Boston scams: what to watch for

Boston is a low-risk city for violent crime in the areas visitors use, and the scams here are small-money and social rather than organised. The pattern is almost always the same: someone approaches you first, creates a moment of pressure or sympathy, and asks for cash, a signature or a card. If you did not start the interaction, you can end it by walking on.

The list below is ranked by how often visitors report them, not by how much money they cost. Most cost under US$20; the ticket and ride scams are the ones that can run to US$100 or more.

The hotspots cluster where tourists stand still: Downtown Crossing and the pedestrian stretch toward Faneuil Hall, the Freedom Trail's first mile, Boston Common and the Public Garden, and the sidewalks outside Fenway Park and TD Garden on event nights. Logan Airport is its own category, because arriving travellers are tired and do not yet know the local price of a ride.

Neighbourhoods away from these points — the South End, Cambridge's residential streets, Jamaica Plain — see very little of this. If you are staying outside the centre, your main exposure is the ride from the airport and any event tickets you buy online.

Pay by card or phone wherever you can. Boston runs on contactless, and a card transaction leaves a record you can dispute. Carry only US$20–40 in cash for small food stalls and tips, and keep it in a front pocket rather than a back one.

For transport, decide before you land: the official taxi line at Logan, the MBTA Silver Line or Blue Line into town, or a rideshare app booked at the designated pickup area. Anyone who approaches you inside the terminal offering a ride is not the official option.

For events, buy at the venue box office, the team or venue's own site, or a major resale platform with a guarantee. A paper ticket handed over on the street outside Fenway has no protection if it fails at the gate.

If you are approached, a short 'no thanks' and continued walking works better than an argument. You do not owe anyone a conversation, a signature or a donation. If someone becomes aggressive, step into a shop, hotel lobby or T station and ask staff to call the police.