Merzouga romance scam in Morocco

Scam in Morocco

I recently discovered in Agadir Couchsurfing some scammers, originally from Tagounite/Merzouga region. There were 6 male students living in a very poor apartment, no windows, no furniture, no electronics, sleeping on the floor. They made best efforts to host us and show us how kind and generous they are, while obtaining as much information as possible on our financial status and making sure we are aware of their lack of resources. We payed for dinner and gave them gifts. After staying with them (Said Ait Ouaaicha and Hafid Ouaicha and others name I don`t know) , we flew home.

They kept writing every day, building connection and trust. Then they asked with a sad reason to borrow money, 150 euros and provided bank account. It was suspicious a bit, that a Moroccan poor boy has a bank account, so before sending the money I asked some people from his reviews on the Couchsurfing website.

Within few hours it turned out they asked each and every couchsurfer they met for money for different reasons promising to return it and never did. Mothers surgery, own foot surgery, phone bill, rent, school expenses etc. About 30 surfers shared their stories and conversations on how much they each gave him and how he promised to return it.

The boys made a whole act of perfect host just to get under the skin of travelers, then make up stories for money. The contacted travelers related same scam from shop sellers or hostel owners in totally unrelated places in Morocco. I guess this is what awaits male or couple travelers. For women, they must apply the romance scam

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MERZOUGA SCAMMERS

Merzouga is a beautiful romantic village in the middle of the desert.

Women fall for the charms of the men here without realising that the majority are working as call-boys/prostitutes for a living. They are very loving and charming. They get the girls/women to fall in love with them, talñking about romance and future.

The women/girls keep travelling there to visit their boyfriends, taking with them gifts of clothes, telephones, sunglasses etc., and pay for everything they do with their “boyfriend”. They pay the alcohol, tobacco, food, hotel rooms…. Usually (blind from love) they leave money for their boyfriends when they return home.

Later the men are asking for money per Western Union, using excuses such as they must put credit on their phone to be able to chat, or repair their phones to keep contact, pay electricity, debts, and whateverelse they can think of.

Often if they think their “girlfriends” have a bit of money they suggest larger sums to enable them to buy a jeep to do excursions for tourists so enable them to build a busiuness so their girlfriends can eventually move there or to make money to start to build a home for the future together.

Little do the women/girls realise that they are being scammed, and actually PAYING to have a “nice time” with a man on “holiday. Usually, a few months later (or 3 or 4 years) the women/girls find out that they are not the only “girlfriend”. There are usually at least 2 or 3 others in the mans life…. all travelling to morocco to spend time with their “boyfriends” when they can.

The men there in Merzouga find it normal to use the women in this way. They feel no guilt. It is their way to get money, and needs. I speak from experience. I know many women/girls that have fallen for this scam and ended up very hurt (and sometimes quite broke!). THIS IS THE REALITY OF MERZOUGA.

Often these men contact women through messenger, after checking out the females facebook to see if they are single, rich, looking for boyfriend, sad, adventurous… and especially “older” women that are alone because these are usually the most generous.

They start with sweet introductions, then video chats, then start pestering for the women to visit. ALmost all say and do the same things. It is a planned scam, and there are people they call “uncle” who often have homes/rooms somewhere for them to stay. Women believe the “uncles” are family, but they are not. They are mafia. Helping control the “business” in Merzouga….

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