Beware of these Washington DC Tourist Scams!

Washington, DC doesn't have any many tourist scams as other big cities - but it doesn't mean there aren't any! Know about these con artist tactics to protect yourself when you visit DC.
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Tips for using Airbnb video - • Tips for using AIRBNB
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~Video Chapters~
0:00 Washington DC Scams
0:58 Two $10s for a $20 Scam
1:59 Fake Monks
2:46 Venmo Scam
4:02 SmarTrip Card Scam
4:59 Neighbor Bruce Scam
6:04 Utility Company Scam
6:33 Fake Rental Scam

[@TripHacksDC]

What did you think of my animations? Decent? Or stick to my day job? 🤣

[@loviedavis4859]

Is this a good time to travel to DC? Will we still be able to sight see this weekend? Not sure what the rules are there due to covid

[@TripHacksDC]

Most sites are still closed. Check out kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3jIlYqIoriXkLM

[@sweetiepie9411]

I think the animations are very nice. 👌🏾😃

[@TripHacksDC]

Well thanks, Kayla!

[@Raventerp01]

Those weren't the animations we wanted, but they were the ones we needed. Also, a metro station with chandeliers? 🤣

[@theoriginalmcc]

This was incredibly eye-opening for a small-town girl. Great advice for any big city or tourist trap vacation. Thanks!

[@TripHacksDC]

Glad it was helpful!

[@talea9593]

You also have to be careful of children. Scammers use children to steal from you when you're not looking. If you ever go on a subway or to a plaza in a big city, don't let any kids come close. If they do, hold your bags close and don't take your eyes off the kids.

[@sebastianjoseph2828]

Late comment, but about the venmo scam. If you absolutely feel you need to let someone make a call on your phone, you can always offer to dial the number and put it on speakerphone. But you're still at risk of having your phone snatched if you hold it out (by them or an accomplice you didn't notice). So always be wary. Better to direct them to someplace like a restauant, museum, bar, or some place else to make a call.

[@tylerevans8041]

Yeah I was at the Smithsonian-museum got out the metro and there was this women that acted mentally disabled and that her phone was dead and she wanted my parents to give her our phones to call her mom. We waited and thought about it for a sec then left.

[@johnbrooks8788]

Thanks for the good advice.

[@TripHacksDC]

Sure thing, John.

[@michaelairey59]

Great video Rob, with appreciation.

[@TripHacksDC]

Thanks for watching!

[@eddie_saunders]

Great info and well-timed, as we get close to opening up, people may be so excited to be on vacation they overlook these scams. I've seen the handing stuff over for a donation many many times in DC and I've seen the borrow a phone for a call once, offered to call 911 on their behalf, or flag down an officer that you'll invariably see on almost any street in the main tourist areas and they no longer need assistance and walk off. The animations were good, hope you stay as a tour guide though. :)

[@TripHacksDC]

Thanks, Eddie! Don't worry I don't think I have a future career as a Pixar animator. 😀

[@levileahsunico9461]

Epics you are going to the tc tomorrow morning to see the tc and Printer for the snow day off at work so we

[@CodyOnTheGo]

Love yo vids !

[@user-il1si5qw7j]

Keep it up 👍

[@dhouston1451]

Booked a hotel room, have OCD, don’t carry cash, and don’t know what a vemmo is so I guess I’m good 😂

[@Mikelovesmuseums]

Huh, I've seen those monks on the ma before but always just walked by them. Never thought they could be scammers!

[@TripHacksDC]

I suspect their victims are kids on field trips, mostly.

[@levileahsunico9461]

Me too

[@sylviemac1971]

That $20.00 scam wouldn’t work in Canada because a 20.00 bill is green, the dollars are loonie coins and 10.00 bills are purple... 😜

[@TripHacksDC]

It wouldn't work in most of the world 😀 especially all the places that have dollar-equivalent coins.

[@tylerevans8041]

Yeah when I was in DC last month we were getting out of the metro and there was this women acting like she was mentally disabled. She kept saying I lost my mom and can’t find her and my phones dead can I use yours. The women was at least in her high 30s

[@tylerevans8041]

Thing is my parents has never used any app such as venmo or anything like that.- they aren’t techy

[@AF-bi9vz]

these are all the scams I have experienced in NYC

[@levileahsunico9461]

Yay

[@dvferyance]

Just like in any big city there will be people posing as something you think they are being nice and helpful but in the end they just want your money.

[@kiyru]

For the Venmo or any other apps I don’t have those apps on my phone so they can’t access it

[@googlamonster5086]

Metro tips: now that there is a little more enforcement of people walking through the fare gates, I caught some guy walking behind me. From now on, I will try to be more aware and make sure that doesn't happen again.

[@CoffeeWithColeman]

Trust no one that needs something or offering a “deal”. That’s why us locals are so apathetic 🤣

[@TripHacksDC]

You can't get me a deal on a mortgage, John? 🤣

[@CoffeeWithColeman]

@@TripHacksDC I mean - my deals are legit :-P

[@levileahsunico9461]

ufyrbeuoq

[@lilithrogers5204]

Oh, this is one of the saddest videos I've ever seen--makes me soooo sad that some people are so awful to others and that we can't trust so many of us.....and thanks for the tips...I'll be careful.....

[@conky221]

Your animations and tips are great. The ones that need to get a job are those with nothing to do but make others anticipated trips turned into awful memories by stealing from them. You’re too nice calling them ‘scammers’. They should try to do something good with all of the time and thought put into hurting others. My tip: NEVER TALK TO ANYONE.

[@Drakeman2003]

NEVER answer from a number you don't recognize

[@washingtonpe3843]

never heard of them. I'm living here in Washington DC for almost 15 yrs.

[@mariocisneros911]

In Washington we took a taxi because we didn't know how to get around, a and he took us a longer route and charged us more. This was 30yrs ago.this was before cell phones and knowing the quickest route

[@nobodynothing00000]

30 years ago they still were using those infamous zone maps, before they were all forced to use digital meters and now every car has GPS anyway

[@mariocisneros911]

@@nobodynothing00000 it was 1988. There were just the paper maps

[@Drakeman2003]

How about someone claiming they're from the IRS? or those "you've won a free cruise" calls?

[@inakristinapangan9705]

Can you please do a video on tipping etiquette in America?

[@TripHacksDC]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJ-bopeFZd2pitE

[@MRresievil310]

So, I was actually approached by the Monk scammers in 2017, but honestly I kind of liked the bracelet, NGl. But yea, a scam is a scam. if you DO run into them, be prepared.

[@mikem5475]

I'll sock em right in their indian head and walk off with my free bracelet

[@joshuabenkin8631]

Don't give money to anyone on the Metro, panhandling is legal but only 10 feet away from the entrance, same as an ATM

[@emeraldkimble7602]

As senior disabled I hAve half price fares

[@johnbowen4442]

Watch out booking at budget hotels there too they use third party reservations companies overseas ? What a mess trying to cancel .

[@TripHacksDC]

I always recommend booking hotels direct if possible.

[@googlamonster5086]

Maybe a small scam, but there are usually men outside of the Smithsonian Mall exit offering maps and directions. I've never stuck around, but I assume they demand money after they have given the maps and/or advice. I don't like this. If they want that, they should say up front that they are not official and that they want money.

[@Drakeman2003]

Were you ever victim to these Rob? If so, which ones?

[@msjulicious]

that fake monk got us in nyc 😅

[@wildfox6469]

Curious if you know what the deal is with the guys who approach you saying “can I ask you a question?” From what I gathered, they’re claiming to be members of a NPO for child victims.

[@TripHacksDC]

Just say "no thanks" and keep moving. Whatever the angle will likely end with them asking for money.

[@TheLCarine]

I say "Je ne comprends pas désolée "😅

[@robertpavey5615]

I'd just say "Sorry mate, I don't speak English".

[@robertoanaya2600]

How will I know when the Smithsonian and other museums will reopen?

[@TripHacksDC]

www.si.edu/visit will have the most up-to-date details about Smithsonian reopening.

[@levileahsunico9461]

haheiegtj

[@victorcreef-meza636]

Literally just don’t buy food at any museums that’s the biggest scam.

[@TripHacksDC]

National Museum of African American History and Culture and National Museum of the American Indian both have excellent food.

[@denise3885]

Stoop?

[@TripHacksDC]

Not the best word choice but I really didn't want to go back and re-record it 😬

[@RaulSanchez-kx8en]

Why is he so invested on Washington DC?

[@Pechocho.]

Craigslist is nasty, I almost became in a victim