Online Scams in Washington DC

Fake Smithsonian and Monument Ticketing Websites

Fraudulent websites mimicking official Smithsonian Institution and National Park Service pages sell skip-the-line passes and priority access tickets to monuments and museums that are entirely free to enter. Sites charge $15-$40 per person for entry that costs nothing. These sites rank in paid search results and look nearly identical to official .gov and .si.edu sites, catching tourists before they realize all Smithsonian museums and National Mall monuments are free.