Fake Metro Cards and other New York City, NY Warning Or Danger Tips

Buy your MetroCards from the machines or the teller in the station. Don't buy them anywhere else or from anyone else, no matter what they say. It's most likely an empty MetroCard they picked up from the ground and are trying to sell it to tourists, saying that they "just bought the card and realized they didn't need it." Keep walking, don't let them touch you and buy it from a machine.

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New York is a big city, both in terms of area and number of people who live, work and visit here. While most New Yorkers are good people who will help you out and are happy to give directions and such, there are certain unsavory characters around. Most tourists fear being mugged, assaulted, or otherwise physically harmed, but there are simple precautions you can take to prevent this by knowing how to take care of yourself.

Do not bring to New York anything that you cannot replace, i.e. expensive jewelry, watches, and fur coats. If you do choose to wear expensive jewelry here, cover it up when you are on the street or subway. When taking money out to pay for the subway or a hotdog, don't flash it round. Instead, keep some money in your pocket separate from your wallet for these kinds of small expenditures.

Keep your handbag, cameras and video recorders slung over the front of your body, where you can keep a hand and an eye on them, especially on the bus and subway. Walk confidently, as if you know where you are going, and avoid wandering around with your neck craned skyward to gawk at the tall buildings. This is unsafe not only because you look like a tourist, but it also decreases your awareness of movement and people directly around you. However, don't be shy of asking people on the street for directions - New Yorkers are generally happy to help.

On the subway, it's best to avoid eye contact with anyone who looks threatening. I suppose we can all look threatening at times, which means, sadly, that everyone on the subway avoids eye contact with everyone else.

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On the streets, men will approach young women asking about their hair or makeup. Typical opening lines: Where do you get your hair done? Who does your hair? When was the last time you had your hair professional done? Who does your make-up? or they'll compliment you: I love your hair, where do you get it done? or That's a fantastic shade of lipstick, whose is it?

Don't pay any mind to these men, just WALK AWAY. They will try to offer you 'Great Deals!' on professional make-up or hair appointments if you buy them in bulk or attend a special session or be a 'model' for a day. Don't pay them any mind and just shake your head and walk away. They are complete rip offs and unfortunately many women succumb to their charms and flattery. Real hair and makeup salons will not be callous enough to send streetwalkers out to market their skills, but rather they depend on references and word-of-mouth from loyal clients. Don't trust people who approach you on the streets. It may seem rude, but trust me, this tip may save you hundreds of dollars that you might otherwise spend on 10 sessions of professional hair appointments within the next year. Supposedly. Happy Walkings!

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Ok, so sometimes New Yorkers can get a bit aggressive. Meaning, sometimes, if you're a lovely young lady with a nice pair of stems, creepy, skeevy men will follow you, whistling, staring, whispering aggressive, sexually harassing words to you. This has happened to me and a number of my friends many times. Don't worry, there's a way to get out of it. Like dogs, they can sense when you're nervous. For people new to the city, please keep to the crowds, even if you find it too busy and bustling. You'll find its the safest way to go. Keep with a group or with your partner. You'll less likely be followed if you're with someone else, unless of course you're travelling with another lithe female.

if you think you're being followed, or if you know you're being followed, let him know. Ask the nearest person for help. Don't stay silent about it. Scream, do something to let someone know you're being harassed. If not, and you're too scared, walk into the nearest store and let an employee know who can call the police. If there are no stores around, grab the nearest taxi cab, he can't follow you there. Head to busy intersections and get away. And if you can think of alternatives, please let me know, Goodness knows I could use more tips in this area!

Please be safe, use common sense and remind your teenage daughters that although they may be angsty now, thinking they're mature adults, remind them that they are still young and are still vulnerable. This happens far too much so please be careful! Keep a phone on you and a friend. And do NOT be afraid to ask for help! Especially on the subway, when men will leer at you, lick their lips and grab their packages...ask for help, from anywhere!

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When getting into a taxi cab, although usually they are quite safe, (I consider NYC taxi drivers some of the best, although many will supposedly disagree with me. I mean, they get you where you need to go and there are very rarely any taxi cab crashes!) please take the following precautions:

Take down the cab driver's medallion number just in case you leave something the cab, you can have the vehicle tracked down. Or if the driver harasses you, you can report him. You can't do anything about the cab unless you know something about it.

Read your rider's rights. You are fully entitled to everything listed there.

When in the cab, pay attention to your belongings and where the cab is going. If the driver knows you are not from around here, they will take the long way around, i.e. taking local routes during rush hour or using the West side high way or the FDR (east side highway, I guess you would call it) at late nights when it would be cheaper taking the West Side or FDR during rush hour and local routes late nights.

Try to familiarize yourself with the area, talk to local (you can try me, for instance!) about routes, and ask if you think you're going the long way around. Most of the time, the drivers are honest. They know when there are parades or street fairs, where the detours are, etc. However, use common sense and speak out if you think there's a problem.

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