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Top travel scams in Africa
Cheap safari tours in Kenya
8 0How it works: Opening: you may encounter street touts or “beach boys” going by the title “Captain” offering you cheap safari tours. Scam 1: they play on the late entry…
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Drink spiking in South Africa
8 3How it works: South Africa has one of the highest reported cases of rape, and much of it is due to spiked drinks, with Rohypnol commonly used. Besides sexually assaults,…
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Taxi scams in South Africa
7 3How it works: Version 1: official taxis have meters but some may refuse to use it and charge you an inflated flat fare. Version 2: if the meter is used,…
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Taxi scams in Morocco
7 0How it works: Version 1: charging an inflated flat fare instead of using the meter. Version 2: claiming fare is for each person rather than per vehicle; jacking up initially…
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Merzouga romance scam in Morocco
7 1How it works: Situation: This is Morocco’s version of the bedouin romance scam in Jordan. Opening: Targeted at women, “call-boys” at Merzouga will pull out all the stops in wooing…
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Fraudulent tour operators in Tanzania
7 2How it works: Situation: According to the Tanzania Revenue Authority, only 517 formal firm out of 1,401 tour companies complied with the law in 2018. This means there’s a 63%…
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Unofficial guide and guard scams in Egypt
6 5How it works: Version 1: unofficial guides will ask to check your ticket, not return it and then proclaim themselves as your guide. You will be brought on a low…
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Students English practice scam in Morocco
6 0How it works: You may encounter students who approach you claiming to want to practice their English. Like the tea ceremony scam in China, if you agree, you will eventually…
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Invalid train ticket scam in Kenya
6 0How it works: Situation: there have been many cases of invalid train tickets sold, especially for connecting trains. Set-up: when tickets are handed to you, a valid ticket is usually…
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Camel and horse (caleche) ride scams in Egypt
6 1How it works: Opening: Claiming a camel ride/horse ride can help you enter attractions via a secret entrance and save on the entrance fee. Claiming that you can get closer…
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Hell’s Gate National Park scams in Kenya
6 0How it works: Scam 1: you can rent bikes from the park, but your driver claims that you can’t and so brings you to another overpriced bike shop where he…
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Snatch thefts in South Africa
6 2How it works: Two versions: strike and run; distract and grab. Possible scenarios: Street, mall, shop, park, transportation hub: distracting and snatching from you, then escaping via a getaway car or…
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Tannery “tour” scam in Morocco
6 1How it works: Opening: a scammer tells you that the place you are going is closed or that you are going the wrong way. Another accomplice acting as a passerby…
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Fake tour operators in Kenya
6 0How it works: There have been cases of fraudulent online tour companies or street touts offering safari tours in Kenya. After you pay, transport arrangements are made but on the…
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Unofficial guides in Tanzania
6 0How it works: Opening: a friendly local offers to show you around or just starts to follow you and points out places of interest along the way. Set-up: even though…
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