Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Kansas City, United States
1. Crowne Center Scam
Watch out for overfriendly individuals offering 'lost' items or assistance, who may distract you while accomplices pickpocket. Stay vigilant and secure your belongings.
- Distraction Technique: Scammers use distractions to steal from unsuspecting victims.
- Popular Tourist Spot: Crowne Center is a well-known tourist destination in Kansas City.
- Pickpocketing: Scammers often target valuable items like wallets and smartphones.
2. Counterfeit Ticket Sales
Avoid buying tickets for events from unofficial sources; they may be counterfeit or offer inferior seats. Stick to authorized vendors like the venue box office or trusted ticket agencies.
- Counterfeit Tickets: Scammers sell fake event tickets to unsuspecting victims.
- Inferior Seats: Unauthorized ticket vendors may offer inferior seating locations.
- Authorized Vendors: Stick to authorized vendors to ensure legitimacy.
3. Parking Meter Scam
Never allow strangers to assist with parking meters or offer to help you avoid fines. Only use official parking facilities and ensure payments are made properly.
- Assistance with Parking Meters: Scammers may offer fake assistance with parking meters.
- Official Parking Facilities: Use official parking lots and structures to avoid scams.
- Proper Payment: Always ensure payments are made properly at parking meters.
4. Fake Charity Collectors
Be cautious of individuals claiming to collect for charities. Verify their legitimacy by asking for identification or contacting the charity directly.
- Legitimate Charities: Ensure the charity is legitimate before donating.
- Verification of Collectors: Ask for identification or contact the charity to verify collectors' legitimacy.
- Impersonators: Scammers may pose as charity collectors to get donations.
5. Grandparent Scam
Receive unexpected calls claiming a grandchild is in trouble and needs money. Verify the story by contacting family members or law enforcement before sending funds.
- Unexpected Calls: Scammers often make unsolicited calls.
- Verification of Story: Contact family members or law enforcement to verify the story's legitimacy.
- Money Transfer Scams: Scammers may ask for money transfers through services like Western Union or MoneyGram.
6. Flea Market Counterfeits
Beware of counterfeit goods at flea markets. Purchase items only from reputable vendors and check for quality inconsistencies or poor workmanship.
- Counterfeit Goods: Scammers may sell counterfeit goods at flea markets.
- Reputable Vendors: Purchase items only from reputable vendors for guaranteed authenticity.
- Quality Checks: Inspect items for quality inconsistencies or poor workmanship to avoid counterfeits.
7. ATM Skimming
Be wary of tampered ATMs and use machines located inside banks or other secure facilities. Cover the keypad while entering your PIN to protect your information from potential threats.
- Tampered ATMs: Scammers may tamper with ATMs to steal card and PIN information.
- Secure Facilities: ATMs inside banks or other secure facilities are less likely to be tampered with.
- Cover Keypad: Cover the keypad while entering your PIN to protect your information from potential threats.
8. Fake Rideshare Drivers
Use only authorized ridesharing services like Uber or Lyft. Verify the driver's name, vehicle details, and never share personal information during the ride.
- Authorized Ridesharing Services: Use only authorized ridesharing services for a safe and reliable experience.
- Verification of Driver Details: Verify the driver's name, vehicle details, and ride information through the rideshare app.
- Personal Information Security: Never share personal information during a rideshare journey to avoid potential identity theft.
9. Restaurant Overcharging
Check your bills carefully after dining out. If there are discrepancies, politely bring it to the attention of management before paying.
- Discrepancies on Bills: Scammers may add fake or inflated charges to your bill.
- Politely Address Issues: Bring discrepancies to the attention of management in a polite and respectful manner.
- Check Bills Carefully: Thoroughly examine your bill for any irregularities after dining out.
10. Gas Station Skimming
Use pumps closest to the attendant or inside gas stations to reduce the risk of skimming devices. Inspect your card and receipt for any inconsistencies.
- Skimming Devices: Scammers may attach skimming devices to gas pumps to steal card information.
- Attendant-Nearby Pumps: Pumps closer to the attendant are less likely to have skimming devices attached.
- Inspection of Card and Receipt: Inspect your card and receipt for any inconsistencies after pumping gas.
11. Hotel Room Scams
Ensure you're checking into the correct hotel by confirming its name and address with your reservation. Be cautious of strangers who offer assistance in exchange for personal information or money.
- Hotel Confirmation: Verify the name and address of your hotel with your reservation before checking in.
- Stranger Assistance: Be wary of strangers offering assistance, as they may be scammers looking for opportunities.
- Personal Information Security: Never share personal information with strangers during your hotel stay.
12. Internet Café Identity Theft
Be cautious when using public computers at internet cafes. Avoid logging into sensitive accounts and use a VPN for an extra layer of protection.
- Public Computers: Internet cafes often have shared, unsecured computers.
- Sensitive Accounts: Avoid logging into sensitive accounts on public computers.
- VPN Usage: Use a VPN for an extra layer of protection when using public internet access.
13. Taxi Overcharging
Agree on the fare before starting your journey to avoid overcharges. If a taxi driver refuses, use a different taxi or ridesharing service.
- Fare Agreement: Avoid overcharges by agreeing on the fare before starting your journey.
- Refusal to Agree: If a taxi driver refuses to agree on a fare, use a different taxi or ridesharing service.
- Ridesharing Services: Alternatively, use a ridesharing service for a more reliable and transparent pricing system.
14. Airbnb Scams
Verify the host and property details of your Airbnb booking. Be cautious if the host requests payment outside the platform or requires excessive personal information.
- Host Verification: Ensure the host's identity is verified and check their reviews before booking.
- Property Details: Verify the property details, including location and amenities, with your booking.
- Payment Within Platform: Make payments for your stay within the Airbnb platform to ensure its legitimacy.
15. Car Rental Scams
Inspect the rental car thoroughly before leaving the lot for any damage. Obtain a detailed rental agreement to avoid disputes and hidden charges.
- Pre-Rental Inspection: Thoroughly inspect the rental car before leaving the lot for any existing damage.
- Detailed Rental Agreement: Obtain a detailed rental agreement to avoid hidden charges and disputes.
- Return Condition: Understand the return condition for the car, including any fuel requirements or toll fees.