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19 Tourist Scams in Egypt Every Traveller Should Know
Egypt is unforgettable — but it’s also one of those destinations where scams are woven quietly into the tourist experience.
From “photo helpers” at the pyramids demanding tips, to fake tour operators disappearing after payment, to souvenir sellers slipping items into your bill — scams in Egypt are real, common, and surprisingly creative.
My wife Sahana and I spent 10 days travelling from Cairo to Luxor, Aswan, and the White Desert.
We dodged most traps, fell for a couple, and learned exactly how these tourist scams operate.
This guide breaks down 19 of the most common scams in Egypt — where they happen, how they work, and how to avoid them without letting paranoia ruin your trip.
Because once you know the tricks, they lose their power.
Are tourist scams common in Egypt?
Is Egypt Safe for Tourists Overall?
Egypt is neither the safest nor thescariest destination for tourists. It is not a scam capital — it’s a country overflowing with history, beauty, and genuine warmth.
Most scams are opportunistic and non-violent — designed to pressure, overcharge, or mislead travellers rather than harm.
Like anywhere with heavy tourism, a few people will try their luck with visitors. And personally, I find Egypt takes one step ahead compared to many other famous travel destinations
Egyptian places where tourists gets scammed highest
During our trip, we noticed scams most frequently in:
- Giza pyramids
- Cairo’s Khan el Khaalili markets
- Luxor’s Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut entrance markets
- Aswan markets and perfume shops
- Hurghada and Red Sea beach (beach theft)
Remote areas like the White Desert felt far less aggressive — especially with a licensed guide.
Transport scams in Egypt — the ones most travellers face first
1. Fake tour operators who disappear after payment
Because independent travel in Egypt can be challenging, many tourists turn to local tour operators
But some of these so-called agencies are nothing more than tourist scams in Egypt, taking your money and vanishing without a trace.
While researching, I read about a 2025 incident where a group from Pune were stopped at Cairo Airport after immigration discovered their “tour agency” never existedWe avoided this by booking with Your Egypt Tours after weeks of checking reviews and exchanging emails.
We booked with Your Egypt Tours after weeks of digging through reviews and exchanging emails with them – Our trip was easy and stress-free
How to avoid it:
2. Fraudulent hotel booking websites targeting tourists
Some fake hotel portals look completely professional, list real hotels, and send confirmation emails.
But when you arrive, there’s no booking — or worse, the hotel doesn’t exist. There have been hundreds of such reported cases .
We avoided this by sticking to trusted platforms like Booking.com and calling the hotel later to confirm the booking with the hotel.
If you’ve never heard of the site and the deal seems too good to be true, it almost always is.
See my blog for tried-and-tested ways to book hotels in Egypt that fit your trip perfectly without getting scammed
3. Taxi overcharging and fake route detours
One of the most common tourist scams in Egypt is the taxi rip-off.
Drivers quote an inflated price, then demand more mid-journey. Others take unnecessarily long routes, claiming they’re “avoiding traffic.”
In Cairo’s chaos, it’s easy to feel trapped.
Drivers often quote an inflated price, then demand even more mid-journey.
Some will take the longest possible route, claiming it’s “faster” or “avoiding traffic.”
Avoid it by:
4. Camel and horse ride price traps at Giza
Camel and horse rides are everywhere at the Giza pyramids, and this is one of those common scams in Egypt where you agree on a price for a “full tour,” only to be stopped halfway and pressured to pay more to continue.
We avoided this because our guide had already warned us.
But we still wanted a photo with a camel in front of the Great Pyramids, just like in my favourite game Assassin’s Creed Origins, which is based entirely on Egypt’s history and locations.
So we made it clear — just a shot, no wandering around. We paid 100 EGP for a five-minute photoshoot with our own phone and left.
Walking around the site yourself is often safer than accepting rides.
Don’t want to waste money in Egypt? Read the post “Best Advice For Avoiding Scams As A Tourist” to know more.
Attraction and sightseeing scams in Egypt
5. Egypt Monument caretaker photobomb ccam
Another unusual tourist rip-off in Egypt is when monument caretakers or locals in traditional Jellabiyas deliberately photobomb your shots and then demand money.
At Dashur’s Red Pyramid, the guard stopped us after we came out from inside and insisted on a picture with me.
Even though I refused, he pulled me into the shot and then demanded 50 EGP.
At the Valley of the Kings, just as Sahana was heading toward the famous Tutankhamun’s tomb, another guard moved closer into her frame until I waited him out.
And at Edfu Temple, when I was trying to capture a perfect row of the flower-petal column capitals, two caretakers stepped right into the middle.
They demanded 200 EGP, and our guide had to argue it down to 50.
Avoid this photobomb scam in Egypt by:
Not sure how to behave as a tourist in Egypt? Learn key cultural dos and don’ts that will help you blend in and avoid offending locals.
6. Egyptian children donkey photo setup
After floating over the Valley of the Kings desert and the lush green farmland of Luxor on a magical hot air balloon ride, we landed in a nearby village.
Almost instantly, a boy on a donkey rode up to our group, calling out, “Hello! Look, I am a poor Egypt boy on donkey, take my picture for just 5 gineh!”.
He had a few friends with him, all shouting to the tourists, “Poor boy donkey photo!”
It might seem harmless, but this well-practised tourist trick in Egypt quickly escalates — once you pay one child, more will appear asking for the same.
The easiest way to avoid this Egyptian scame is to smile, say a polite “La shukran” (no, thank you), and keep walking.
7.Illegal photography bribes inside tombs
One peculiar scam in Egypt is petty bribery by site caretakers, who sometimes take money for after-hours entry or for illegal photography.
While it might sound like a unique experience, it’s risky — you could face fines or even police trouble.
While we were inside the beautiful tombs of the Valley of the Kings, we were hesitant to take pictures because it isn’t allowed.
A guard approached and casually asked for 10 EGP — we didn’t really know why, but we handed it over.
Then asked for our phone, snapped a photo for us, and encouraged us to take more.
It feels harmless at the time, but it’s risky and technically illegal. Avoid accepting “special permission” offers from guards.
8. The fake “free -friendship gift ” trap
At Giza, Luxor, and other busy sites, vendors sometimes hand you a bead bracelet or small souvenir “for free.”
They’ll chat about your country, smile warmly, and insist it’s a gift. Once you accept, they demand payment and get pushy if you refuse.
We saw this happen multiple times, but the closest call was at the gorgeous Hatshepsut Temple, when a vendor started calling me Shah Rukh Khan and Sahana Kareena Kapoor — famous Bollywood stars — while chatting and laughing.
In the middle of it, he tried to slide a beaded bracelet into Sahana’s hand in the name of Egypt’s love for Bollywood movies.
She immediately tried to return it, but he began insisting on 50 EGP. Our guide quickly stepped in, handed it back, and told us this was a well-known tourist scam in Egypt.
Remember — nobody gives anything for free, and you should never believe it if they say they do.
Shopping and market scams in Egypt
9. Fake Egypt SIM cards that expire
One scam targeting travellers in Egypt is selling SIM cards that seem fine at first, only to stop working a day or two later.
Sellers in small shops will happily “help” you activate them, but that doesn’t guarantee they’ll last. And unfortunately, we are the victims of this particular Egyptian scam.
Near Giza, we bought two SIM cards from a tiny roadside store. The shopkeeper even helped us activate both, and they worked perfectly that day.
But the next morning, mine stopped working while Sahana’s continued without issues. I called Vodafone from her phone, only to be told my SIM had actually expired the day before I bought it.
One safe way to avoid this is to buy from official Vodafone, Orange, or Etisalat stores, but buying physical SIM still is a headache.
So the best way to avoid getting scammed in Egypt is to buy a good esim plan from a reliable company. I have now started to use SIMLOCAL for all my international trips and recommend the same to you.
They have great plans that cover only Egypt or you can even buy Egypt+roaming option in case you are visiting Jordan along with it.
10. Fake papyrus scrolls sold to tourists in Egypt
A typical Egyptian tourist scam we nearly fell for was buying a fake papyrus scroll.
Street vendors sell these for just a few dollars, claiming they’re genuine, but they’re often made from banana leaves coated in chemicals.
Sahana, a history of architecture teacher who writes about ancient handicrafts, was excited to buy a papyrus scroll with hieroglyphs — the beautiful picture writing of ancient Egypt.
While our guide parked outside the Three Pyramids Papyrus Institute, several sellers rushed over.
She took one to examine and noticed powder flaking off, and her skin began itching. By then, our guide came and chased the fake scroll sellers away.
I’ve shared all my tips in my post on buying papyrus replicas in Egypt — read it before shopping.
11. Counterfeit silver and gold jewellery
One scam in Egypt, travellers must watch out for is counterfeit silver and gold jewellery.
Some shops, especially near tourist attractions, pass off low-quality metals as pure silver or gold. They may show you one genuine item, then quietly swap it during packing.
As Indians, we prefer to buy gold back home, but we couldn’t resist browsing the fantastic Egyptian designs in Luxor’s market.
The filigree work and lotus motifs were gorgeous.
We admired the craftsmanship but decided not to buy as we weren’t given proof of purity. — better to avoid disappointment than spend on something worthless.
Always buy from certified stores and insist on a written receipt stating the metal’s purity.
Check our post on all the coolest things you can buy from Egypt on your first trip.
12. Plaster figurines sold as real stone
Another Egypt travel scam is plaster figurines being sold as real stone. Miniature pyramids, statues, and souvenirs are often passed off as “solid granite” or “marble.”
They might look authentic at first glance, but a quick scratch test or weight check tells the truth if it is POP or clay.
In Memphis, the capital of ancient Egypt, a street vendor swore his miniature pyramid was made of real stone.
The moment I picked it up, it was so light it could have floated away. That was my cue to smile, hand it back, and walk off before he could start bargaining.
It is best to buy the Egyptian figurines from Konouz Egypt Replica Treasures– a Government certified replica makers
13. Souvenir ‘complimentary’ add-on Trick
One sneaky tourist scam in Egypt happens in souvenir shops, where sellers add extra items to your basket while billing, calling them “complimentary” — only for them to show up on the final receipt.
We faced this in Cairo’s Khan el Khalili market while buying a beautiful fanous lantern.
As I stood at the counter, the seller began quietly adding smaller items — colourful stones, miniature glassworks, and even mini lantern keychains — claiming they were “gifts.”
But when he handed me the bill, every single one of them was listed with a price.
I called Sahana over to confirm she hadn’t picked them, and our guide stepped in to insist that the seller remove everything except the lantern we’d agreed on.
The best way to avoid this scam is to watch the billing closely and make sure only what you’ve actually chosen goes on the receipt.
14. Fake collectible currency
Vendors may try to sell you “rare Egyptian currency” that’s either worthless or out of circulation.
One shop owner at the colourful Nubian village even tried to sell us a “historic note” that was printed in 2016. Unless you’re a serious collector and know the value, skip it.
15. Perfumery bait-and-switch scam
One tourist trap in Egypt is the perfumery bait-and-switch. Sellers lure you in with a beautiful scent, then secretly fill the bottle with cheaper oil or short-measure it.
Some even swap bottles under the counter when you’re not looking.
We faced this in Aswan after Sahana bought jasmine oil — famous in Egypt because jasmine is grown locally.
While she browsed other oils, I saw the seller reaching for a different bottle than the one we’d smelled.
I stopped him and asked to fill ours from the same bottle. He insisted on giving us “fresh” oil from a new bottle, but I didn’t want to take the chance, so I made sure it was poured from the original one.
The best way to avoid this is to watch the pouring process closely and smell the final bottle before paying.
Activity and experience scams in Egypt
16. Overpriced cultural shows that aren’t worth it
Some evening experiences in Egypt are promoted as “authentic cultural shows,” such as belly dancing dinners.
While they sound exotic, they often come with steep price tags and underwhelming performances.
We didn’t attend any, but several fellow travellers told us they felt these events were more about tourist cash than cultural depth.
17. Misleading “pub crawl” tours
Egypt is a conservative country, and alcohol consumption is limited. So when someone offers a “pub crawl” experience, it’s unlikely to deliver much beyond a handful of overpriced bars catering to tourists.
If nightlife is your goal, research venues yourself rather than paying for a pre-packaged “tour.”
18. Beach theft scam at the Red Sea
Our White Desert guide warned us about a scam in Hurghada and other Red Sea resorts.
Tourists often leave their belongings on the sand while taking a swim, only to return and find them gone — with someone later demanding money to give them back.
Keep your valuables in sight or with a trusted companion at all times.
19. The overhyped Nile cruise package
This one is controversial, but I personally think Nile cruises can be oversold. Yes, watching the river is beautiful, but Egypt’s magic lies in both its land and water experiences.
Some travel agencies push multi-day cruises as the “only” way to see Egypt, but you might end up missing incredible sights inland.
We didn’t take one, preferring to split our time between river and road.
Instead, we enjoyed the Nile from a traditional felucca sailboat from Aswan — a far more flexible, affordable way to experience the water without sacrificing days of sightseeing on land.
What to do if you get scammed in Egypt?
Personal thoughts as a traveller who faced and escaped scams in Egypt
Instead of stressing over every taxi fare or “free gift,” you can focus on the fun stuff — watching the sun rise over the Nile, wandering through ancient temples, or bargaining for souvenirs you actually want.
Scams lose their power when you see them coming.
You’re less likely to get caught off guard, you save money for experiences that matter, and you get to leave Egypt with stories you chose, not ones that happened to you.
Egypt is one of those rare countries where history, culture, and chaos blend into an unforgettable experience.
Yes, you’ll run into the occasional tourist scam, but with awareness and a few street-smart tricks, you can avoid losing money, patience, or trust.
FAQ about tourist scams in Egypt
Are scams in Egypt dangerous?
No, most scams in Egypt are not dangerous. They are usually non-violent and involve overcharging or pressure tactics. In daylight, most tourists do not face serious safety issues.
Is Cairo worse than other cities when it comes to scam?
Yes, Cairo has more scams than most other cities. Areas like central Cairo markets and Giza near the pyramids see higher scam activity because of heavy tourist crowds.
Can you trust taxi drivers in Egypt?
You should be cautious with taxi drivers in Egypt. Not all drivers are dishonest, but overcharging and faulty meters are common, so stay alert.
Do I need a guide to avoid scams?
No, a guide is not essential just to avoid scams. However, a licensed Egyptian guide can reduce your exposure to common scams and make your trip more meaningful with proper historical context.
Other Egypt travel guides you’ll find useful
If you’re planning your trip, here are more detailed guides to help you make the most of it:
