Is San Antonio Safe in October 2026?

Scammers impersonate IRS agents, Social Security Administration officials, or local police, calling tourists claiming they owe fines or fees. This was the top fraud type reported to the FTC in the San Antonio metro area in 2024, with 4,700+ reports. Tourists in the area are targeted via phone.

How to avoid: Hang up immediately on unsolicited calls demanding payment. Government agencies never demand immediate payment via gift cards or wire transfers. Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Restaurants along the San Antonio River Walk, particularly between the Arneson River Theatre and the Commerce Street Bridge, add undisclosed charges to tourist bills including a "River Walk fee", mandatory gratuity, or a patio surcharge not listed on the menu. The extra charges are buried in the itemised bill and staff count on tourists not scrutinising the total.

How to avoid: Ask for a physical menu with all fees disclosed before ordering, and specifically ask whether a service charge or surcharge applies to patio or riverside seating. Review the itemised bill line by line before paying. If an unlisted charge appears, ask the manager to explain it — in Texas, mandatory service charges must be disclosed before the transaction.

Unlicensed operators sell boat tour tickets along the San Antonio River Walk between Commerce Street and Market Street, undercutting the official Go Rio Cruises prices. Boats are overcrowded, guides provide inaccurate historical commentary, and some operators collect payment then fail to show. The official tour company has branded docks with ticketing booths.

How to avoid: Buy River Walk boat tour tickets only at official Go Rio Cruises dock locations. Avoid purchasing from individuals standing on the riverwalk path soliciting sales.

Fraudulent websites impersonating ticketing pages for the San Antonio Zoo, SeaWorld, and other attractions create near-identical domains and run social media ads offering discounted tickets. Victims pay, receive nothing, and cannot get refunds.

How to avoid: Buy tickets exclusively from official attraction websites or at the venue box office. Verify the URL carefully before entering payment info. Avoid any third-party site offering tickets below face value.

At San Antonio International Airport's ground transportation area, individuals approach arriving passengers claiming to be their Uber or Lyft driver before the passenger has even opened the app. They wear generic lanyards and sometimes hold handwritten name signs. Passengers who enter these vehicles are taken on unnecessarily long routes and charged inflated flat fees, or asked to pay cash with no ride record.

How to avoid: Always request your rideshare through the official app before approaching the pickup zone, and match the license plate, car make, and driver photo shown in the app before getting in. The official TNC pickup area is on the lower level roadway — meet your driver there. Never accept rides from anyone who approaches you first.