Las Vegas might just the single most enjoyable city in the world. Nothing beats the neon, the sheer excitement, and the 24/7 party atmosphere. Especially if you love to gamble. But Las Vegas, like any other big city, has its fair share of scammers, pickpockets and people trying to sell you stuff you don’t need. These are some of the most popular scams in Vegas. Be prepared!

1. The “This slot machine is about to hit big!” scam

This is a very popular scam in the casinos of Las Vegas. Again, while you are playing slots, somebody might come up to you and say, in a conspiring voice: I know a slot that I am sure is right about to pay out big! I will show it to you if you want. Someone has been putting in thousands of dollars all day. Of course, you are interested! You follow him, sit down at the machine he pointed out and you put in twenty bucks, or maybe fifty. And lo and behold! You have just hit a small jackpot! You have just won a very tidy three hundred dollars. And the person who pointed out the machine wants half of it. After all, he directed you to the “special” machine, didn’t he?

How this scam works: a slot machine is never “due to hit”. Past outcomes (or performance) have absolutely no effect on the future. The scammer just pointed out a random machine to you hoping you will win. Once you do, he will have his hand out for a chunk of the winnings. And if you don’t win anything, he will just shrug it off as “bad luck”.

How to avoid: Just don’t listen to these guys. A firm: “Thanks, but no thanks” will send them away to look for another, more gullible victim.

2. The Taxi Long Haul

Sounds easy and straightforward, doesn’t it? You’ve just arrived at the airport after a long and boring flight and you just want to get to the action as quickly as possible. You get in the taxi and, hardly able to contain your excitement, say in your best “Vegas, baby!” voice: “Take me to my hotel please!” However, you might just fall to one of the most practiced scams in Vegas: The Taxi Long Haul. A lot of taxi drivers will not take the quickest route to the Strip, but will instead take the longer route, also known as “Taking the tunnel”. This route not only takes you through an unnecessary tunnel (as you might have guessed) but the extra miles also tack on a hefty 15-18 dollars to your bill, which in practice means that your taxi fare will be about twice as high as it should have been.

How to avoid? Just say: Wynn Hotel (or Venetian, or Cosmopolitan etc.), no tunnel, please! If the cab driver tries to persuade you to take the tunnel anyway (due to a “traffic accident” or “road works”), threaten to report him if he stills takes the tunnel.

3. The “Hey there! You’ve dropped some money!” scam

Imagine this:” you are sitting at your favorite slot machine, quietly pounding those buttons, enjoying a cocktail and having a blast. Good times! You have actually put some nice credits on your slot machine as well. Things couldn’t be better, right? Wrong! From out of nowhere, someone taps your shoulder. “Excuse me! You dropped some money on the floor.”. Startled and a bit confused, you look to where this person is pointing, but you can’t seem to make out what he is talking about. You shrug your shoulders and get back to your machine, ready for some more good gambling business. Then it slowly but surely hits you: all your credits are gone. When it has definitely sunk in that you have been robbed, that “helpful” man is nowhere to be found. You’ve just been scammed. As you were distracted and looking for the loose bills on the floor, his accomplice just pushed the payout button on your machine, pulled out your ticket and walked away, straight to the nearest cash dispenser.

How to avoid? Be alert and watch your machine at all times. Similar scams are tried out frequently in busy places like the Bellagio fountains, people movers, and escalators.

4. The “Someone stole my wallet and I need gas money” scam

This scam is very popular in Vegas as so many people fall for it. You are in the elevator, in the casino or at a gas station and some guy comes up to you. Some make some small talk first, other get straight to the point. But their story is nearly always the same:
– Somebody stole my wallet and I just need money to get to the airport! – I lost my wallet and I just need 20 bucks to drive back to L.A.!
– I lost my job, my wife is 8 months pregnant and my dog needs to be neutered! Can you please help me?
Now don’t get us wrong, these are classic con artists and they will have a perfect sob story to tell you. You will be tempted to give them money. They will promise to give it back to you as soon as they get home. They never do. Ever.

How to avoid? Listen to their story and soon as it hits you that you are being scammed, just say firmly: “Sorry. But no thanks.”. If they don’t take no for an answer, you can ask some details, just to have some fun. “Oh, you are from Los Angeles? That’s funny, me too. What part do you live?”. That will usually drive them right off, as they now know that you are on to them.

5. The “Check out my CD” Scam

When walking down the Strip, especially on the overpass bridges you will see a lot of “artists”on the side of the pavement trying to sell their latest music CD, tape, self-help book or whatever. They will hand one out to you, to look at. Don’t fall for it. Once you have taken it into your hands, they will consider this as a sell and demand money. They will pester you and some might even get aggressive. Even if you have done nothing wrong, they will pressure you hard into giving them money. And a lot of people do, just to stop the hassle.

How to avoid? Just keep walking. Show no interest in the goods and never, ever, ever get tricked into handling what they are selling.

6. The “Want a VIP pass to a club?” scam

These scam artists will mostly approach the younger crowd walking the Strip and try to sell them VIP passes to all of the city hottest night clubs. Often disguised as VIP-package deals or All Access Passes, they are nothing more than a scam. Buying one of these passes will not only cost you money but will also not get you anywhere. You will still have to pay to get in and you will still have to wait in line. Waving your “Special VIP Pass” to the doorman will only get you laughed at.

How to avoid: if you really want VIP treatment at a club, do business with them directly. Never with a scruffy guy on the sidewalk with cheap sunglasses waving a clipboard.