Morocco is a truly captivating country that offers a wealth of cultural riches for those who visit. The Moroccan people are renowned for their hospitality and eagerness to assist travellers, making it a remarkably welcoming destination. Having lived there for over a year, I was always blown away by the kindness of the locals, who go out of their way to ensure visitors feel at home. Whether it's offering directions, recommendations or simply a friendly smile, the Moroccan people exemplify the spirit of generosity.
That being said, Morocco is not exempt from tourist scams, which impact almost every country around the globe. As its popularity as a tourist destination soars, there are some people looking to make a quick buck from unsuspecting visitors, even if this kind of behaviour is heavily frowned upon by the majority of the population.
Avoiding scams in Morocco comes down to understanding the most likely situations in which they occur and knowing how to get yourself out of them. This article is all about helping you do just that by highlighting the most common Morocco scams that are in circulation, putting you one step ahead of the unscrupulous individuals who carry them out.
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Overpriced taxis
One of the first encounters new visitors often have with local scams happens right after they land at their destination and go to take their first taxi. This is no different in Morocco where taxi fares are sometimes inflated when unsuspecting tourists get into the backseat. Don’t get me wrong, there are lots of honest taxi drivers in Morocco - just not all of them!
To avoid being overcharged or falling victim, it's crucial to do your research regarding typical costs for common routes OR insist on using the taxi's meter. If the driver refuses to use the meter and instead tries to negotiate a fixed price, either step out or use your knowledge of current prices to haggle down. In these situations, it's important to negotiate firmly but politely for a fair price before agreeing to the ride.
Asking the staff at your hotel or checking with local friends about the average fares for common taxi routes is a great way to get a sense of the typical costs. Or, better yet, book a private transfer via Viator for when you arrive at the airport or to get you from city to city. The driver will be there when you arrive and there’s no risk of having to negotiate the fare when you’re tired and jetlagged.
Wondering if Morocco is safe to visit? Have all your questions answered in this article.
Fake "guides" and “helpers”
Unfortunately, this scam is all too common in some parts of Morocco and it’s happened to be more than once in Marrakech. It’s important to remember that wages are extremely low in the country and for those who can’t participate in the tourist economy through legitimate means, this is their way of getting a piece of the pie.
The way it typically plays out is that a person will approach you, often while you're navigating the labyrinthine streets of Morocco’s historic medinas and offer to provide unsolicited “help”. This might be helping you to find your accommodation, a local restaurant or a tourist attraction. Once you arrive at the destination, the scammer will then demand an exorbitantly inflated “tip” for the few minutes it took them to assist you.
In some cases, their assistance may be welcome (finding riads in medinas can be tricky!) and you might see no harm in providing them with a tip. But if you don’t want “help”, the best thing you can do is repeatedly say “no thank you” and keep on walking. In some cases, this will be enough and they will leave you alone. If not, I’d recommend you call out their behaviour to a local nearby. Many Moroccans feel ashamed of this kind of predation from their countrymen and if they know you feel uncomfortable, they will put a stop to it.
Some “helpers” also try to pass themselves off as official city guides and will even have fake IDs to show as “proof”. More often than not, they will end up taking you to shops or eateries where they receive kickbacks for bringing in customers, even if those establishments are overpriced or subpar. Sometimes, the scammer will refuse to leave until they've extracted an unreasonable payment and most people end up giving them money just to put an end to the situation.
Always steer clear of any tour operators or guides that don't have an online presence or positive reviews that you can verify. Reputable companies will have an official website where you can learn about their services and pricing or they’ll have their tours listed on Viator with verified reviews. By booking through a trusted site, such as Viator, and vetting guides carefully, you can enjoy the benefits of local expertise without the risks.
Common scams in Morocco
Menu switching at restaurants
Dining in Morocco is a truly incredible experience - the food here is a big part of the country’s draw. But it’s important to be aware of the "menu switch scam”, which takes place in some unscrupulous establishments, mostly in tourist-dominated areas. Thankfully, I’ve never had this happen to me but I’ve heard that it does occur.
This deceptive practice works by luring you into a restaurant with affordable prices on the initial menu, only to switch it out for one with significantly higher costs when the bill arrives. When you question the inflated total, the staff will produce an alternate menu as "proof" of the accurate pricing, leaving you with no recourse.
If you ever find yourself in this unfortunate situation, the best course of action is to simply pay what you believe to be the original quoted price, then promptly leave. If the staff persist, threaten to notify the authorities (call 190 for police) - the restaurant may already be on their radar. I’d also recommend putting a review up on TripAdvisor warning other diners that the scam is taking place at that establishment.
To avoid getting caught out in the first place, take a photo of the menu you are originally given with your phone so you can reference it once the bill arrives.
Counterfeit products at markets
Morocco is renowned for its vibrant markets and bustling souks, with everything from handcrafted leather goods to aromatic spices and argan oil for sale. However, this cultural treasure trove is also rife with counterfeit items masquerading as genuine, leaving unsuspecting tourists vulnerable to scams and disappointment.
This is particularly true in Marrakech and Fes - two of the country’s biggest tourist hotspots - where people come to shop during long weekends away. Because they don’t have time to travel around Morocco and purchase products at their origin source, they’re much more likely to get scammed into buying counterfeit products.
Unscrupulous vendors may peddle carpets, claiming they are antique treasures from remote Amazigh tribes, when in reality, they are mass-produced imitations. These sellers may even employ high-pressure tactics, insisting that the buyer can resell the item for a substantial profit back home or drastically lower the price in an attempt to seal the deal. If you can’t travel to a cooperative where genuine Amazigh carpets are sold, ask at your hotel for a trusted seller nearby.
Similarly, Morocco’s revered argan oil, renowned for its myriad health and beauty benefits, is sometimes diluted with more common oils but sold as the “real deal”. To avoid getting scammed, it’s advisable to purchase argan oil directly from the regions surrounding Essaouira and Agadir where the oil is produced. The chances of encountering a fake product here are significantly lower.
Saffron, one of the world’s most expensive spices, is also a prime target for counterfeiters, with inexpensive safflower often used as a substitute. The best way to identify genuine saffron is by its intense, distinctive aroma - real saffron has a very strong, pungent smell. If you’re still not sure, ask a local you trust to accompany you to the market - many riad owners go above and beyond to help their guests with small tasks like this!
When shopping for authentic Moroccan crafts and goods, it's important to educate yourself beforehand on the key characteristics to look for. This will help you avoid falling victim to counterfeit or low-quality products. The first step is to shop at recommended stores or cooperatives that are known for selling genuine, high-quality goods. Steer clear of deals that seem too good to be true, as they usually are.
If you’re serious about your shopping and planning on making a significant investment, I’d recommend exploring with a private shopping guide. This guided tour of the Marrakech souks is one example of the experiences you can find on Viator designed specifically for shopping. Led by knowledgeable locals who can tell genuine from fake, these Morocco shopping tours can be tailored specifically to the products you’re interested in buying.
To learn more about the shopping opportunities in Morocco, check out my Ultimate Guide to Shopping in Morocco.
Common scams in Morocco
Tannery scams
Morocco's leather tanneries, particularly those located in historic Fes, have long been a major draw for tourists seeking an immersive cultural experience. However, these popular sites have also become a hub for a notorious scam that preys on unsuspecting visitors.
While walking in the vicinity of these tanneries, you may be approached by overly friendly individuals who claim to be offering a helpful service. They'll assure you that entering the tanneries through the main entrance will result in exorbitant admission fees, but they can guide you through an "exclusive" entry point where you won't have to pay. While the allure of saving yourself the cost of an entrance ticket may be tempting, the reality is much more nefarious.
Once you've been led through the alternative entrance, these "guides" will begin demanding excessive sums of money, often much more than the standard ticket price. Travellers have reported being aggressively pressured into paying for an "exclusive tour" of the tanneries, with the guides using a variety of manipulative tactics to extract as much money as possible.
Always enter the tanneries through the main entrance and if you do wish to have a more intimate tour experience, be sure to agree on a fair, upfront price with a licensed guide before proceeding. Your hotel can often provide recommendations for trustworthy tour operators or this highly rated Fes full-day tour includes a visit to the tanneries.
Visiting Morocco as a solo female traveller? This article is for you.
Djemma el-Fnaa scams
Djemma el-Fnaa is perhaps the most touristy part of Morocco’s most touristy city, Marrakech, so it should come as no surprise that there might be a few scams going on here. That being said, it’s still somewhere I highly recommend you visit, just do so with your wits about you.
One scam that you should be aware of is women “accidentally” spilling ink onto your hand, only to offer to give you a full henna hand tattoo. Once the tattoo is complete, the woman will promptly demand anywhere from 100 to 200 Moroccan Dirhams, regardless of the tattoo’s quality or the fact that you may not have wanted it in the first place. To avoid falling prey, it's best to politely decline any unsolicited offers for henna tattoos and walk away.
You may also see men in Djemma el-Fnaa carrying exotic animals such as snakes and monkeys, which they may suddenly place upon passersby, insisting they pose for a photograph. The moment a tourist succumbs to the pressure and allows the creature to be positioned on them, the men will use the visitor's camera or phone to snap a picture. Afterward, they will aggressively demand a fee in return, often much more than the short interaction warrants.
I’m not a fan of subjecting wild animals to these situations in the first place, so I would advise giving these men a wide birth. If you do, however, wish to capture a photo with them, it's crucial to agree on a fair price beforehand and then walk away once the transaction is complete to avoid being asked for more.
Common scams in Morocco
Hashish scams
The hashish dealer scam is undoubtedly one of the most sinister you may encounter in Morocco. The modus operandi is as follows: a hashish dealer will approach an unsuspecting tourist and offer to sell them a substantial quantity of the drug. To gain the victim's trust, the dealer may even smoke a portion of it with them, lulling them into a false sense of security.
Unbeknownst to the tourist, the dealer is working in cahoots with a corrupt police officer who is waiting nearby. At the opportune moment, the officer will suddenly appear and demand that the tourist pay an exorbitant bribe to avoid being arrested for the possession of illegal substances. Faced with this threat, the tourist is left with no choice but to pay up.
The fact that this scam relies on the victim's own intoxication and the collusion between the two perpetrators makes it all the more insidious and difficult to avoid. The best way to steer clear of this trap is to simply refrain from purchasing any drugs whatsoever while travelling in Morocco, as the consequences can be severe, including the potential for jail time.
Pickpocketing
While pickpocketing isn’t really a “scam”, it’s something that you do need to be aware of in crowded tourist areas around the globe. It has never happened to me anywhere in Morocco but it’s a fact of travel around the world. In Morocco, I would say the worst places for pickpocketing are Djemma el-Fna in Marrakech and the narrow streets of Fes - both places where your senses can become overwhelmed and you’re easily distracted by everything going on around you.
Moroccan pickpockets prowling these areas often work in coordinated teams to snatch wallets, phones or even passports. The sad reality is that by the time you realise what has happened, the pickpocket has long since vanished, making it nearly impossible to track them down or recover the stolen goods.
To avoid becoming a target, avoid wearing flashy jewellery or expensive watches when exploring Moroccan cities and stay hyper-vigilant when walking through crowded areas. Always keep your money on your body, not in back pockets where it can be easily snatched. You may want to consider travelling with an anti-theft bag or travel money belt to secure your essentials, ensuring they stay well away from wandering hands. I never carry my passport when I’m out sightseeing and secure it away in a safety deposit box at the hotel instead.
I also highly recommend taking out travel insurance, which will help to cover the costs of lost valuables if you do become a victim of pickpocketing. VisitorsCoverage is a great resource as it compares policies from top providers like Allianz, AXA and Travel Guard and does a lot of the research work for you.
VisitorsCoverage has received rave reviews on TrustPilot for its user-friendly quoting process, comprehensive plan details and excellent customer support. Travellers find it especially valuable compared to the traditional insurance buying experience and I can vouch for that. That's why it has become my top choice when I need to research and buy travel insurance, whether it's for Morocco or any other destination.
You can learn more about travel insurance for Morocco here.