As a non-scamming NYer, even I can spot tourists a mile a way, so try to blend as much as possible! I only say this because scammers can spot easy prey. Also, regular NYers LOVE to give advice (directions; which subway to take; etc.), so don't be afraid to ask questions to ho hum people waiting for the subway or bus. We've got you covered if you ask. Scammers will approach you first, unsolicited.
@@tashisalwayshere Ha, ha, I can only give the same advice I follow myself when traveling to other places: wear plain clothes, the darker the better; try to keep your voice low when out and about because perps and scammers can pick up on those accents; keep your expensive jewelry at home; try to keep your wallet in a safe place when you're out on the street and keep some random bills in your pocket so you don't have to take out your wallet. Sometimes the homeless will approach you while you're waiting for a train, etc., and I found the best policy, in order to avoid conflict, is to just have a few coins or a dollar on you (never take out your wallet). I know it probably sounds ridiculous but you constantly need to be aware of your surroundings. I know it's exciting and fun to visit places and people often get caught up in the excitement. Remain chill and have a great time. :)
@@tashisalwayshere Yes, don't look up at all the building with a camera around your neck. And only ask people for directions who don't look psycho. And don't wear expensive jewelry and no cowboy hats...no New Yorker would ever wear a cowboy hat walking around ever, or cowboy boots. Just walk around like you've lived here forever and you'll be perfectly fine. Also, when you're in Times Sq dont be impressed with any crazy shit happening in the streets...walk on by like we do.
It's been a few years since I was last in NYC. One thing scammers love to take advantage of is our natural instinct to be polite. Learn to say "no" and walk away. Be as firm as needed. The "NO" is internationally recognized.
I just returned from a 1-week trip to NY and fortunately I didn’t encounter any of these scams. (Although I did see fake monks preparing to start their business). However, a huge signboard advertising “$1 slice of pizza” caught my eye and I thought that was a good deal. I ordered one slice to go but was surprised it wasn’t $1! All because I failed to notice the fine print that said “applicable only for 2nd purchase”. 😂
Those $1 pizza places were legit and a way to eat cheap ! However, with inflation, most if not all places, are now charging more. Some have not changed their signage . The " small print " twist is a new one.
5th generation New Yorker here. Best tip I can give to blend in and not stick out as a tourist: If you hear a loud yell, scream, bang, whistle or any other distracting noise (especially from a fellow human) don't stop and look. Don't even turn your head to be curious. New Yorkers don't care as this is the natural wildlife background noise or "soundtrack" to the city. Just look straight ahead and keep it moving, you will be just fine. 😁
I mean...isn't ignoring someone who needs help (or might need help) objectively awful? I dunno, this tip doesn't sit well with me. I don't mind turning my head to check - as a young female, I need to be aware of my surroundings anyways. If it's a nothing burger, I keep on stepping. And I traveled to NYC regularly, never had any trouble.
The food cart pricing is a real issue. It's not targeted at tourists but EVERYONE. An important rule, no matter where you are, always know the price before you make a purchase.
If you’re in a touristy area and you ask how much is a water bottle and they say $4, if you say that you only have $2 on you, they’ll usually accept that. That might help.
I had the monk scam, guy walked towards me so I just mouthed "F-off" and he avoided me. Hotdogs seemed to be $5 a pop, which shocked me. I saw loads of people getting scammed by the Times Square characters. They tried to jump into my frame when taking photos, so I just gave them the middle finger when they tried playing stupid games. Loads of sketchy guys pretending to be Uber and offering "private lifts" outside JFK, I was waiting for a Carmel car that I had booked and waiting 20 mins for it I must have been approached at least a dozen times. I kept saying no but it made no difference. So I just blanked them in the end.
As soon as I arrived in NYC and tried to purchase a metro card, some local came up to me and my husband and was trying to show us how to buy a card. We were perfectly capable of this, but he was walking up to the machine with us. Had to tell him to get lost, and watched him do it to the next. Assuming he was going to ask to be tipped
Now you don't even need a MetroCard. You can just use your phone with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay to enter the Subway system. You can also use a debit or credit card if it has that contactless symbol on it. Also, if you use the same payment method at least 12 times between Monday and Sunday, all rides from the 13th on are free.
Hi Mark, great video. I think before anyone travels they should watch your videos. Very informative. You saved me some hassle in Paris. Scams everywhere. This guy tried to tie a string around my finger. I kept saying no thanks. Then he grabs my arm and get aggressive. I pulled my hand away, told him to F off. Finally he left me alone. My tip is to avoid eye contact and if you do, keep walking and ignore them. As always have a good one eh!😁🇨🇦
We had that in Milan and Rome last summer. Super aggressive and then they started yelling at us for not letting them tie something onto my kid. It was bad.
Another addition to the photo scam: If you want to take a picture with one character, a second character will join the photo so that you have to pay both.
Thank you, Mark!! When I traveled New York and Los Angeles, I experienced some of scams you mentioned. Those scams are real and it is good to know in advance! Especially anyone from non English speaking countries.
I had a taxi scam in Toronto a few years ago where the driver was circling the same blocks over and over and then I demanded to just be dropped off somewhere close to my destination 😂 always have your own maps open on your phone when going somewhere and make sure any driver is legit is such a good tip!
This why, when at home, or traveling, I use Uber (or other ride-share apps) instead of taxis. Taxis have an incentive to take longer routes, and with ride share apps, their incentive is to get you to your destination as quickly as possible. Also, I usually find the ride share cars to be better maintained, and the drivers more polite (compared to taxis), likely because they know they will be rated by the rider, and their ratings are very important in order to continue to work. I don't like supporting big corporations like Uber that often screw their drivers, but taxi drivers try to screw customers so often that I just avoid them when possible.
Yup. I stopped in Nimes France on my way to Paris and the taxi driver took us thr long way. I was thinking thr hotel was supposed to be 10 mins away. It took 30 mins. No traffic. The morning after the concert we took a cab back to the train station. It took 10 mins. With some traffic.
I'm from Toronto and the cab drivers will try to rip you off if you let them. You can be a resident or a tourist. On the rare times I use a cab, I say "go west on Queen Street and turn right when I tell you." They always obey.
I hate the CD guys. I will always politely say no and just walk away when they try handing me a CD unsolicited, and then they usually will respond with something like, "Are you afraid of black people?" or something like that, trying to make you out to be some kind of racist because you didn't want their fake CDs. That stuff really pisses me off. I've encountered them on the Las Vegas Strip as well.
Good Morning, Mark, great info, while my husband and I know we were in NYC a few years @ Times Square the CD GUYs were really rude to me even when I tried to avoid them. They said I had to purchase there CD even when I wasn’t even near there set up. When I refused they insulted me. After that experience I avoided Times Square, been there done that. Fortunately, I knew what I was getting into when from watching Here be Barr and Sarah Funk before visiting NYC.
One great tip to see the Statue of Liberty, if you do not want to actually pay to go ON the island. You can ride the Staten Island ferry for FREE ! No ticket needed. It travels on it's journey, from downtown Manhattan, directly past Lady Liberty! Ride on the right side of the ferry heading outbound from Manhattan and left side on return. Once you arrive on the borough of Staten Island just jump on the next ferry heading back to Manhattan.
Saying that once you get to Staten Island you should just get back on the ferry and leave is honestly the best assessment of Staten Island anyone can give. But yes, you do get a nice view of the harbor, downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn from the SI ferry. I think they may be charging for tickets in the near future though, it's something that's come up recently now that the city is bouncing back from covid.
As a veteran tourist in New York, my favorite City (even though l have an 11-hour flight to get there), l have never come across any of these scams. l did once encounter a man offering two free tickets to the Circle Line cruise. l took them, giving one to an Asian lady, and when my turn came to get aboard, l showed the ticket to the collector, and she said it was valid.
Great video. One scam I see constantly are Times Square people asking people if they want to see a free comedy show. I’ve heard about a few tourists who were curious enough to follow them and end up at a bar being pressured to buy overpriced drinks while a comedian is technically performing on a stage in the same room.
Guess what Mark! Terry & I were travelling in NY with another couple, Kay & Rod. We girls were walking ahead of the boys & some CD scammers came up to us & we said, 'no thanks' & kept on walking, turned around & here are Terry & Rod buying a CD. Kay & I just laughed & said, 'you two have just been taken for a ride'. We did not let them forget it & laughed the whole time we were in NY & after. We were in NY for 2 weeks & loved it.
I live in NY, and I've had an $8 pretzel. Sometimes you just really want a pretzel, and you dont feel like arguing (plus a vendors license is very expensive, so sometimes I feel bad)
Thank you, thank you, thank you as a New Yorker I always try to help tourist and guide them about scans. Look for vendors with posted prices, make sure they are wearing/changing gloves, I advise them to be aware of yellow cabs traveling the "long way" and tipping. You hit the huge NYC scams on the head. I hope travellers/tourist watch this. Also when asking for direction ask at least 3 different people to make sure you got the right information. Be leary, stay alert (especially at night) if someone wants to show/take you to your destination.
Thank you Jules. I love new york and want other travelers to love ot too. So if I can help with the tips I'm glad to do it. Good tip with the ask 3 people. Good to triangulation the actual way 😀
New Yorkers mind their own business. Be wary of overly helpful people. Usually around public transportation areas. Some will try to hold doors at subway entrances or try to carry your bags up or down the stairs at Penn Station. If you want to give people some money, give them to the people trying to entertain you. Don't be afraid to talk back to people in New York, it's just the way it is.
I have definitely seen the cosplayers asking for a fee for a photo. Perhaps not a scam but I have also seen panhandlers on the subway trains. Anything that requires me to take my wallet out in a subway or on the street is not a good idea.
That was a *beautiful* British accent at 8:10 BTW!! I've never been to NYC (never been to the US even) but it's one of the very few places in the US I'd like to visit one day. And so many of these scams are things to be aware of in any major city - I used to visit London regularly (I'm from the southeast of England) and so many of these are reminiscent of things to watch out for there.
AAAAAAAAAAHHAHAHAHAHA!!! I got hit with the hotdog thing a few years ago. I told the guy, after he wanted to charge me $12, "Yyyyyyyyyeaaah, I'm not doing that." "But this is your hotdog! You have to pay for it!" "Well.....!!! I'm not. You can keep it. I didn't touch it, my germs aren't on it, it's still yours, save it for the next jabroni." "J-....jabroni? You're from Philadelphia???" (I'm not, but if it makes me look like a tough guy, then okay!) "Yeah! Whaddabouddit?" "Sorry! Sorry!! You can have it for free!"
Thank you so much, Wolter, I knew of scams like 'the pigeon drop' or the 'you stepped on my Art, now pay me' scams, but you showed many more I'd never heard of.
Do not take rides in the Pedi (bike) cabs. They are obscenely overpriced, typically $7 a minute, and they are susceptible to major price gouging. Walk, take the subway, or hail a yellow cab. Also, avoid the horse-drawn carriages in the park. There is a plan to get rid of them after a horse died last summer. It's animal abuse, plain and simple.
What annoyed me was when I took pictures with superheroes, their sign said tips welcomed , so I gave them the 3 singles I had, but they harassed me because it was $3 for 4 people, and the CD guys practically begged us to take a "free CD" of there rap album, and when we didn't give them a tip they took it back
They don't use cd's anymore. The have printed papers with their "album" art on it. And to listen to the "music" there's a Qr code to scan. I got 1 but i'll never scan the Qr, who knows what scan page it leads to.
I live in NYC and one day I decided to be a tourist so I got an I ❤️ NY t shirt and a selfie stick and headed to Times Square to see how many scammers approached me. It was almost immediately. There were the CD guys and the monks and the characters I pretended to buy into their scam but then never gave them money and they get aggressive. I went on a circle line, tour, bus, and then a circle line tour boat. And I actually enjoyed it. I enjoyed being a tourist in my own city. Other than getting heckled by scammers. But the bus ride and the boat I learned a lot about New York City that I’ve never known before. If you have never been a Tourist in your own city, I highly recommend it.
Not strictly a scam, but even with street vendors with posted prices, don't buy next to the tourist thing, look for the vendor a block or 2 away that services office workers and you'll save 60%.
How do authorities allow stores to put "out of business" signs ? In Portugal even sales season is regulated, I mean, they are stores with staff and managers, not a Joe in the street than can disapear around the corner
Seems like no one mentions that when you have the CD guys, fake monks or photo scams,etc. just tell them “sorry I’m not carrying any cash” and that should work and they’ll leave you alone. When I have panhandlers come up to me I just say I don’t have any cash and they walk away!
Beware of the flim flammers selling Metro or Am New York on the street, those are free "newspapers". Or people selling tickets for the Staten Island Ferry, which is free and also a great way to see the harbor. There are actually signs posted there now letting people know it is free though.
Where is the best place to get a I love NY shirt. I don't plan to buy one til the day I leave NY cause i know scammers know if u wear an I love NY shirt, they know u are a tourist.
I actually had the whole break my stuff's can happen to me recently. I travel to New York to see some family and we were taking a walk around. No I can't see well so I use a cane to get around by can see a little bit out of my right eye not much but a little bit to get by. So me and two of my family friends that were with us we're walking around and this dude said hey you broke my phone you bumped into me now you got to pay me back and at first I was like oh I'm sorry but then this one lady saw that I was using a stick to walk and she's like hey leave him alone and she told me that I didn't break anything and this guy is trying to scam me then this other person that was working with this guy said oh I saw it he did break something but then this lady's husband who was a pretty huge guy and when I say huge I mean he looked jacked came right behind those to put his hands on both of their shoulders and said is there a problem here and then he said to all of us how about we all go down to the police station and you guys can dispute this and the wife proceeded to wave over a police officer and those two ran off quick they we're gone as quick as it happened.. And as they were walking away they flipped me the bird and they flipped the lady and the husband the bird as well. So you could tell that they were pretty pissed off that their scam didn't work at all. I mean yeah scamming anyone is pretty low but trying to scam someone who cannot see in a crowd is very very very low and I was going to say that we should go talk to the police but the lady and her Jacked husband came to intervene. They both even took time out of their day to walk with my friends and I to make sure we got to where we wanted to go safely without getting harassed. Because let me tell you if you had someone that's buff and muscular on your side then there's a pretty good chance that those cowards aren't going to mess with you. B of A shocking 23rd birthday but hey what can you do. Honestly if they didn't come by would probably end up either a still going to the police or be giving those two idiots a good smack in the head with my heart Kane because let's just say this thing isn't just good for walking. If you hit someone just right you can really enter them. One other trick the scammers tried to use to get me to pay them was saying that I wasn't paying them because I was racist and the husband look like he was of Jamaican descent or something and when the scammers said that I was being racist because I wouldn't give the money the husband literally said don't you play that game with me
There’s a scam that I remember happening to me on several occasions years ago before I left New York. A guy drives up to you and asks if you speak Italian. When you tell him no, he tells you that he’s a representative for Armani or Brioni and was in town for a fashion convention. He’s on his way to the airport and wants to offload the suits at a huge discount so he won’t have to pay the extra baggage fees or whatever. I always told them “no thanks,” and went on my way. But I’m guessing he’s just holding a bunch of cheap knockoff suits.
That happened to me in LA. They were hanging out in front of USC and trying this up and down the main boulevard fronting the university. I kept it moving. And looked it up later: It's a scam that is also common in Italy.
Unless you have b*lls and play like a dumb tourist and bet the first one or two times and win the " come into the game" wins then walk away! Expect them to follow... LOL
When I was in the bus station someone offered to help me point out which bus I should go to, and I was wondering why he was doing this. And then he asked for money afterwards lol, which I had a feeling was going to happen. I just said no and walked away.
I lived in NYC for five years. The biggest scam I kept running into were women wearing hijabs showing me photos of their children and saying they needed money because the children were hungry. The first time I believed her but after being approached multiple times by different women with the same exact photos and same line I realized it was a religious scam.
@@woltersworld 😂🤣😂🤣 years ago, my brother was working on the city. Brand New to NYC. We're Buddhist so he thought he'd be kind and donate. LMAO he learned when the "monk" asked for more. My mom and I had a really good laugh😁
Enjoy your videos, Mark! Some great information in this video. Last May I had three guys surround me in front of the M&M's store in Times Square trying to "give" me their CD and then asking for a donation. I politely declined and carried on, but definitely a common tactic used in NYC. Who uses CDs regularly still anyhow? lol
It's a scam that's like 20 years old at this point, and they haven't updated it because it still works. The CD is almost incidental. They surround you in a group so it feels like a mugging, and you give them $$ just to get away.
Hey Mark! Thanks for all these videos! I've wanted to travel abroad since I was 10, and I'm gonna start soon so these help. Just wondering, could you post a video showing what a travel day might look like?
You're right, I bought a New York Yankee ticket off the street, so I get to Yankee Stadium & the tickets were for a broadway show of Cats from 2weeks ago 😤
These are great tips. I think that there are versions of some of these in every city - I've seen the going out of business in Vancouver, Calgary etc. But ya - some are great and are good to know for your personal safety.
yep, i have made videos on scams that are for general scams to know and no one watches them. When I make them on cities then people watch, so got to find ways to help out fellow travelers the most
And even before you get to NY, when getting your ESTA if you're traveling from abroad, don't just click the first link you see on Google like I did. You'll be charged four or five times what it costs to get it through the US government web site. And who knows what they've done with my personal details. Scammed before I even leave my own country...
NYC is one of those cities I'd like to visit but never live in. My dollar stretches much further here. Even if I do make less. My mortgage is only $269 every month. There's no income tax and utilities are very low.
I think it is a scam when NYC locals tell you to not to get into an empty subway car. I know the NYC locals say there is a reason the subway train car is empty, but I do not listen to them when they say that. I have been in plenty of empty subway cars in NYC, and I never felt unsafe or uncomfortable in those empty subway cars.
Usually there is a homeless person in there that smells really bad. Or pooped themselves. It smells the entire car. Like badly. So you were in luck it was actually empty and didn't smell. I still wouldn't sit in an empty subway car. It could be potentially dangerous for a woman.
If you’re a tourist in NYC, don’t make eye contact with anybody who looks like they’re trying to get your attention. Just ignore them and they will move onto the next person. The only people who get stopped by them are people who stop and engage with them. Don’t give them your attention. If you do, you’re probably going to be “donating money” for a signed rap cd. Lol Also, those scammers are only in the very very touristy areas 99.9% of the time. Step out of those areas and you won’t see that. There are no locals in Times Square anyway. Go there, snap a picture, look at the lights and leave. And definitely don’t eat there.
dont forget those bike rides for like 60$ a minute. its insane, do not take them lol.... rent a bike for the day for 20$ at a reputable bike renter. Or just get a citibike, i think now they even have the citibikes that are electric?
One of the scams I fell for as a non-tourist who would do touristy things just because I liked to from time to time, but those tourist buses can be a problem. One time I got on one and was hoping to go downtown, back up to Midtown and then up to Grant's Tomb and the bus got back to Midtown and it just sat on 59th Street for over 1.5 hours. Gave up on it. Best deal is the Circle Line all the way around the island.
The CD scam! In 2012 my graduating class went to NYC and on the last day we were there my sister and an ex-friend had the CD scam happen to them (The ex-friend kept talking to them so that was a problem. My sis probably wouldn't have talked with them if he was not there). The scammers took money out of my sis's hand and ex-friends wallet without their consent and because they were so confused they walked away. Our ex-friend then LEFT MY SISTER by herself on a random street to go back and confront the scammers. He got the money back (a bit more than what they took shockingly) but after he did that and some choice things he said a few years later he became someone we don't associate with anymore.
ATM has been an issue in more places than NYC. You could have a Citibank account, using a Chase Manhattan ATM charges you a fee for example. Metrocard is supposed to get phased out for OMNY long term.
They have C D hawks and other scammers in Memphis also..When I visited Memphis they come up and aggressively hustle you to donate to youth sports teams
The religious ones are my favorite! "We just want you to know that God has special plans for you!" Then they try to shove the pamphlets in your face. A classic Times Square station thing.
*TEN DOLLARS* for a hot dog? I say, that is truly scandalous. In Rome, Italy, in the 1990s, a Japanese tourist had to pay 7,000 Euros because he ordered his espresso while sitting at the terrace. All Italians drink theirs while standing at the bar. When I visited London as a teen, in the late 1980s, we had dinner at a Chinese Cantonese cuisine restaurant. Then we witnessed an American backpacking couple, trying to pay with Traveller's Cheques. These were valid cheques for payment in Europe at the time. However, the restaurant owner would not except the cheque and told the husband to go outside and come back with cash. Meanwhile, his wife was sort of kept as a hostage as she had to remain at the table and wait till her husband got back with the money. And in Amsterdam, a long time ago, around 2000, there was a newstory about Japanese tourists who had been lured by some evil trickster with cookies. Space cookies, causing the unfortunate Japanese tourists to become physically unwell and they were probably relieved of any excess money at the time.
The only real problem with New York is that it's full of New Yorkers. And I know that for a fact as I was born and raised in Nyack, NY which is just North of the city. Great place to visit, or at least it used to be, but unless you have nerves of steel I wouldn't recommend that you try to live there. Sometimes, it becomes too intense even for New Yorkers which is why I currently live near Philadelphia
Don't fall for the "I just stole this watch and you can have it cheap." scam. It won't have any workings inside. If anyone approaches you on the street to sell you anything, I guarantee it is a scam.
As a non-scamming NYer, even I can spot tourists a mile a way, so try to blend as much as possible! I only say this because scammers can spot easy prey. Also, regular NYers LOVE to give advice (directions; which subway to take; etc.), so don't be afraid to ask questions to ho hum people waiting for the subway or bus. We've got you covered if you ask. Scammers will approach you first, unsolicited.
Great tips! Are there any NY specific tips for blending in?
@@tashisalwayshere Ha, ha, I can only give the same advice I follow myself when traveling to other places: wear plain clothes, the darker the better; try to keep your voice low when out and about because perps and scammers can pick up on those accents; keep your expensive jewelry at home; try to keep your wallet in a safe place when you're out on the street and keep some random bills in your pocket so you don't have to take out your wallet. Sometimes the homeless will approach you while you're waiting for a train, etc., and I found the best policy, in order to avoid conflict, is to just have a few coins or a dollar on you (never take out your wallet). I know it probably sounds ridiculous but you constantly need to be aware of your surroundings. I know it's exciting and fun to visit places and people often get caught up in the excitement. Remain chill and have a great time. :)
@@tashisalwayshere Yes, don't look up at all the building with a camera around your neck. And only ask people for directions who don't look psycho. And don't wear expensive jewelry and no cowboy hats...no New Yorker would ever wear a cowboy hat walking around ever, or cowboy boots. Just walk around like you've lived here forever and you'll be perfectly fine. Also, when you're in Times Sq dont be impressed with any crazy shit happening in the streets...walk on by like we do.
Many NY'ers usually wear dark clothes and never wear " I Love NY " or other similar verbiage clothing.
Another New Yorker. Totally agree.
It's been a few years since I was last in NYC. One thing scammers love to take advantage of is our natural instinct to be polite. Learn to say "no" and walk away. Be as firm as needed. The "NO" is internationally recognized.
BINGO. Even a politely worded "no thank you" is too much engagement frankly.
Just keep walking.
I find pretending you don't hear them and continuing to walk briskly away usually works as well!
I just returned from a 1-week trip to NY and fortunately I didn’t encounter any of these scams. (Although I did see fake monks preparing to start their business). However, a huge signboard advertising “$1 slice of pizza” caught my eye and I thought that was a good deal. I ordered one slice to go but was surprised it wasn’t $1! All because I failed to notice the fine print that said “applicable only for 2nd purchase”. 😂
Those $1 pizza places were legit and a way to eat cheap !
However, with inflation, most if not all places, are now charging more.
Some have not changed their signage .
The " small print " twist is a new one.
5th generation New Yorker here.
Best tip I can give to blend in and not stick out as a tourist: If you hear a loud yell, scream, bang, whistle or any other distracting noise (especially from a fellow human)
don't stop and look. Don't even turn your head to be curious. New Yorkers don't care as this is the natural wildlife background noise or "soundtrack" to the city.
Just look straight ahead and keep it moving, you will be just fine. 😁
💯 💯 facts!!😂
thank you
Nothing to see here keep moving... LOL
I mean...isn't ignoring someone who needs help (or might need help) objectively awful? I dunno, this tip doesn't sit well with me. I don't mind turning my head to check - as a young female, I need to be aware of my surroundings anyways. If it's a nothing burger, I keep on stepping. And I traveled to NYC regularly, never had any trouble.
The food cart pricing is a real issue. It's not targeted at tourists but EVERYONE. An important rule, no matter where you are, always know the price before you make a purchase.
amen to that!
If you’re in a touristy area and you ask how much is a water bottle and they say $4, if you say that you only have $2 on you, they’ll usually accept that. That might help.
I had the monk scam, guy walked towards me so I just mouthed "F-off" and he avoided me. Hotdogs seemed to be $5 a pop, which shocked me. I saw loads of people getting scammed by the Times Square characters. They tried to jump into my frame when taking photos, so I just gave them the middle finger when they tried playing stupid games. Loads of sketchy guys pretending to be Uber and offering "private lifts" outside JFK, I was waiting for a Carmel car that I had booked and waiting 20 mins for it I must have been approached at least a dozen times. I kept saying no but it made no difference. So I just blanked them in the end.
As soon as I arrived in NYC and tried to purchase a metro card, some local came up to me and my husband and was trying to show us how to buy a card. We were perfectly capable of this, but he was walking up to the machine with us. Had to tell him to get lost, and watched him do it to the next. Assuming he was going to ask to be tipped
Now you don't even need a MetroCard. You can just use your phone with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay to enter the Subway system. You can also use a debit or credit card if it has that contactless symbol on it. Also, if you use the same payment method at least 12 times between Monday and Sunday, all rides from the 13th on are free.
Hi Mark, great video. I think before anyone travels they should watch your videos. Very informative. You saved me some hassle in Paris. Scams everywhere. This guy tried to tie a string around my finger. I kept saying no thanks. Then he grabs my arm and get aggressive. I pulled my hand away, told him to F off. Finally he left me alone. My tip is to avoid eye contact and if you do, keep walking and ignore them. As always have a good one eh!😁🇨🇦
We had that in Milan and Rome last summer. Super aggressive and then they started yelling at us for not letting them tie something onto my kid. It was bad.
Another addition to the photo scam: If you want to take a picture with one character, a second character will join the photo so that you have to pay both.
I’ve seen it happen 😂
Thank you, Mark!! When I traveled New York and Los Angeles, I experienced some of scams you mentioned. Those scams are real and it is good to know in advance! Especially anyone from non English speaking countries.
sorry you had to deal with them
NYC resident here. All accurate. Good advice.
This is so helpful. Thank you for making it. Such a shame that it seems everywhere we turn someone wants to deceive visitors…
it has gotten a lot better in New York though
I had a taxi scam in Toronto a few years ago where the driver was circling the same blocks over and over and then I demanded to just be dropped off somewhere close to my destination 😂 always have your own maps open on your phone when going somewhere and make sure any driver is legit is such a good tip!
This why, when at home, or traveling, I use Uber (or other ride-share apps) instead of taxis. Taxis have an incentive to take longer routes, and with ride share apps, their incentive is to get you to your destination as quickly as possible. Also, I usually find the ride share cars to be better maintained, and the drivers more polite (compared to taxis), likely because they know they will be rated by the rider, and their ratings are very important in order to continue to work. I don't like supporting big corporations like Uber that often screw their drivers, but taxi drivers try to screw customers so often that I just avoid them when possible.
Yup. I stopped in Nimes France on my way to Paris and the taxi driver took us thr long way. I was thinking thr hotel was supposed to be 10 mins away. It took 30 mins. No traffic. The morning after the concert we took a cab back to the train station. It took 10 mins. With some traffic.
I'm from Toronto and the cab drivers will try to rip you off if you let them. You can be a resident or a tourist. On the rare times I use a cab, I say "go west on Queen Street and turn right when I tell you." They always obey.
I hate the CD guys. I will always politely say no and just walk away when they try handing me a CD unsolicited, and then they usually will respond with something like, "Are you afraid of black people?" or something like that, trying to make you out to be some kind of racist because you didn't want their fake CDs. That stuff really pisses me off. I've encountered them on the Las Vegas Strip as well.
Oh, you don’t like black people?
No, I don’t like a hustler, so F*** off!
Good Morning, Mark, great info, while my husband and I know we were in NYC a few years @ Times Square the CD GUYs were really rude to me even when I tried to avoid them. They said I had to purchase there CD even when I wasn’t even near there set up. When I refused they insulted me. After that experience I avoided Times Square, been there done that. Fortunately, I knew what I was getting into when from watching Here be Barr and Sarah Funk before visiting NYC.
Times Square is both a must-see of course, and also simultaneously the worst place in NYC.
Flying to NY next week, first time in over 10 years and on my own. Thanks for the tip
One great tip to see the Statue of Liberty, if you do not want to actually pay to go ON the island.
You can ride the Staten Island ferry for FREE ! No ticket needed. It travels on it's journey, from downtown Manhattan, directly past Lady Liberty!
Ride on the right side of the ferry heading outbound from Manhattan and left side on return.
Once you arrive on the borough of Staten Island just jump on the next ferry heading back to Manhattan.
exactly!
Saying that once you get to Staten Island you should just get back on the ferry and leave is honestly the best assessment of Staten Island anyone can give.
But yes, you do get a nice view of the harbor, downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn from the SI ferry. I think they may be charging for tickets in the near future though, it's something that's come up recently now that the city is bouncing back from covid.
As a veteran tourist in New York, my favorite City (even though l have an 11-hour flight to get there), l have never come across any of these scams. l did once encounter a man offering two free tickets to the Circle Line cruise. l took them, giving one to an Asian lady, and when my turn came to get aboard, l showed the ticket to the collector, and she said it was valid.
I've had quite a few sadly but got out of all of them except for a hit dog or two :)
If anyone approaches you in NYC, assume it's a scam and move on. 9/10 it is.
Great video. One scam I see constantly are Times Square people asking people if they want to see a free comedy show. I’ve heard about a few tourists who were curious enough to follow them and end up at a bar being pressured to buy overpriced drinks while a comedian is technically performing on a stage in the same room.
not a scam, but for god's sake, don't walk 3+ abreast on the sidewalk - it's a two-way venue, get the heck out of the way.
yes! that is in our "ugly tourists in new york city" video :)
Guess what Mark! Terry & I were travelling in NY with another couple, Kay & Rod. We girls were walking ahead of the boys & some CD scammers came up to us & we said, 'no thanks' & kept on walking, turned around & here are Terry & Rod buying a CD. Kay & I just laughed & said, 'you two have just been taken for a ride'. We did not let them forget it & laughed the whole time we were in NY & after. We were in NY for 2 weeks & loved it.
A $10 hotdog in NYC is propably not a scam.
I live in NY, and I've had an $8 pretzel. Sometimes you just really want a pretzel, and you dont feel like arguing (plus a vendors license is very expensive, so sometimes I feel bad)
Stay off your phone and pay attention to your surroundings
Don't forget to tour the alligator sanctuary in the sewers. Just $20!
Oh man, the food trucks that dont post the prices, i really dislike that
Thank you, thank you, thank you as a New Yorker I always try to help tourist and guide them about scans. Look for vendors with posted prices, make sure they are wearing/changing gloves, I advise them to be aware of yellow cabs traveling the "long way" and tipping. You hit the huge NYC scams on the head. I hope travellers/tourist watch this. Also when asking for direction ask at least 3 different people to make sure you got the right information. Be leary, stay alert (especially at night) if someone wants to show/take you to your destination.
Thank you Jules. I love new york and want other travelers to love ot too. So if I can help with the tips I'm glad to do it. Good tip with the ask 3 people. Good to triangulation the actual way 😀
New Yorkers mind their own business. Be wary of overly helpful people. Usually around public transportation areas. Some will try to hold doors at subway entrances or try to carry your bags up or down the stairs at Penn Station. If you want to give people some money, give them to the people trying to entertain you. Don't be afraid to talk back to people in New York, it's just the way it is.
I have zero interest in visiting NY
The usual dancing people that then force people to tip them or won’t let them leave
but how can i tell if they are street performers or tiktokers? it is so confusing these days :)
I have definitely seen the cosplayers asking for a fee for a photo. Perhaps not a scam but I have also seen panhandlers on the subway trains. Anything that requires me to take my wallet out in a subway or on the street is not a good idea.
That was a *beautiful* British accent at 8:10 BTW!!
I've never been to NYC (never been to the US even) but it's one of the very few places in the US I'd like to visit one day. And so many of these scams are things to be aware of in any major city - I used to visit London regularly (I'm from the southeast of England) and so many of these are reminiscent of things to watch out for there.
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I can’t wait for you to do shocks of Israel and 5 things to
Love and hate about Israel thanks on RUclips and Tel Aviv on RUclips 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🔜🔜🔜🔜
watch out for the Homeless people, their rough!!! too aggressive. (i live in America been to New York city)
Not always. Most are fine. Some are mentally ill. I find rhe CD scammers to be most aggressive.
AAAAAAAAAAHHAHAHAHAHA!!! I got hit with the hotdog thing a few years ago.
I told the guy, after he wanted to charge me $12, "Yyyyyyyyyeaaah, I'm not doing that."
"But this is your hotdog! You have to pay for it!"
"Well.....!!! I'm not. You can keep it. I didn't touch it, my germs aren't on it, it's still yours, save it for the next jabroni."
"J-....jabroni? You're from Philadelphia???"
(I'm not, but if it makes me look like a tough guy, then okay!) "Yeah! Whaddabouddit?"
"Sorry! Sorry!! You can have it for free!"
Glad i could bring back a good memory for you
These scams are a great place to unload some counterfeit money ;)
good call
Thank you so much, Wolter, I knew of scams like 'the pigeon drop' or the 'you stepped on my Art, now pay me' scams, but you showed many more I'd never heard of.
glad to help
Yep, nailed it!
Thanks Jon! Obviously the other comment was spam. This one is actually me :)
Do not take rides in the Pedi (bike) cabs. They are obscenely overpriced, typically $7 a minute, and they are susceptible to major price gouging. Walk, take the subway, or hail a yellow cab. Also, avoid the horse-drawn carriages in the park. There is a plan to get rid of them after a horse died last summer. It's animal abuse, plain and simple.
What annoyed me was when I took pictures with superheroes, their sign said tips welcomed , so I gave them the 3 singles I had, but they harassed me because it was $3 for 4 people, and the CD guys practically begged us to take a "free CD" of there rap album, and when we didn't give them a tip they took it back
They don't use cd's anymore. The have printed papers with their "album" art on it. And to listen to the "music" there's a Qr code to scan. I got 1 but i'll never scan the Qr, who knows what scan page it leads to.
I live in NYC and one day I decided to be a tourist so I got an I ❤️ NY t shirt and a selfie stick and headed to Times Square to see how many scammers approached me. It was almost immediately. There were the CD guys and the monks and the characters I pretended to buy into their scam but then never gave them money and they get aggressive. I went on a circle line, tour, bus, and then a circle line tour boat. And I actually enjoyed it. I enjoyed being a tourist in my own city. Other than getting heckled by scammers. But the bus ride and the boat I learned a lot about New York City that I’ve never known before. If you have never been a Tourist in your own city, I highly recommend it.
Not strictly a scam, but even with street vendors with posted prices, don't buy next to the tourist thing, look for the vendor a block or 2 away that services office workers and you'll save 60%.
It could be worse.... at least we no longer have three card monte dealers plaguing Herald Square like in the late 1970's.
How do authorities allow stores to put "out of business" signs ? In Portugal even sales season is regulated, I mean, they are stores with staff and managers, not a Joe in the street than can disapear around the corner
Seems like no one mentions that when you have the CD guys, fake monks or photo scams,etc. just tell them “sorry I’m not carrying any cash” and that should work and they’ll leave you alone. When I have panhandlers come up to me I just say I don’t have any cash and they walk away!
Beware of the flim flammers selling Metro or Am New York on the street, those are free "newspapers". Or people selling tickets for the Staten Island Ferry, which is free and also a great way to see the harbor. There are actually signs posted there now letting people know it is free though.
Do NOT support those street performers in the strange character outfits in Times Square. Don’t support them, keep walking!!
Where is the best place to get a I love NY shirt. I don't plan to buy one til the day I leave NY cause i know scammers know if u wear an I love NY shirt, they know u are a tourist.
I actually had the whole break my stuff's can happen to me recently. I travel to New York to see some family and we were taking a walk around. No I can't see well so I use a cane to get around by can see a little bit out of my right eye not much but a little bit to get by. So me and two of my family friends that were with us we're walking around and this dude said hey you broke my phone you bumped into me now you got to pay me back and at first I was like oh I'm sorry but then this one lady saw that I was using a stick to walk and she's like hey leave him alone and she told me that I didn't break anything and this guy is trying to scam me then this other person that was working with this guy said oh I saw it he did break something but then this lady's husband who was a pretty huge guy and when I say huge I mean he looked jacked came right behind those to put his hands on both of their shoulders and said is there a problem here and then he said to all of us how about we all go down to the police station and you guys can dispute this and the wife proceeded to wave over a police officer and those two ran off quick they we're gone as quick as it happened.. And as they were walking away they flipped me the bird and they flipped the lady and the husband the bird as well. So you could tell that they were pretty pissed off that their scam didn't work at all. I mean yeah scamming anyone is pretty low but trying to scam someone who cannot see in a crowd is very very very low and I was going to say that we should go talk to the police but the lady and her Jacked husband came to intervene. They both even took time out of their day to walk with my friends and I to make sure we got to where we wanted to go safely without getting harassed. Because let me tell you if you had someone that's buff and muscular on your side then there's a pretty good chance that those cowards aren't going to mess with you. B of A shocking 23rd birthday but hey what can you do. Honestly if they didn't come by would probably end up either a still going to the police or be giving those two idiots a good smack in the head with my heart Kane because let's just say this thing isn't just good for walking. If you hit someone just right you can really enter them. One other trick the scammers tried to use to get me to pay them was saying that I wasn't paying them because I was racist and the husband look like he was of Jamaican descent or something and when the scammers said that I was being racist because I wouldn't give the money the husband literally said don't you play that game with me
That really isn’t a job though. It’s just adults in costumes not affiliated with anyone who are way too aggressive
waaaaay too aggresive
There’s a scam that I remember happening to me on several occasions years ago before I left New York. A guy drives up to you and asks if you speak Italian. When you tell him no, he tells you that he’s a representative for Armani or Brioni and was in town for a fashion convention. He’s on his way to the airport and wants to offload the suits at a huge discount so he won’t have to pay the extra baggage fees or whatever. I always told them “no thanks,” and went on my way. But I’m guessing he’s just holding a bunch of cheap knockoff suits.
That happened to me in LA. They were hanging out in front of USC and trying this up and down the main boulevard fronting the university. I kept it moving. And looked it up later: It's a scam that is also common in Italy.
sounds like Mafia.
@@lawrencelewis2592 If that were the case, they would be real Italian suits that "fell off the truck."
@@serialcloneMore than likely. But for this price, you need to do a little favour for me...
I'm not even from NY, have never been to the US and yet I know to avoid times square at all costs
I can't believe you didn't mention that old NYC tradition: 3-Card Monte!
3 card Monte, don’t ever play
yet people always do... and surprisingliy unless they are 5 years old... they lose :)
Unless you have b*lls and play like a dumb tourist and bet the first one or two times and win the " come into the game" wins then walk away! Expect them to follow... LOL
Oh in Paris, by the Eiffel Tower, there were so many if them....mostly the cups game. And hawkers selling the crappiest of souvenirs.
@@lee6198 I’ll be there in less than 3 weeks, I’ll be on to them plus I’m at the age where I don’t need anymore souvenirs.
What about those black kids who are trying to raise money for uniforms their basketball team?
When I was in the bus station someone offered to help me point out which bus I should go to, and I was wondering why he was doing this. And then he asked for money afterwards lol, which I had a feeling was going to happen. I just said no and walked away.
you did the smart thing, Itachi.
How about the Brooklyn bridge scam lol
I lived in NYC for five years. The biggest scam I kept running into were women wearing hijabs showing me photos of their children and saying they needed money because the children were hungry. The first time I believed her but after being approached multiple times by different women with the same exact photos and same line I realized it was a religious scam.
Just ran into the exact same thing in Brussels
Best tip...don't visit NY
..... THANK YOU!! - at LAST; 'a voice in the Widerness'!
Jean Shrimpton's comment:
' The Banality of
Modern Life
TERRIFIES ME! '
Phil Liverpool UK 🇬🇧
FYI - real budhist monks don't beg for money. they hang in their monasteries and are brought offerings. lol you go to them, they don't come to you ;)
what? you mean that wasn't for the new temple? they tricked me! ;)
@@woltersworld 😂🤣😂🤣 years ago, my brother was working on the city. Brand New to NYC. We're Buddhist so he thought he'd be kind and donate. LMAO he learned when the "monk" asked for more. My mom and I had a really good laugh😁
Don't put your phone or wallet in your back pocket.
exactly
Enjoy your videos, Mark! Some great information in this video. Last May I had three guys surround me in front of the M&M's store in Times Square trying to "give" me their CD and then asking for a donation. I politely declined and carried on, but definitely a common tactic used in NYC. Who uses CDs regularly still anyhow? lol
exactly! though i did have a guy ask me to give him money on venmo
It's a scam that's like 20 years old at this point, and they haven't updated it because it still works. The CD is almost incidental. They surround you in a group so it feels like a mugging, and you give them $$ just to get away.
Hey Mark! Thanks for all these videos! I've wanted to travel abroad since I was 10, and I'm gonna start soon so these help.
Just wondering, could you post a video showing what a travel day might look like?
Hey Andrews, if you search "wolters world travel day" on youtube there is one of us going together to see how it is.
and this is my busines education channel that i was commenting from at first
@@ProfessorWolters thank you!
You're right, I bought a New York Yankee ticket off the street, so I get to Yankee Stadium & the tickets were for a broadway show of Cats from 2weeks ago 😤
that sucks
You didn't read the ticket?!
Another one - try some drugs/free drugs from peddlers, particularly around Mac Dougal Street and Bleecker Street.
Great list of things to watch out for. Though to be fair, I’m sure versions of these exist in most big cities.
yep
Most people fall for these scams because of the emotions that this big city gives)
That's universal it happens everywhere😂
These are great tips. I think that there are versions of some of these in every city - I've seen the going out of business in Vancouver, Calgary etc. But ya - some are great and are good to know for your personal safety.
yep, i have made videos on scams that are for general scams to know and no one watches them. When I make them on cities then people watch, so got to find ways to help out fellow travelers the most
@@woltersworld Would love to visit NY. However, what would happen if someone were to steal all my money? Yikes, what would l do?
No three-card Monte any more. I miss the 70s.
And even before you get to NY, when getting your ESTA if you're traveling from abroad, don't just click the first link you see on Google like I did. You'll be charged four or five times what it costs to get it through the US government web site. And who knows what they've done with my personal details. Scammed before I even leave my own country...
🤔
NYC is one of those cities I'd like to visit but never live in. My dollar stretches much further here. Even if I do make less. My mortgage is only $269 every month. There's no income tax and utilities are very low.
I think it is a scam when NYC locals tell you to not to get into an empty subway car. I know the NYC locals say there is a reason the subway train car is empty, but I do not listen to them when they say that. I have been in plenty of empty subway cars in NYC, and I never felt unsafe or uncomfortable in those empty subway cars.
Its cause someone peed in there, or it smells like homeless person
Usually there is a homeless person in there that smells really bad. Or pooped themselves. It smells the entire car. Like badly. So you were in luck it was actually empty and didn't smell. I still wouldn't sit in an empty subway car. It could be potentially dangerous for a woman.
Compact Disc hawks? 🤣😂🤣
i know right? I got one as a gift for Christmas and I honestly don't know where to play it. My car doesn't even have a cd player anymore.
It’s true
Shame no wawa in NYC. always free atms
If you’re a tourist in NYC, don’t make eye contact with anybody who looks like they’re trying to get your attention. Just ignore them and they will move onto the next person. The only people who get stopped by them are people who stop and engage with them. Don’t give them your attention. If you do, you’re probably going to be “donating money” for a signed rap cd. Lol
Also, those scammers are only in the very very touristy areas 99.9% of the time. Step out of those areas and you won’t see that. There are no locals in Times Square anyway. Go there, snap a picture, look at the lights and leave. And definitely don’t eat there.
lack of eye contact is KEY for sure. good point!
@@woltersworld if you ever want to come check out Long Island/Queens/Brooklyn, I have many spots I can recommend!
THANK YOU FOR VERY GOOD ADVICE .
How is having an atm in a cash only business a scam
I like New York. They leave me alone .
I don’t want to look at New York City on a post card !…
I went to new york 2019 someone tried selling me blank cd.i didn't fall for it
Other scams - 3 Card Monte
dont forget those bike rides for like 60$ a minute. its insane, do not take them lol.... rent a bike for the day for 20$ at a reputable bike renter. Or just get a citibike, i think now they even have the citibikes that are electric?
One of the scams I fell for as a non-tourist who would do touristy things just because I liked to from time to time, but those tourist buses can be a problem. One time I got on one and was hoping to go downtown, back up to Midtown and then up to Grant's Tomb and the bus got back to Midtown and it just sat on 59th Street for over 1.5 hours. Gave up on it. Best deal is the Circle Line all the way around the island.
The CD scam! In 2012 my graduating class went to NYC and on the last day we were there my sister and an ex-friend had the CD scam happen to them (The ex-friend kept talking to them so that was a problem. My sis probably wouldn't have talked with them if he was not there). The scammers took money out of my sis's hand and ex-friends wallet without their consent and because they were so confused they walked away. Our ex-friend then LEFT MY SISTER by herself on a random street to go back and confront the scammers. He got the money back (a bit more than what they took shockingly) but after he did that and some choice things he said a few years later he became someone we don't associate with anymore.
The ones on Times Square trying to sell you their Cds are the worst.. Theyre just getting in your way, sometimes even outright touching you..
ATM has been an issue in more places than NYC. You could have a Citibank account, using a Chase Manhattan ATM charges you a fee for example.
Metrocard is supposed to get phased out for OMNY long term.
Great information as always. I live in NewYork and everything you explain is so true, that hurts sometimes.
Thank you Carolina
They have C D hawks and other scammers in Memphis also..When I visited Memphis they come up and aggressively hustle you to donate to youth sports teams
The religious ones are my favorite! "We just want you to know that God has special plans for you!" Then they try to shove the pamphlets in your face. A classic Times Square station thing.
*TEN DOLLARS* for a hot dog?
I say, that is truly scandalous.
In Rome, Italy, in the 1990s, a Japanese tourist had to pay 7,000 Euros because he ordered his espresso while sitting at the terrace.
All Italians drink theirs while standing at the bar.
When I visited London as a teen, in the late 1980s, we had dinner at a Chinese Cantonese cuisine restaurant.
Then we witnessed an American backpacking couple, trying to pay with Traveller's Cheques. These were valid cheques for payment in Europe at the time.
However, the restaurant owner would not except the cheque and told the husband to go outside and come back with cash.
Meanwhile, his wife was sort of kept as a hostage as she had to remain at the table and wait till her husband got back with the money.
And in Amsterdam, a long time ago, around 2000, there was a newstory about Japanese tourists who had been lured by some evil trickster with cookies.
Space cookies, causing the unfortunate Japanese tourists to become physically unwell and they were probably relieved of any excess money at the time.
Name a profession filled with more scumbags than a cab driver. City to city, country to country their consistent scammers.
Conveniently places ATMs get me every time! Great video!
Yep :)
You forgot the classic NYC scam. If someone tries to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge, don't buy it! It's not currently for sale.
The only real problem with New York is that it's full of New Yorkers. And I know that for a fact as I was born and raised in Nyack, NY which is just North of the city. Great place to visit, or at least it used to be, but unless you have nerves of steel I wouldn't recommend that you try to live there. Sometimes, it becomes too intense even for New Yorkers which is why I currently live near Philadelphia
Don't fall for the "I just stole this watch and you can have it cheap." scam. It won't have any workings inside. If anyone approaches you on the street to sell you anything, I guarantee it is a scam.