Be Safe at Boston’s Summer of World-Class Events

For dates and details on FIFA (Fanfest), Sail Boston, July 4th and Boston 250, go to: Boston.gov/Summer

SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING

Millions of soccer fans from all over the world are heading to Boston for the World Cup, Sail Boston and Boston 250 this summer!
We want everyone to enjoy the celebrations, but we need your help.
If you see something that doesn’t seem right – an unattended bag, someone acting strangely, or
anything out of place – trust your instincts.
Report it immediately. Tell a nearby police officer. Alert event staff. Call 9-1-1.
Targeted violence and other public safety events are often preventable. But we need you to speak up – right away.
Together, we can create a safer environment for residents and visitors to Boston.
Stay aware of your surroundings. Follow guidance from public safety officials.
And remember, if you see something, say something - call 9-1-1

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Expectations for residents and visitors! Treat each other and every neighborhood of our City like it were your home.

DON'T...

Do not use or possess fireworks or any Pirotechnics, it is illegal in Massachusetts
Publicly Consuming Alcohol or Marijuana is illegal
Use Drones
Carry large bags/backpacks
Do not bring ANY weapons to public spaces or events

DO…

Enjoy our beautiful City - whether you are a resident or guest
Be aware of your surroundings
Call 911 if you have an emergency
Carry water and sunscreen

DIAL 911 FOR EMERGENCIES

Welcome to Boston! Emergency Guidelines for International Visitors

If you experience an emergency during your stay in Boston, dial 9-1-1.

If you are using an international mobile device and a foreign SIM card, please keep the following important guidelines in mind:

Always make a voice call. Text-to-9-1-1 will not work from foreign SIM cards. You must place a voice call to reach emergency services.
Be prepared to describe your location. Be ready to tell the dispatcher exactly where you are, including nearby landmarks, cross streets, or specific venue sections. 9-1-1 systems often only receive a general, tower-level estimate of your location when you are roaming on an international device.
Stay on the line. Do not hang up until the call-taker tells you it is okay to do so. If the call drops, call us back immediately. Our systems frequently do not receive a usable callback number from international phones, meaning our dispatchers may be unable to call you back.
Be patient and try again if needed. Calls from international roaming devices can sometimes experience setup delays or initial failures. If your first call attempt fails, try again immediately, as a second attempt will often succeed.
Optimize your device settings. To ensure the best connection and location accuracy, consider purchasing a U.S. cellular plan with a U.S. SIM/eSIM card rather than relying solely on your home country's plan and Wi-Fi. If you are using your home plan, enabling your data roaming or connecting to Wi-Fi can help our supplemental emergency systems pinpoint your exact location.

Enable Emergency Alerts on mobile devices.

TRAFFIC & PARKING RESTRICTIONS

https://police.boston.gov/2026/06/12/traffic-advisory-world-cup-and-fan-festival/

And remember, Don’t Drink and Drive and to avoid traffic delays, use the MBTA or Blue Bikes which are available across the City.

FRAUDS / SCAM WARNING

We have several World-class events in greater Boston this Summer
And with those events come world-class scams and fraud
Protect yourself…those you love, and your hard earned money
Scams can range from fake tickets, fake merchandise or travel packages.
Or it may be for accommodations or properties rentals that don’t exist.
Scams and fraud can take many forms - but the goals are similar
Fraudsters are looking to steal your money or are phishing for your personal and/or financial information.
Use official websites for ticket/ merchandise purchases
Remind vendors to have proper permits/ certifications
Don’t be pressured into acting quickly - Protect yourself
Use Official websites, check the URL and
Don’t respond to social media ads, unsolicited emails, calls or text
Don’t accept calls or texts asking for personal information
And if it seems too good to be true, trust your instincts…it probably is.
Report fraud right away, go to your local police district (link bpdnews.com/districts) or call 9-1-1

NO DRONES

Planning to fly your drone at a World Cup match? Think again.
The government will establish Temporary Flight Restrictions around World Cup stadiums, fan festivals, and other event locations to protect fans, players, and critical infrastructure from accidents and security threats.
Flying a drone in a restricted zone isn’t just dangerous – it’s a federal crime - with serious consequences.
Violations can result in criminal fines up to 100-thousand dollars, up to a year in prison, and seizure of your drone.
So, leave your drone at home, and if you spot unsafe drone activity, report it immediately by Dial 9-1-1.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Human trafficking is the business of stealing freedom for profit. In some cases, traffickers trick, defraud or physically force victims into providing commercial sex. In others, victims are lied to, assaulted, threatened or manipulated into working under inhumane, illegal or otherwise unacceptable conditions. It is a multi-billion dollar criminal industry that denies freedom to 24.9 million people around the world.

The Boston Family Justice Center and Boston Police Human Trafficking Unit work on Human Trafficking year-round, they are survivor focused and work to reduce demand.

To manage the size of this summer’s events we have increased the scope of our operations.. Our partnerships with the Massachusetts State Police, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office Federal Bureau of Investigations Boston Division and the United State Marshal Service are critical partners in this work. We also want to thank the hotels in Boston for their partnership.

We continue to lock up human traffickers and to support victims. Over the past three months, we have worked proactively with our partners on demand reduction operations connected to FIFA. This important work will continue throughout the summer.

Human trafficking is a heinous crime that happens every day, and large events create opportunities for traffickers to exploit their victims. Most victims are too afraid to ask for help.

That’s why we’re asking you to stay alert. Victims may be in public places, working in local businesses, or staying in your hotels and neighborhoods.

They may appear to be controlled by another person, show signs of abuse or neglect, or lack identification.

We can all play a part in stopping. If you see someone, a child or adult, who may be a victim, or if you see something suspicious, report it, call 9-1-1.