Don’t Get Scammed in Cairo, Egypt

Cairo – The City of a Thousand Minarets – is generally a very safe destination. Overall, the people are friendly, helpful, and welcoming to tourists from all over the world. I never once felt like I was in danger at any time during my visit in August, 2022. Nevertheless, as with most tourist destinations around the world, there are a small number of Cairenes who prey on tourists and give the city an unfortunately bad reputation. My hope is this post will help you avoid getting scammed in Cairo, Egypt on your visit.

I arrived in Cairo after a long, 25 hour journey from Las Vegas. I was exhausted, excited, and very hungry. My hotel – the Ramses Hilton – was located adjacent to Tahrir Square behind the Egyptian Museum. I decided to take a walk around to see if I could find somewhere to eat. A KFC, Pizza Hut, or even a McDonald’s would work perfectly for a quick bite so I could return to the hotel for some sleep.

After stepping out of the hotel doors I quickly realized that crossing the street in Cairo is much different than in the US. There are very few traffic signals, traffic moves relatively slowly, and people simply wait for a gap and walk into the street. The first time is scary. So, I waited next to a local, watched, and took his lead to reach the other side. Cars, busses, trucks, and a horse drawn carriage passed in front of us as we made our way across three lanes of moving traffic with a few starts and stops. The crossing is uncomfortable, but we made it.

I kept walking, crossed two lanes of moving traffic on my own, and continued towards Tahrir Square. There are several restaurants around the Egyptian Museum. All of them, however, are on the other side of the very busy boulevard I was walking along. I sighed and looked nervously around because I had to cross it.

This is where the scam started. The Egyptian Museum and several luxury hotels sit nearby. There are also mosques, gift shops, and fast food restaurants. The area is a hotbed for tourists and visitors from all over the world. It is like the Times Square of Cairo. Among the people, souvenir vendors sell trinkets, taxis wait for fares, and scammers looking for their next victims.

I stood and waited for an opening in traffic to make my way to the median. Cars whizzed by at a faster pace, and traffic was heavier. Sensing my hesitation, I was approached by an older gentleman who introduced himself as Ali. He said he works at the Museum and was heading to a nearby mosque for evening prayers. His timing was perfect because the muezzin started calling salat.

After engaging in some polite conversation, Ali offered to help me cross the street. Relieved, I accepted his assistance in conquering this advanced level of human Frogger. We talked a bit more after making it to the median. He told me about “Government Approved” gift shops that are the best places to purchase authentic, Egyptian souvenirs. I showed some interest because I don’t like haggling for overpriced junk in the tourist markets. He offered to show me one conveniently located opposite us. I agreed.

We walked to a storefront after crossing another very busy part of the boulevard. He showed me a sticker that allegedly verified the store was “Government approved.” We continued to chat politely, and he told me about all the wonderful Egyptian things I could bring home. Authentic papyrus, Egyptian alabaster, perfume oils, and jewelry were for sale for the “best prices.”

I have some rules when travelling abroad. One of them is, “Don’t talk to strangers on the street who speak to you first.” My experience taught me these people are usually looking to separate you from your money. Remember, most people aren’t friendly enough to approach strangers on the street unless they want something. This is particularly true in tourist areas. It is best not to engage anyone who approaches you on the street in a foreign country.

I broke my own rule. Upon entering the shop, I was quickly offered a seat by the owner. Seconds later, a tray of tea was placed in front of me, and I was offered some cookies as well. I politely declined and stood up to leave. The shop owner then offered to show me some papyrus, and he pulled one out and offered it to me as a gift. I politely declined, but he insisted. He offered to write my name in Arabic for a personalized souvenir from Egypt. After looking around, I noticed Ali had left.

At this instant, I realized the shop owner was scamming me. I refused his offer to write my name, but did it anyway. I started to leave, and he stopped me. He rolled it up in a tube and offered it to me. I reluctantly accepted, and he asked me for money for “bakshish.” I pulled out a 10 LE note (about 50 cents US) and offered it. He gave a disappointed look and asked for 2000 LE ($100 US). I refused, and he lowered it to 1000 LE ($50 US). I said no and handed the tube back to him. He became irate and said he can’t sell papyrus with my name on it. Then, he demanded 500 LE so he could “break even.”

I became furious and asked him what happened to his “gift.” He dug in and threatened to call the police. I offered him 100 LE, but he demanded 200 LE. I threw it at him, picked up the tube, and left. Scammed out of $10 US, I regretted accepting Ali’s help across the street. I promised not to talk to any friendly strangers on the street again. I refused to get scammed in Cairo, Egypt again.

The purpose of this article is to inform you and not to dissuade anyone from travelling to Egypt. Although there are a few things to look out for, it is a wonderful place to visit overall. The historical sites, archeological treasures, and culture far outweigh the few petty annoyances I encountered. Plus, scams are common occurrences in any popular tourist destination. They can, however, differ from place to place, so it is important to know about them before you depart.