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Tour & Activity Scams in San Francisco, USA
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities scams reported in San Francisco — 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
1
Tour & Activities Scams
10
Total in San Francisco
How it works
Touts near Pier 33 sell Alcatraz tour tickets claiming the official ferry is sold out. Tickets may be counterfeit, for wrong dates, or valid tickets being resold at a 50-100% markup. The official ferry does sell out weeks in advance, making tourists vulnerable to this pressure.
See all scams in San Francisco
10 total warnings across all categories