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Morocco
27 scams
An amalgamation of Arab, Berber, European and African cultures, Morocco is a magical place to be, with the expansive Sahara desert, fascinating Mosque architecture and bustling medinas to explore!
However, as a tourist here, you will have to be prepared to deal with some aggressive hassling.
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: 190, 112
- Police outside the city: 177
- Ambulance: 150
- Fire brigade: 15
Travel resources
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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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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Pickpockets in Morocco
5 2How 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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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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Helpful guide scam in Morocco
4 8How it works: Situation: due to Morocco’s low minimum wage (100 DH or ~10 USD for 8 hours), many resort to offering unsolicited help and then demanding an inflated tip…
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Henna women scam in Morocco
5 1How it works: Version 1: henna women apply henna ink onto tourists sneakily. When you realize, they will apologize and offer to do a full henna tattoo. If you agree…
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Animal, costume photo scam in Morocco
4 1How it works: Version 1: at certain squares, you will see locals carrying animals such as snakes, monkeys or baby goats. Once you walk pass, they place the animal on…
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Familiar face scam in Morocco
4 0How it works: A popular scam, this is where a stranger claims to know you as he works at your hotel. Eventually, he will ask to borrow money and promise…
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Medina/tannery entrance fee scam in Morocco
4 0How it works: Entering a medina or tannery is free, but there are scammers who pose as officials to charge you an entrance fee. Places to beware: Fes Marrakech What…
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Kif/hashish set-up in Morocco
4 0How it works: Kif/hashish is a locally produced drug. There are dealers and police officers who work together to set tourists up with drugs and then demand a bribe to…
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Fake beggars in Morocco
2 0How it works: During their shift, these fake beggars will have ailments such as being blind or unable to walk. Once their shift ends, they recover magically . Places to…
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Camel/horse ride scams in Morocco
3 1How it works: Version 1: rogue operators promise you a low fare at the start to lure you in, only to ask for additional payment in the middle of trip…
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The tree-climbing goats scam in Morocco
3 0How it works: Situation: goats are actually very nimble and can climb trees to search for food (e.g. you can see a video below). However, this natural phenomena has been…
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Fake carpets, ceramics, Argan oil, fossils, leather in Morocco
2 0How it works: Version 1: items popular with tourists (e.g. carpets, ceramics, Argan oil) sold at major touristy markets are generally fake. Fake claims such as this carpet is 50 years…
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