Las Vegas was built on separating visitors from their money. But when reports surfaced of scam artists working at the famous Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign — well, anyone who cares about Sin City’s reputation can’t be happy that its “welcome” experience involves bilking tourists.
The scam works this way: visitors to the sign — which is such a popular stop that it has its own parking lot — are greeted by someone who gives the impression that he/she is some sort of official attendant or photographer. After “organizing” the crowd and “helping” the visitor take snapshots in front of the sign, a tip is expected.
Of course, the sign has no attendant, official or otherwise. Your photos would turn out just fine if you took them yourself, or asked another visitor to help. Posted warnings tell tourists to ignore the fakers, but the Las Vegas sign is apparently sofabulous that visitors never read the warnings.
Can you imagine someone trying to pull a scam like this at the Jackrabbit Trading Post sign, or at the Man Killing Clam billboard? They’d be laughed at, or run off. Only Las Vegas has the the necessary combination of con artists and sign mania to make this scam possible.
If you want to pay money to take pictures of signs in Las Vegas, visit the Neon Boneyard. Otherwise, your sign snapshots should be free.
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