Tour & Activity Scams in Ottawa, Canada
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities 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
2
Tour & Activities Scams
10
Total in Ottawa
How it works
During the Rideau Canal Skateway season and summer boat tours, impostors in unofficial vests station themselves near canal entry points claiming visitors must pay a fee to access the canal path or rent skates at inflated prices. The Rideau Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with free public access, so any demand for an entry payment is a scam. Victims hand over cash and receive nothing of value, or are sold overpriced rentals that should cost a fraction of what is charged. This scam spikes during winter Winterlude events when large crowds reduce individual scrutiny.
How it works
Individuals near the Parliament Hill entrances sell reserved tour tickets or skip-the-line passes for guided tours of the Centre Block and Peace Tower. Free guided tours of Parliament Hill are offered at no charge by the House of Commons — no ticket is ever required or legitimately sold by a third party.
See all scams in Ottawa
10 total warnings across all categories