Is Washington DC Safe in January 2026?

Scammers, often working in pairs, approach tourists with official-looking clipboards and ask them to sign a petition for a cause such as children's charity or disability rights. After signing, they pressure you aggressively for a cash donation. The organization is fake.

How to avoid: Never sign petitions from street solicitors. Politely say no thank you and keep moving without breaking stride. Legitimate charities do not solicit this way on the National Mall.

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.

How to avoid: All 19 Smithsonian museums and National Mall monuments are permanently free to enter with no ticket required. Only book through .si.edu or .nps.gov websites. If any site is charging an entry fee for a Smithsonian museum, it is a scam. Timed-entry passes for some exhibitions are free and available only through si.edu.

Individuals dressed in Buddhist monk robes approach tourists on the National Mall and near major monuments. They slide a beaded bracelet onto your wrist as a gift, then aggressively demand a cash donation. This is an organized operation, not real monks.

How to avoid: Do not accept any item placed on your body or handed to you by a stranger. Politely decline and keep walking. If a bracelet is forced onto your wrist, remove it immediately and hand it back.

Thieves target distracted riders on the DC Metro, particularly on the Red Line between Gallery Place-Chinatown and Union Station stations during rush hour. A thief will wait near the doors and snatch a phone from a passenger's hand just as the doors are closing, then exit the car. The crime is difficult to prevent once underway because the train departs before the victim can react.

How to avoid: Keep your phone in a pocket or bag while riding the Metro, especially near the doors. If you must use your phone, stand or sit away from the doors and keep a firm grip. Be especially alert in the final seconds before doors close.

A stranger approaches asking to make change — such as asking you to break a $20 bill into two $10s. The exchange is done quickly and sleight of hand is used so you end up short. This is one of the most consistently reported scams on DC travel forums.

How to avoid: Never make change for a stranger on the street, no matter how legitimate the request seems. Politely decline and move on.