7 Tourist Scams in New Orleans

A couple strolling through the French Quarter was stopped by a man with a shoeshine kit who said, 'I bet you five dollars I can tell you where you got your shoes.' The husband took the bet. The man replied, 'You got your shoes on your feet, and your feet are on Bourbon Street.' Before anyone could react, the hustler was kneeling down spraying water on the shoes and demanding $20 for the 'shine' plus the $5 bet. When they tried to walk away, a second man appeared and blocked them. Multiple r/AskNOLA threads describe this as the most iconic New Orleans street scam, running continuously for decades around Jackson Square and Bourbon Street.

A group walking down Decatur Street was approached by a charismatic young man who asked, 'Welcome to New Orleans! Where y'all from?' He launched into an impressive freestyle rap incorporating their names and hometown. Everyone was laughing — until the rap ended and the performer demanded $20 from each person. When one friend said she never agreed to anything, the rapper got aggressive, blocking the sidewalk. Threads on r/travel describe this as a top-five NOLA scam. Some operators have lookouts who relay personal details overheard from nearby conversations.

A man noticed a crowd around a cardboard box near Canal Street where a guy was shuffling three cards. He watched a woman bet $20 and win, then another man won $50. He put down $100 and lost. Every 'winner' was a shill — a planted accomplice whose job was to make the game look beatable. The dealer uses sleight of hand to ensure marks never win. r/AskNOLA explicitly warns about three-card monte near Canal Street, often on folding tables that collapse in seconds if police approach. The game is illegal in Louisiana.

Past midnight on Bourbon Street, a woman with a tray of colorful shots in test tubes thrust one into a tourist's hand before he could refuse — he instinctively drank it. She demanded $20 for a watered-down, barely alcoholic concoction worth $3 in any bar. When he balked, a large man appeared saying the price was non-negotiable. In some versions, shot girls work with bar doormen who threaten to call police for 'theft' if tourists refuse to pay. TripAdvisor warns specifically about this practice.

A solo traveler near Jackson Square had beads placed around her neck by a woman saying 'Welcome to New Orleans!' A man then tied a bracelet on her wrist. They called it a 'gift from the city' then demanded $20, claiming it was a donation for their church. When she tried to remove the bracelet, the man grabbed her wrist. A second woman moved closer, creating a tight circle. Feeling intimidated and alone, she paid $15. Posts on r/solotravel describe this targeting solo travelers and women. The beads cost pennies — they're the same ones thrown free during Mardi Gras.

A couple enjoying live music on Frenchmen Street around 1 AM saw a group start an argument right next to them. While everyone watched the commotion, someone bumped into the husband from behind. Back at their hotel, his phone and wallet were gone from his back pocket. A 2024 NOLA.com article reported French Quarter thefts surging 70 percent, with NOPD issuing warnings about organized pickpocket teams on Bourbon and Frenchmen. Professionals work in groups — one creates a distraction while others lift phones and wallets. Police documents show suspects sending themselves money through payment apps before victims notice.

A family near Cafe Du Monde was stopped by a man who said, 'I bet you ten dollars I can spell your last name.' The father told him his first name was Kevin. The hustler grinned: 'Your last name? Easy — L-A-S-T-N-A-M-E.' He held out his hand for the $10. This companion scam to the shoe bet is documented on Carpe Travel and TripAdvisor. A variation asks 'how many letters are in your last name' — the answer is always twelve, because 'your last name' contains twelve letters. Low-stakes but can turn aggressive if you engage and refuse to pay.