Street Scams in Ottawa, Canada
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in Ottawa — 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
4
Street Scams Scams
10
Total in Ottawa
How it works
Several souvenir kiosks in the ByWard Market area sell maple syrup in tourist-branded packaging at premium prices, but the product is often blended syrup, corn syrup with maple flavoring, or US-origin syrup re-packaged in Canadian branding not complying with Canadian grade standards.
How it works
During high-attendance events like Winterlude on the Rideau Canal and Canada Day on Parliament Hill, organized pickpocket teams operate in large crowds using a bump-and-distract technique. One person creates a commotion while a second removes wallets or phones from unzipped bags and jacket pockets.
How it works
Around Canada Day on July 1st and major summer festivals on Parliament Hill, touts work the crowds on Wellington Street and Sparks Street Mall selling counterfeit or invalid event wristbands and reserved area passes at inflated prices. Ottawa's free Parliament Hill concerts are ticketed for premium viewing zones via official Parks Canada channels, and scalpers exploit visitor confusion about which zones require passes. Buyers discover their wristbands are fake or refused at the gate, having lost CAD 40–120 per person. The scam intensifies in the days immediately before the July 1st main stage event.
How it works
Individuals dressed in quasi-military attire stand near the National War Memorial soliciting cash donations for veterans charities. Most are not affiliated with any registered charitable organization. Legitimate veterans organizations in Canada do not solicit on the street in this manner.
See all scams in Ottawa
10 total warnings across all categories