Search results
I don't see where the scam is here? Not unusual to pay for tour deposits in Morocco via Western Union etc . Airbnb have been selling tours and local experiences for some time now - it's true that vendors aren't paid until after. Reviews can generally be trusted as only those who book can review, but 2 reviews is not many
Jul 4, 2023 · In 2023 even our scams experts have been shocked by the depths cybercriminals will plumb to steal our cash - for example by posting viral fake missing persons appeals on social media, and creating phoney apps loaded with malware. That’s why forewarned is forearmed.
Sep 24, 2019 · Do you agree with Exoticca 's 4-star rating? Check out what 27,718 people have written so far, and share your own experience.
- The Helpful Stranger
- The Henna Women
- Photography
- Scams Involving Exotic Animals
- “The Jemaa El Fna Is This Way”
- “This Road Is Closed/The Gate Is Locked”
- Scams While Eating on The Jemaa El Fna
- The Restaurant Scam
- Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
- Ten Dirhams For One Euro?
The helpful stranger is by far the most popular trickster in Morocco. This form of rip-off is the main reason for the negative image of the country that I’ve mentioned above. You won’t recognise helpful strangers at first glance. But rest assured, they’ll find you and offer their help. The classic situation where the helpful stranger appears is som...
You’ll usually come across the Henna women on Jemaa el Fna. They sit on little stools. In front of them, faded yellowish albums are spread out with various henna patterns. In the more aggressive of these scams, you’ll be called over and distracted. Suddenly, the good woman will start to paint the back of your hand. In her opinion, there’s been a mi...
Photography is a bit more complicated in Moroccocompared to other countries due to two main reasons for this. Firstly, there’s the Islamic image ban. This prohibits the close-up depiction of images of people. On the other hand, many tourists visit Marrakech and want to capture the best moments of their vacation on camera. Since people are constantl...
As in many other countries, animal rights play a minor role in Morocco. You’ll come across examples of poor animal welfare and animal exploitation on the Jemaa el Fna in Marrakech. Every day on the large square, you’ll see showmen with their animals. These include chained monkeys, as well as snakes with their poisonous fangs removed. These animals ...
You’re almost certain to hear this phrase when you’re in the medina. It’s usually commonplace in the northern medina where many tourists visit the Madrasa Ali Ben Youssef or the Maison de la Photographie. The direction that you’ll hear someone calling out can often be correct, but sometimes not. One thing is certain. In the next instant, a helpful ...
A similar scam involves a closed road or locked gate. This is widespread in Marrakech. Even if you aren’t looking disoriented and are walking purposefully through the medina, at some point, you’ll be approached by a young man or a small group who’ll point out that the upcoming street or gate is closed today. If you stop in this scenario, you’ll mak...
I’m not sure if problems occur because the waiters on the Jemaa el Fna have to remember all the orders and often get very busy or if they want a big tip through a bit of clever arithmetic. The fact is that some waiters on the main square are more likely to get confused than others. On the one hand, they can sometimes bring you more expensive food t...
This is an old trick and involves switching the menu, but I’ve never experienced it myself. It’s basically very simple. Standing in front of most restaurants in Morocco are waiters who’ll call out to you and encourage you to sit down to eat. They’ll often extol the virtues of the unbeatably cheap set menu. Then, when the bill arrives at the end of ...
A glass of freshly squeezed orange juice is the perfect way to enjoy a quick breather in the medina. It’s hard to miss the juice stalls on Jemaa el Fna. Although the juice is a bit more expensive there than in the side streets, most sellers are nice and will be happy to refill your glass. However, black sheep exist among these juice sellers. They d...
I’ve never experienced this fraud myself. I honestly can’t imagine that this rip-off is really worth it. Children will commonly play this trick on people. They ask you to exchange a 1 Euro coin they’ve allegedly found for 10 dirhams. The problem is that the coin is a worthless fake. As soon as you hand over your 10 dirham piece, the children disapp...
- Nice guy showing the way. This scam can be encountered everywhere in Morocco and comes from the very low wages Moroccans are paid (the daily wage in Morocco is about 10 USD).
- Over-inflated price for a camel or horse ride. This scam is more common in places like Merzouga, Marrakech or in coastal towns where camel tours are very popular.
- Fake items sold at the market (Argan oil, carpets, saffron) Popular items sold at the markets, such as Argan oil, pottery, carpets, saffron, etc. will usually be fake and overpriced.
- Fake tour guides. This scam is quite similar to the one where a ”friendly Moroccan” shows you the way to your hostel. The scammer pretends to be an official guide who is being paid by the tourism board of the city and offers to bring you on a tour.
Answer 11 of 19: Hi, I just want to get a second opinion in my current situation, and receive any advice. I was originally going to book day trips through Expedia/ Tripadvisor, but it was such a headache trying to figuring out all the accommodation. I then...
People also ask
Is Morocco a scam?
Is there a scam on a Moroccan holiday?
What is a 'friendly Moroccan' scam?
Are women a victim of romance scams in Morocco?
The idea is simple: we pick a book, schedule a convenient finishing date ( a week, 15 days..) then we make a discussion thread about the book, share reviews, opinions, questions. So what do you guys think?
