Tour & Activity Scams in Chicago, USA
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities scams reported in Chicago — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Las Vegas, Miami, and Tulum.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
2
Tour & Activities Scams
11
Total in Chicago
How it works
Around Wrigley Field on game days and near United Center before Blackhawks and Bulls games, scalpers sell counterfeit or already-used tickets to tourists and out-of-town fans. The fakes are increasingly convincing — printed with correct barcodes that only fail at the gate scanner. Victims are left outside the venue with no recourse after paying $50–$300 per ticket.
How it works
Individuals near the Chicago Riverwalk dock areas pose as representatives of legitimate architecture boat tour companies, selling tickets for tours that are inferior to advertised or non-existent. Victims pay upfront and are left waiting or given a much cheaper experience.
See all scams in Chicago
11 total warnings across all categories