Other Tourist Scams in Mexico City, Mexico
Timeshares, fake police, charity fraud, and miscellaneous scams targeting visitors. Below are the other scams scams reported in Mexico City — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like New York, Cancun, and Tijuana.
Last updated: April 6, 2026
2
Other Scams Scams
19
Total in Mexico City
How it works
Organised pickpocket teams operate on crowded metro lines — particularly Line 1 (the Pink Line running east–west through the city centre) and the Metrobús Line 1 along Insurgentes — during peak hours. One team member creates a bottleneck or distraction at the turnstile or door while another removes valuables from bags, pockets, or jacket interiors. Phones are frequently snatched through the closing doors of metro carriages at stations like Pino Suárez and Balderas.
How it works
A well-documented distraction scam in Centro Histórico and around the Zócalo involves an accomplice "accidentally" splashing mustard, ketchup, or bird droppings on a tourist's clothing. A second person immediately approaches offering to help clean up, and while the tourist is distracted and potentially removing their bag or opening their jacket, a third accomplice steals their wallet, phone, or bag. Variants use spilled food or drinks on crowded pedestrian streets like Francisco I. Madero.
See all scams in Mexico City
19 total warnings across all categories