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Americans Who Moved Abroad Share What Things Are Scams In The US, Here Are The 45 Best Posts
TravelJAN 18, 2025

Americans Who Moved Abroad Share What Things Are Scams In The US, Here Are The 45 Best Posts

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A very important part of traveling outside of where you live and, preferably, your country is the ability to learn just how people live elsewhere. Sometimes it’s just a mind expanding experience, but there are cases where you, unfortunately, discover that what you thought was normal is, at best, just a scam.
Someone asked “What's the biggest scam in America?” and people shared their thoughts and comparisons. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to add your thoughts in the comments below.

#1

A group of businessmen in suits discussing common scams in America at a conference table.
The use of religion in politics.
128points

#2

Person wearing a mask talking to a doctor, highlighting common scams in America.
Health insurance.
125points

#3

Americans Who Moved Abroad Share What Things Are Scams In The US, Here Are The 45 Best Posts
The illusion that it's the greatest country in the world. No national health service. Short maternity leaves. High gun crime. And people who worship politicians like God's. And rampant institutionalised racism. And those are just the things off the top of my head.
122points

#4

Americans Who Moved Abroad Share What Things Are Scams In The US, Here Are The 45 Best Posts
Tipping instead of actually raising wages for waiters

Edit: I was referring to tipping as a necessary law. Yes people tip, but should they be the ones to ultimately blame if you haven’t been tipped and can’t survive the week? No. It’s the firms that you’re working in. They should pay you enough to not have to DEPEND on just tips to make a living.
103points

#5

American flag waving on a tall flagpole against a clear blue sky, symbolizing common scams in America.
2 Party Political System.
94points

#6

Newborn baby sleeping in a hospital bassinet, wearing a patterned onesie and mittens.
The whole health system... like... putting a fee on holding your baby after giving birth? Seriously?
92points

#7

"Person studying, taking notes with a pen, referencing Mometrix test prep book, focusing on common scams in America."
COLLEGE TEXT BOOKS. You need edition 10 for this class. They change one chapter in the book make it a new edition over price it and f**k the college kids. Always drove me nuts when I was in college.
90points

#9

Person holding a professional camera on an urban street, capturing footage.
News as entertainment.
88points

#10

Person overwhelmed at a desk, illustrating stress from common scams in America.
The idea that you need to be productive all the time. It's ok to just exist.
85points

#12

Hands using a calculator on documents, illustrating common scams and financial caution in America.
Paying your taxes and then never seeing a return on your investment. That's OUR money! Fix our roads, give us health care, educate our children PROPERLY, pay our teachers a living wage, RAISE UP people below the poverty line so they can live with dignity. Stop wasting 750 BILLION a year on our military.
81points

#13

Person holding a credit card in front of a laptop, highlighting common scams in America.
The entire credit score system.
81points

#14

"Ticketmaster screen display, related to common scams in America."
Surprised no one mentioned ticketmaster yet.
76points

#15

Hand pressing ATM keypad, illustrating common scams in America.
Bank fees. You are broke so we are going to charge you for being broke.
74points

#16

Americans Who Moved Abroad Share What Things Are Scams In The US, Here Are The 45 Best Posts
The entire f*****g prison system.
74points

#18

Person holding a stack of US dollar bills, illustrating common scams in America.
Those payday loan businesses. It’s predatory as s**t and it’s just legal loansharking.
63points

#19

Statue of Liberty with city skyline, highlighting common scams in America theme.
The idea that anyone can become anything — it’s simply not accurate. That’s just something the privileged and the wealthy like to tell the rubes so they don’t protest much when, inevitably, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
62points

#20

Americans Who Moved Abroad Share What Things Are Scams In The US, Here Are The 45 Best Posts
Healthcare being tied to employment is designed to defang unions.
59points
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