Police Arrest Alleged Scammers Accused of Preying on Tourists with Phony Tickets to Liberty Island

Tourists from all over the country and world travel to New York to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and many have become easy targets for scammers looking to make a quick buck by selling them fraudulent tickets. NY1's Dean Meminger filed the following report.

They lost their freedom for allegedly scamming tourists looking to see America's symbol of freedom. At least 14 people were arrested for allegedly selling fraudulent tickets to the Statue of Liberty.

"This is what, under the law, they call fraudulent accosting," said John Miller, the NYPD's deputy commissioner for intelligence. "You come up to people, you promise them one thing, you sell it to them, it turns out not to be the case."

The National Park Service sells tickets for boats that go to Lady Liberty and Ellis Island, but other companies sell tickets for cruises that just go around the islands and never stop at those attractions.

Workers or alleged scammers were selling those tickets to tourists, saying they would stop at the Statue. Several of them were busted. Arrest warrants were issued for 21 sellers.  

Anthony, who works for Star Tours, says he doesn't lie about his tickets.

"You are not getting off on the Island on the Hornblower, and you are going around. If you want to get off, you go into Battery Park and you buy that ticket, and there, you can go and get off on the Island," he said.

In February, a tourist was punched in the face by an aggressive ticket seller and received a fractured skull. As a result, undercover officers posed as tourists. They discovered many of the sellers had a history of committing crimes.

"Where on parole or probation for serious crimes for assault, narcotics, robbery who made up the bulk of ticket sellers, which began to explain background of pattern of criminal activity in ticket sales," Miller said.

Sidique, who also works for Star Tours, says you have to pay attention to the tickets.

"And it is one hour nonstop, and you don't get off on the Island, and the customer reads this before they buy the ticket from us," he said.

Police say scammers were even selling tourists expensive tickets to ride the Staten Island Ferry, sometimes charging them several hundred dollars. The Staten Island Ferry is actually free.

The investigation continues.