Tour & Activity Scams in Seattle, USA
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities scams reported in Seattle — 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 Seattle
How it works
Unofficial ticket sellers congregate outside Lumen Field (home of the Seahawks and Sounders) before major games, offering tickets at inflated prices or selling outright counterfeits that are rejected at the gate. Some sellers use convincing printouts or even reprogrammed barcodes that scan as valid until the rightful ticket holder arrives. Victims are typically left outside the stadium with no recourse after paying hundreds of dollars.
How it works
Scalpers near Seattle Center and the Space Needle sell tickets at inflated prices, claiming the attraction is sold out when it rarely is for walk-up visitors. Some tickets are counterfeit or for the wrong date.
See all scams in Seattle
10 total warnings across all categories