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Egyptian Museum
"Egyptian Museum" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by twiga_swala

Helpful stranger shopping scam in Egypt

Last updated on 2 May 2019
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How it works:

  • Situation: a common scam is the appearance of a helpful stranger who helps you with a difficult situation, then brings you to a shop where he gets a cut.
  • Opening: a hotspot is outside the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, where it is difficult to cross the road in front of the main building.
  • Set-up: a helper guides you across, then offers to take you to a shop he claims sells cheap products. There, you will be served tea and pressured to buy products at inflated prices.

Places to beware:

  • Cairo: Egyptian Museum
  • Luxor
  • Sharm El Sheikh: Na,ama Bay

What to do:

  • Be wary if someone follows you on the streets or is very pushy about bringing you to a shop.
Tell us your story




2 user stories related to this scam

Start over

Closed museum and I should visit the official government sanctioned gift shop

Richard 28 Sep 2018 5 0

I’m still in Egypt on my first visit and almost fell a few of these scams and did for a couple.

Part 1: I was approached by a helpful stranger who told me the museum wasn’t open for any other than tourist groups and I should visit the official government sanctioned gift shop.

Part 2: un-metered taxis which did not bring me to my destination

Part 3: scams encountered with “legit” tour guides

At this point, my guards went up and I now suspicious of all encounters here.

Comment

The street vendors are annoying and exhausting

TheVeganTravelers 22 Sep 2018 2 0

Thank you for this really comprehensive list on the site! I wish I knew how annoying and exhausting the street vendors are in Egypt (especially in Luxor) before traveling there.

You really have to be prepared for that and also for the taxi scam. That’s why I wrote a post about Egypt’s dark sides ( https://www.the-vegan-travelers.com/en/africa/egypt/egypts-dark-side.html ).

I hope it’s helpful or any of you who are planning a trip to Egypt! ?

Greetings
Chantel

Comment

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