Scams in Egypt - How to Avoid Scams in Egypt

The best way to make sure you are safe while travelling to a new country is by knowing the maximum about the possible scams that can happen. As for the place that you are thinking to travel, have some very interesting storied about tourist scam in Egypt. However, there is nothing you cannot combat, in this post, we will give you some very important details about the possible scams in Egypt and how you can prevent them from happening to you.

Read more about Is It Safe to Travel to Egypt?

For people who are still confused after reading such an unspeakable thing about Egypt, yes it exists. People get scammed in Egypt well and good, so here is what it looks like.

Types of Scams

1. Overpriced Items Scam

This scam is common when tourists are shopping, and it mostly happens in the village market where the seller just hike the price to earn more and that is when you must bargain. Bargaining confidently will save you from overpaying and will also reduce the pressure on another tourist after you.

2. Fake Cry Story Scam

The episodes of fake sobs are endless, you will often come across some poor person crying for money because they lost someone or someone somewhere is sick in their family. No matter how compelling the story sounds, remember that they are professional con artists and you must not get carried away.

3. Beach Scams

Some scammers on the beach tend to steal stuff while you are swimming in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. They just grab your items and run away to someplace you won’t ever be able to reach, so the best way to avoid this one is through keeping your valuables in the hotels if you don’t have anybody to look after your stuff while you are enjoying your time in the water.

4. Pick-pocketing

This has deep roots from the beginning of time and it just gets better every year. This is a very common type of scam that most of the tourists go through. The best way to avoid this perfect scam is by keeping all your valuables and original passport in your hotel and carry a photocopy along.

5. Fake Tour Guides

This is also a common tourist scam in Egypt, you will often meet people outside any of the transportation platform promising to show you around. No matter you are travelling solo or with friends, don’t trust them as you might be inviting a robber to show you around. Trust the hotels for booking a tour guide, as they are more authentic.

6. Fake Taxi Operators

You will find taxi drivers offering low-cost rides to popular tourist destinations, and that is just a trap. You must understand the trick, no one in a new country will be over-friendly to over low-cost ride without having the intention to take something from you. Be careful!

7. Fake Police

This can be tricky, it’s hard to recognize the fake from the real ones, but study their body language when they ask for your credentials. It might be rare but this type of tourist scam in Egypt still occur. When you spot something fishy, just ask them to back off politely and threaten them to call the local station.

8. Fake Cashiers and Bartenders

This can happen to anyone and I will not see it coming. When you hang out at the local bars and cafes, you will be told that you didn’t pay even after paying. Another trick they use is that they will mention that you did not pay the full amount when you pay cash. This can go very far, and they might have accomplices. You must double-check before paying, and opt to pay through the card, but be careful with your code.

Now that you have a slight idea about tourist scam in Egypt, it is time to reveal some of the methods to get away from these messes.

How not to Be Scammed in Egypt?

It is time to teach you some methods to save yourself and kick the interests of people trying to fraud you. You might think it requires some Ninja method, but for the record, it is quite easy.

1. Avoid eye contact with people you are fishy about

If you think you saw a scammer, then just look away or go in another direction altogether. You must not make eye contact because in their freaky language it means you gave them permission to rob you.

2. You must not trust locals speaking fluent English

Remember genuine and authentic locals in Egypt speak broken English or none at all. If you find someone being over helpful and speaking perfect English, you have to get the hell out from there. They will set the stage and scam you.

3. Reject them with confidence and politeness

You don’t want to trigger them or hurt their ego so that follow you around the city. When you find out about their deceptive intention, make sure you are rejecting them politely and don’t let them know that you are aware of their sly nature. You might face this situation while taxi scams, tour guides, and others, where you will need to flash a firm no but do it politely.

4. Put on your headphones to look engrossed

This is unofficially a proven fact that when you are engrossed while roaming around the popular destinations with a headphone on, you are likely to be less scammed. The benefit is that, when you find people approaching you, just point to the headphone, and they will be off.

5. Settle the price first

This is when you are bargaining or shopping in the local markets (See also Shopping in Egypt), you must not pay before you settle the bargained price with the seller clearly. It also applied to taxi prices, do not sit before you settle the price or you will see them flip later on.

To help you feel better about the possibility of tourist scam in Egypt, know that everyone gets scammed once in a while and you shouldn’t take it too seriously. Just make sure you are aware of your surrounding and take action when its time. These points will help you stay away from sketchy situations, just remember, your life is more important than your money.