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NYC Tourists: Make Winning Moves During the World Cup With These Tips

June 11, 2026

Commissioner Levine Gives Advice From Back of NYC Pedicab, Ensures Tourists Are Up to Speed on Robust Set of Consumer Rights

NEW YORK, NY – Today, Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine and the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) issued a slate of tips aimed at educating the more than one million visitors expected in New York City throughout the 2026 World Cup. In a new PSA video produced in partnership with the New York Pedicab Alliance (NYPA), DCWP instructs tourists and New Yorkers on their rights under New York City’s landmark Consumer Protection Law, and offers advice on how to protect their wallets while shopping, dining, sightseeing, and exploring the city during the tournament. DCWP urges consumers who encounter a problem with a business to report it right away, with documentation and receipts, at nyc.gov/consumers.

“Handball or hand of God? 4-3-3 or 4-4-2? These questions are up for debate. What is not up for debate, however, is the idea of ripping off consumers in New York City—no matter who they are or where they come from,” said DCWP Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine. “DCWP has zero tolerance for businesses that get rich by exploiting enthusiastic visitors to our city, and we will not hesitate to blow the whistle on transgressions.”

From the back of an NYC pedicab, Commissioner Levine shared practical tips for visitors to avoid common pitfalls and make the most of their trip to New York City.

DCWP Commissioner Levine sits in a red and white pedicab with yellow text at bottom: "From pizza slices to sightseeing rides,"
DCWP Commissioner Levine sits in a red and white pedicab with yellow text at bottom: "make sure your prices are clearly displayed"

The agency urges New Yorkers and tourists alike to review the full list of tips, which include but are not limited to:

Before you spend, check the score

  • DCWP encourages visitors to look for posted prices, keep their receipts, confirm rates, and make sure tour guides, stores, and other licensed businesses display their DCWP licenses.

Look for red cards

  • Hidden fees, misleading advertising, and bait-and-switch pricing are illegal. Report it right away, with documentation and receipts, so DCWP can help while you're still in town.

Park the bus

  • Know that tour bus operators must post rates at the entrance of the bus and where you can see them when seated. And remember – the Staten Island Ferry is ALWAYS free!

Keep a clean sheet

  • All ticket sellers who approach you on the street to buy tickets to events and attractions MUST wear their DCWP license.

Avoid offsides traps

  • The price you pay can’t be higher than the posted price and should show both the credit card and cash price, if different, for items.

DCWP enforces the city's Consumer Protection Law, which prohibits all deceptive, unfair, and unconscionable trade practices in the sale, lease, or rental of consumer goods and services. Consumers who believe they have been the victim of an unfair or deceptive practice should file a complaint at nyc.gov/consumers.


The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is the nation’s leading municipal enforcement agency charged with delivering economic justice. DCWP leverages its authority to bring New Yorkers real economic relief and protect them from predatory, deceptive, and unfair practices that violate their rights as consumers and workers. This includes pioneering cutting-edge protections, such as the City’s Consumer Protection Law, Protected Time Off Law, Fair Workweek Law, and Delivery Worker Laws, including the Minimum Pay Rate for delivery workers. Through licensing more than 45,000 businesses in over 45 industries, DCWP ensures fair competition and a level playing field for responsible small businesses that are integral to New York City’s vibrant communities. DCWP also provides essential services such as free tax preparation and financial counseling to ensure New Yorkers keep more of what they earn and can plan for their futures. DCWP is committed to making sure New York City is a fairer, more affordable place to live. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp, sign up for its newsletter, or follow on its social media sites, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.


Media Contact: 
Milo Fink Gringlas
Department of Consumer and Worker Protection 
(646) 772-0331
press@dcwp.nyc.gov