The street performer scam takes the fun out of a holiday photo. A "living statue," costumed character, or impromptu street photographer poses with you — or puts a prop, hat, or costume on you or your child — and then aggressively demands a large, unexpected tip, sometimes with help from nearby accomplices. Most street performers are perfectly legitimate and only hope for a voluntary coin; the scam version forces the moment and then forces the payment. The rule that beats it: don't let anyone put anything on you, and you owe nothing you didn't agree to.
How the Street Performer Scam Works
It starts warmly. A costumed character waves your children over, a "statue" gestures for a photo, or someone offers to take a picture of your group with a prop. The prop — a hat, a toy, an animal, a costume piece — goes on before you've agreed to anything, the photo is taken, and then the tone changes: a hand comes out and a surprisingly large "tip" is demanded, with the performer (and sometimes a partner) making a scene until you pay. The friendliness was the setup; the forced photo is the hook; the aggressive demand is the close. It leans on the awkwardness of refusing in front of a crowd, and on adults who don't want to disappoint a child.
Where You'll Encounter It
At the busy, photogenic spots where performers gather:
- London: Covent Garden, the South Bank, Leicester Square, and around the big sights.
- Rome: the costumed "centurions" outside the Colosseum run a dedicated version — see our gladiator photo scam guide.
- Paris, Barcelona, and New York: living statues on the famous boulevards and costumed characters in tourist squares do the same.
The Red Flags
- A costumed character or "statue" who beckons you or your children over.
- A prop, hat, or costume placed on you before any price is mentioned.
- A photo taken quickly, followed immediately by a demand for money.
- A second person nearby who steps in to apply pressure.
How to Avoid It
Enjoy the performers from a comfortable distance and keep moving if one approaches you directly. Don't let anyone place a prop, hat, or costume on you or your children, and don't hand your camera or phone to a costumed stranger. If you genuinely want a photo, ask the price first and agree a small, specific tip before anything happens — a legitimate performer will be fine with that, and a scammer won't. Above all, remember you are never obligated to pay for a photo you didn't agree to.
What to Do if You're Targeted
If a performer demands a large tip for a photo you didn't arrange, you can offer a small coin or simply decline and walk on toward a busier, more open area — the scam relies on your not wanting a scene, so calmly removing yourself usually ends it. Don't be bullied into emptying your wallet. If you're physically blocked or feel threatened, that's no longer a nuisance; move to a populated spot and, if needed, contact local police (in the UK, 999; 112 across the EU). Our guide on what to do after a scam covers anything further.
See the full destination guides for every scam you'll meet on the ground, area by area.
Tourist scams in London →