A tourist from Arkansas was punched in the face by a Statue of Liberty ticket scammer Monday, knocking him unconscious and fracturing his skull, police said.
The 33-year-old victim was on South Street near Whitehall Street when he was approached by a woman who tried to sell him fake tickets to the landmark at about 3:30 p.m. on Monday, according to the New York Police Department.
When the victim refused, another ticket hawker punched him in the face, knocking him unconscious, police said.
The man was taken to Bellevue Hospital where he was treated for a fractured skull, police said.
One tourist from Indianapolis, Chris Thompson, said that he was surprised someone was mugged in such a high-profile location.
"hopefully you know nothing like that ever happens because we're here visiting New York," he said. "Nobody thinks about getting mugged."
Mayor de Blasio said that city administrators and authorities don't take schemes targeting visitors lightly.
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"If there's something aimed at tourists...we will get at it very, very aggressively," the mayor says.
Police are looking for a man in his 20s in connection to the attack.
Anyone with information on the attack should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
