Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Ērer Sātā, Sumalē, Ethiopia
1. Taxi Scams
Avoid overpriced taxis by negotiating the fare beforehand or using metered taxis whenever available. Be wary of taxi drivers who offer a 'special deal'.
- Negotiation: Avoid overpaying by negotiating the fare before starting your journey.
- Metered Taxis: Use metered taxis to ensure a fair and transparent price.
- Avoiding 'Special Deals': Be cautious when offered 'special deals' as they may result in overcharging.
2. Currency Exchange Scams
Exchange currency only at authorized bureaus de change or banks to avoid being shortchanged. Be alert for offers of better rates from street vendors.
- Authorized Exchanges: Exchange currency at authorized bureaus de change or banks for a secure and fair exchange rate.
- Street Vendors: Avoid street vendors offering better rates as they may shortchange you.
- Check Exchange Rates: Regularly check the official exchange rate to ensure a fair deal when exchanging currency.
3. Sim Card Scams
Buy SIM cards only from authorized retailers and not from street vendors. Be wary of offers for 'free' or heavily discounted SIM cards.
- Authorized Retailers: Buy SIM cards only from authorized retailers to avoid malfunctioning SIMs and potential theft of personal data.
- Street Vendors: Avoid street vendors offering SIM cards as they may provide faulty or stolen SIMs.
- Heavily Discounted SIM Cards: Be wary of heavily discounted SIM cards, as these could be stolen or malfunctioning.
4. Hotel Scams
Research hotels in advance and book through reputable channels to avoid being scammed by unregistered hotels. Inspect the room before checking in.
- Reputable Channels: Book hotels through reputable channels to ensure a legitimate and registered hotel.
- Inspecting the Room: Inspect the room before checking in for any damage or unusual features that might indicate a scam.
- Registration: Ensure the hotel is registered and complies with local regulations to avoid safety concerns and potential theft of personal belongings.
5. Food Scams
Avoid street food vendors that do not display their food properly or cook it openly. Stick to restaurants with good reviews and hygienic conditions.
- Proper Food Display: Avoid vendors with poor food display practices as they may use expired ingredients.
- Cooking Openly: Choose vendors who cook their food openly to ensure it's fresh and properly prepared.
- Restaurants with Good Reviews: Select restaurants with good reviews for a safe and enjoyable dining experience.
6. Begging Scams
Be aware that some beggars may be part of organized scam groups. Avoid giving money to beggars in tourist areas, and instead consider donating to local charities.
- Organized Scam Groups: Beware that some beggars may be part of organized scam groups.
- Tourist Areas: Avoid giving money to beggars in tourist areas as they might not genuinely need help.
- Donating to Local Charities: Consider donating to local charities for more sustainable support of the community.
7. Guide Scams
Only hire licensed tour guides and be cautious of unsolicited offers from strangers. Research guide reviews and compare prices before booking.
- Licensed Tour Guides: Hire only licensed tour guides to ensure a knowledgeable and professional experience.
- Unsolicited Offers: Be wary of unsolicited offers from strangers as they may not be legitimate guides.
- Research and Comparison: Research guide reviews and compare prices before booking to ensure a high-quality experience.
8. Souvenir Scams
Only buy souvenirs from reputable shops or markets and negotiate prices before purchasing. Be cautious of extremely low prices or sellers who pressure you to buy immediately.
- Reputable Shops: Buy souvenirs from reputable shops or markets for authentic and high-quality items.
- Negotiation: Negotiate prices before purchasing to get a fair deal on your souvenirs.
- Pressure Tactics: Be wary of sellers who use pressure tactics, as they may be trying to sell low-quality or overpriced items.
9. ATM Scams
Use ATMs located inside banks, hotels, or shopping malls to avoid skimming devices on standalone machines. Be cautious of ATMs that appear damaged or tampered with.
- Secure Locations: Use ATMs located inside banks, hotels, or shopping malls to minimize the risk of skimming devices.
- Damaged Machines: Avoid using damaged or tampered-with ATMs as they may have skimming devices installed.
- Monitor Your Account: Regularly monitor your account for any unauthorized transactions.
10. Gold Scams
Only buy gold from reputable jewellers and check the gold's purity before purchasing. Be cautious of extremely low prices or sellers who pressure you to buy immediately.
- Reputable Jewellers: Buy gold only from reputable jewellers for authentic and high-quality items.
- Gold Purity Check: Check the gold's purity before purchasing to ensure its authenticity and value.
- Pressure Tactics: Be wary of sellers who use pressure tactics, as they may be trying to sell low-quality or overpriced items.
11. Traditional Medicine Scams
Only purchase traditional medicine from reputable sources and ask for the ingredients. Be cautious of medicines with extremely low prices or sellers who claim immediate results.
- Reputable Sources: Purchase traditional medicine only from reputable sources to ensure its safety and effectiveness.
- Ingredients: Ask for the ingredients of the traditional medicine before purchasing to verify its authenticity.
- Immediate Results: Be wary of medicines that claim immediate results, as they may have harmful side effects.
12. Transportation Scams
Avoid shared minibuses (microlets) with broken or missing signs. Confirm the destination before boarding and pay the fare only to the driver.
- Broken or Missing Signs: Avoid shared minibuses (microlets) with broken or missing signs as they may be unlicensed vehicles.
- Destination Confirmation: Confirm the destination before boarding to ensure you are going to the correct place.
- Payment to the Driver: Pay the fare only to the driver to avoid being overcharged or scammed by other passengers.
13. Fake Tourist Police Scams
Be aware that some individuals may pose as tourist police to extort money from tourists. Only approach legitimate tourist police officers with a uniform and identification.
- Uniform and Identification: Legitimate tourist police officers will wear a uniform and have identification.
- Extortion Attempts: Be wary of individuals posing as tourist police who attempt to extort money from tourists.
- Reputable Sources for Assistance: Seek assistance from reputable sources, such as your embassy or hotel, if you encounter any issues during your travels.
14. Fake Accident Scams
Be cautious of individuals who claim to have accidentally bumped into you and demand money. Avoid engaging with them and report the incident to local authorities if necessary.
- Engagement: Avoid engaging with individuals who claim to have accidentally bumped into you and demand money.
- Reporting the Incident: Report the incident to local authorities if necessary to ensure your safety and well-being.
- Suspicious Individuals: Be wary of suspicious individuals who may be part of organized scam groups.
15. Friendly Scams
Be cautious of overly friendly strangers who offer help or advice, as they may lead you into potentially dangerous situations. Trust your instincts and seek assistance from reputable sources instead.
- Overly Friendly Strangers: Be cautious of overly friendly strangers who may lead you into potentially dangerous situations.
- Instincts: Trust your instincts and avoid engaging with suspicious individuals.
- Reputable Sources: Seek assistance from reputable sources, such as your embassy or hotel, if you need help during your travels.