Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Awsīm, Al Jīzah, Egypt

All Topics about Awsīm All Cities in Egypt

1. Khan el-Khalili Market Scam Awareness

Stay vigilant at Khan el-Khalili market to avoid overpricing or counterfeit goods. Know the value of items before purchasing.

Authenticity Verification: Verify the authenticity of products, especially jewelry and antiques.
Price Negotiation: Always negotiate prices to ensure a fair deal.
Avoid Unofficial Guides: Decline offers for unofficial guides within the market, as they may lead to further scams.

Avoid pre-paid taxis for airport pickups; agree on the fare before starting your journey.

Pre-Paid Taxis: Be wary of pre-paid taxi services at airports, as they may overcharge.
Fare Negotiation: Negotiate the fare before starting your journey to avoid surprise charges.
Official Taxis: Use officially licensed taxis or ride-sharing apps for a safe and fair travel experience.

Buy sim cards at authorized retailers to avoid activation scams; ensure the SIM card package is sealed.

Authorized Retailers: Purchase sim cards from authorized retailers to ensure legitimacy.
Package Integrity: Ensure the SIM card package is sealed before activating it.
Activation Assistance: Avoid assistance from strangers during activation to prevent scams.

Choose busy street food stalls with sanitary conditions to minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses.

Busy Street Food Stalls: Select busy street food stalls as they are likely to maintain cleanliness and safety standards.
Sanitary Conditions: Look for stalls with proper sanitation, such as gloves and clean surfaces.
Cooked-to-Order Foods: Opt for cooked-to-order foods to minimize the risk of contamination.

Book Nile cruises through reputable travel agencies; beware of unsolicited offers on the street.

Reputable Travel Agencies: Book cruises through established and reputable travel agencies.
Unsolicited Offers: Decline unsolicited offers for Nile cruises on the street to avoid scams.
Check Reviews: Read reviews and check the ratings of the cruise company before booking.

Book tours through reputable tour operators to avoid overpriced or fraudulent guides.

Reputable Tour Operators: Book tours with established and reputable tour operators.
Avoid Street Guides: Decline offers for street guides to avoid scams or overpricing.
Check Reviews: Read reviews and check the ratings of the tour operator before booking.

Use licensed exchange offices for currency exchange to avoid being ripped off.

Licensed Exchange Offices: Use only licensed and reputable exchange offices.
Avoid Street Exchanges: Decline street currency exchanges to avoid being scammed.
Check Exchange Rates: Check the exchange rates beforehand to ensure fair pricing.

Enter mosques during prayer times; avoid entering mosques with suspicious characters offering guide services.

Prayer Times: Visit mosques during prayer times to avoid unsolicited offers and scams.
Suspicious Characters: Avoid entering mosques with suspicious characters offering guide services.
Respectful Behavior: Dress modestly and behave respectfully when visiting mosques to avoid offending locals.

Know the value of items before bargaining; be prepared to walk away if a deal can't be met.

Item Value: Research item values before visiting bazaars to negotiate effectively.
Bargaining Range: Understand the average bargaining range for items to avoid being ripped off.
Walk Away Option: Be prepared to walk away if a deal can't be met, as vendors may lower their prices to make a sale.

Book accommodations through trusted online platforms or reputable local agencies.

Online Platforms: Use trusted online platforms for booking accommodations.
Reputable Local Agencies: Opt for reputable local agencies when renting accommodations.
Avoid Street Rentals: Decline offers for street rentals to avoid scams or unsuitable accommodations.

Book Felucca rides through reputable agencies to avoid overpricing or subpar experiences.

Reputable Agencies: Book Felucca rides through established and reputable agencies.
Avoid Street Rides: Decline offers for street Felucca rides to avoid scams or subpar experiences.
Check Reviews: Read reviews and check the ratings of the felucca operator before booking.

Purchase tickets at the museum's ticket office to avoid ticket scams; beware of unsolicited offers for guided tours.

Ticket Office: Buy tickets at the museum's official ticket office.
Avoid Unsolicited Guides: Decline unsolicited offers for guided tours to avoid scams.
Security Checks: Undergo security checks before entering the museum to prevent theft.

Always use crosswalks and follow traffic rules to avoid accidents; beware of unofficial taxis or unlicensed drivers.

Crosswalk Usage: Use designated crosswalks when crossing the street.
Traffic Rules: Follow traffic rules and signs to stay safe on the road.
Unofficial Taxis: Avoid unofficial taxis or unlicensed drivers to ensure safety.

Respect local customs and tip appropriately; avoid consuming food from unhygienic street vendors.

Local Customs: Respect local customs when dining at street food stalls.
Tipping Etiquette: Tip appropriately for good service; a few Egyptian pounds is sufficient.
Hygienic Vendors: Choose vendors with clean environments and food safety measures in place.

Use licensed money exchange offices to avoid being ripped off; be aware of common scams such as counterfeit notes.

Licensed Offices: Exchange currency at licensed and reputable money exchange offices.
Counterfeit Notes: Inspect your bills carefully to avoid receiving counterfeit notes.
Negotiation Range: Understand the average exchange rate and negotiation range to avoid being overcharged.