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Mauritius
12 scams
Mauritius has long been a haven for honeymoon couples or anyone who wants to spend their days on paradisiacal beaches, hike hills and go reef snorkelling.
However, crime is on the rise and there are some tourist targeted scams to watch out for.
Note: vast majority of trips are trouble free and there is no need to be paranoid. That said, it always pays to be aware, careful, and prepared.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance: 999
Travel resources
Fraudulent tour operators in Mauritius
3 0How it works: Case 1: Pom & Jerry tour operator by Steve and Roobina (have been jailed for this before). On the day of a tour (e.g. to an island),…
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Rochester Falls fake signs and scams in Mauritius
2 0How it works: Scam 1: a bunch of handmade signs will lead you to a river to cross to get to the path to the falls. A coconut seller will…
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Pickpockets in Mauritius
3 0How it works: They work in a gang – one onlooker, one blocks, pushes, distracts, or engages you, one grabs and the final hides the loot under a cover (e.g….
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Unofficial guides in Mauritius
3 0How it works: Version 1: there are unofficial guides at tourist attractions who will latch on to you, provide unsolicited tips and then demand an inflated tip. Version 2: your…
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Beach resort, hotel thefts in Mauritius
2 0How it works: Situation: many cases here. In 2011, an Irish tourist was strangled to death as she walked into her room at a luxury resort while the thieves were…
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Snatch thefts in Mauritius
2 1How it works: Bike/moped: riding past with a pillion rider doing the snatch. Street, mall, shop, parks: distracting and snatching from you, then escaping via a getaway car or down a…
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ATM skimming in Mauritius
1 0How it works: Version 1: card skimmer installed to capture your card details. Pinhole camera/keypad overlay installed to capture your PIN. Version 2: card slot is rigged with a device…
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Grand Baie Bazaar sunglass trap in Mauritius
1 0How it works: Situation: There is a stall at the Grand Baie Bazaar, which is positioned at the entrance of a dark and narrow alley to the toilet, accused of…
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Price quote scams in Mauritius
1 0How it works: Version 1: quoting a low initial price for a service (e.g. henna tattoo) but charging an inflated price later. Version 2: quoting you inflated prices for items…
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Fake goods in Mauritius
1 0How it works: Version 1: some market stalls peddle counterfeits (e.g. cashmere, clothes, handbags) imported from overseas and try to pass them off as the original. Version 2: some factory…
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Taxi scams in Mauritius
1 0How it works: Version 1: taxis here are un-metered and may charge you an inflated flat fare. Version 2: driver claims that your destination is closed or not good, and…
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SSR Botanical Garden parking scam in Mauritius
1 0How it works: Situation: the SSR Botanic Garden has a large and free to use carpark (entrance is at the traffic lights near the Pamplemousses courthouse and a restaurant. Set-up:…
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