do not realize their phone is gone until after the thief has disappeared into the crowd.

The Airbnb hosts forum documented a scandal labeled 'ABB scandal: Montreal hosting scam, fake profiles & accounts' describing an operator who created multiple fake host profiles to list dozens of properties simultaneously. Ricochet Media's investigation titled 'City for sale: Airbnb scam quadruples rents' exposed a scheme in Montreal where operators listed apartments that were not authorized as short-term rentals under Quebec law, which requires an establishment classification number (numero d'etablissement) from the CITQ. The TrueCanadianFinds guide to 36 rental scams in Canada confirms that Montreal is a hotspot for rental fraud, with scammers copying photos from legitimate listings and posting them on Kijiji (Canada's Craigslist equivalent) at 30-40% below market rates. Victims wire deposits for apartments that either do not exist, belong to different owners, or are drastically different from the photos. Quebec law requires all short-term rental operators to register with the CITQ and display their registration number. The Ricochet Media investigation found that one Montreal operator named Mike Firmin ran over 70 listings across at least 15 buildings, with dozens of reviews describing windowless rooms, blood-stained sheets, bed bugs, unsafe wiring, and mold-covered walls. Despite these reviews, the listings remained active for months, demonstrating that even listings on Airbnb are not always vetted for quality or legality.

The TripAdvisor Montreal forum thread titled 'Tourist Traps - Montreal' warns about calèche (horse-drawn carriage) operators in Old Montreal who quote vague rates then present inflated bills. A standard calèche ride through Old Montreal is 30 minutes for approximately $55 CAD (set by municipal regulation), but some operators quote prices 'per person' rather than per carriage, effectively doubling or tripling the cost for families and groups. The Travelsafe-abroad guide for Montreal lists unlicensed tour guides as a known issue, with self-appointed guides approaching tourists near Place Jacques-Cartier and Notre-Dame Basilica offering walking tours at $30-50 per person. Legitimate free walking tours operate through established companies like Free Tours by Foot and Montreal Free Walking Tours, which work on a tip-only basis. The unlicensed guides often provide inaccurate historical information and may spend significant time steering tourists to specific restaurants or shops for commissions. The Daily Hive Montreal's tourist trap guide warns that the horse-drawn carriage industry in Old Montreal has faced criticism for animal welfare concerns, and the city has periodically debated banning the practice. If taking a calèche, the guide recommends confirming the total price (per carriage, not per person), duration, and route before departure.