Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Baltimore, Maryland, United States
1. Inner Harbor Scam Prevention
Stay alert around street performers offering bracelets or asking for donations; they may try to steal from you. Be cautious of overpriced merchandise and taxis near the harbor.
- Street Performers: Performers offering bracelets or asking for donations can be potential thieves.
- Overpriced Merchandise: Merchandise near the Inner Harbor is often overpriced.
- Taxi Scams: Taxis near the Inner Harbor may overcharge unsuspecting tourists.
2. Federal Hill Pickpocket Prevention
Keep your belongings secure at all times, especially during events like Fleet Week and Oktoberfest when the crowd is dense. Be aware of strangers trying to distract you or bump into you.
- Event Crowds: Crowds during events like Fleet Week and Oktoberfest increase pickpocketing risk.
- Distractions: Strangers may try to distract you while pickpocketing.
- Bump and Grab Tactics: Be aware of people bumping into you as a means to steal your belongings.
3. Camden Yards Counterfeit Ticket Scam
Purchase tickets only from authorized vendors or the official Orioles website to avoid counterfeit tickets. Be wary of strangers offering seats at face value near the stadium.
- Authorized Vendors: Purchase tickets only from authorized vendors or the official Orioles website.
- Counterfeit Tickets: Strangers offering tickets at face value near the stadium may sell counterfeit tickets.
- Official Orioles Website: The official Orioles website is a trusted source for purchasing tickets.
4. BWI Airport Car Rental Scam Prevention
Book your car rental in advance from a reputable company and look out for unofficial rental representatives offering cheaper deals inside the terminal.
- Reputable Companies: Book your car rental in advance from a reputable company.
- Unofficial Representatives: Be wary of unofficial representatives offering cheaper deals inside the terminal.
- Advance Booking: Book your car rental in advance to avoid scams.
5. Horseshoe Casino Scam Prevention
Keep your belongings secure and be cautious of strangers offering help or assistance. Monitor your gambling sessions to prevent others from manipulating the machines.
- Strangers Offering Help: Be wary of strangers offering help or assistance at the casino.
- Monitor Gambling Sessions: Monitor your gambling sessions to prevent others from manipulating the machines.
- Belongings Security: Keep your belongings secure at all times while at the casino.
6. Power Plant Live Scam Prevention
Avoid accepting drinks from strangers and keep your belongings secure. Be cautious of people offering you 'free' admission or VIP access.
- Strangers Offering Drinks: Avoid accepting drinks from strangers.
- Free Admission/VIP Access Scams: Be cautious of people offering 'free' admission or VIP access.
- Belongings Security: Keep your belongings secure at all times.
7. Fell's Point Pub Crawl Scam Prevention
Join organized pub crawls with reputable companies to ensure safety and avoid overpriced drinks or phony cover charges.
- Reputable Companies: Join organized pub crawls with reputable companies.
- Overpriced Drinks: Avoid bars offering overpriced drinks during pub crawls.
- Phony Cover Charges: Be aware of phony cover charges during pub crawls.
8. Little Italy Food Festival Scam Prevention
Avoid eating at unlicensed food vendors and be cautious of strangers offering 'free' samples or assistance.
- Unlicensed Vendors: Avoid eating at unlicensed food vendors.
- Strangers Offering Samples: Be cautious of strangers offering 'free' samples or assistance.
- Reputable Vendors: Choose only reputable vendors to eat at during the Little Italy Food Festival.
9. Harbor East Water Taxi Scam Prevention
Only use water taxis with official signage and valid licenses. Be cautious of strangers trying to sell you unofficial tickets or rides.
- Official Water Taxis: Use only water taxis with official signage and valid licenses.
- Unofficial Tickets/Rides: Be cautious of strangers trying to sell you unofficial tickets or rides.
- Validation of Licenses: Verify the validity of the water taxi's license before boarding.
10. Pier Six Pavilion Concert Scam Prevention
Purchase tickets only from authorized vendors or the official Pier Six website to avoid counterfeit tickets. Be cautious of strangers offering last-minute tickets.
- Authorized Vendors: Purchase tickets only from authorized vendors or the official Pier Six website.
- Counterfeit Tickets: Strangers offering last-minute tickets may sell counterfeit tickets.
- Official Pier Six Website: The official Pier Six website is a trusted source for purchasing tickets.
11. Mount Vernon Art Walk Scam Prevention
Purchase art only from established artists or reputable galleries and be cautious of strangers offering 'cheap' artwork.
- Established Artists: Purchase art only from established artists.
- Reputable Galleries: Purchase art only from reputable galleries.
- Cheap Artwork Scams: Be cautious of strangers offering 'cheap' artwork as it may be counterfeit or low quality.
12. Fells Point Ghost Tour Scam Prevention
Join organized ghost tours with reputable companies to ensure safety and authenticity. Be cautious of strangers offering 'cheaper' ghost tours.
- Reputable Companies: Join organized ghost tours with reputable companies.
- Cheaper Ghost Tours Scams: Be cautious of strangers offering 'cheaper' ghost tours as they may not be authentic or safe.
- Authenticity of Tours: Choose only reputable ghost tour companies to ensure an authentic experience.
13. Fort McHenry Entrance Scam Prevention
Purchase tickets only at the official ticket booth or online to avoid counterfeit tickets. Be cautious of strangers trying to sell you 'discounted' tickets.
- Official Ticket Booth: Purchase tickets only at the official ticket booth.
- Counterfeit Tickets: Strangers trying to sell you 'discounted' tickets may sell counterfeit tickets.
- Online Purchases: Purchase tickets online if available to avoid scams.
14. Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel Scam Prevention
Book your hotel room only through the official Sheraton website or a reputable travel agency to avoid overpriced rooms or scams.
- Official Website: Book your hotel room only through the official Sheraton website.
- Reputable Travel Agencies: Book your hotel room through reputable travel agencies.
- Overpriced Rooms Scams: Be cautious of overpriced rooms or scams when booking outside the official website or reputable travel agencies.
15. Baltimore Museum of Art Scam Prevention
Purchase museum tickets only at the official ticket counter or online to avoid counterfeit tickets. Be cautious of strangers trying to sell you 'discounted' tickets.
- Official Ticket Counter: Purchase museum tickets only at the official ticket counter.
- Counterfeit Tickets: Strangers trying to sell you 'discounted' tickets may sell counterfeit tickets.
- Online Purchases: Purchase museum tickets online if available to avoid scams.