I'd heard about this a couple of months ago and it seems to have re-surfaced.
This information is to help you protect yourself.
The scheme operates like this:
The innocent passerby is stopped by an decent looking well-dressed man, who will point to a spot on the victims pant and motion that there is a stain. When the conman pretends to clean the stain for you, he actually creates the stain, by spitting or by something on his handkerchied. Then as he pretends to clean the stain for you, he pockets the victims wallet and disappears, before the victim even realises it is gone.
Normally these people operate in pairs or groups. If you see someone gesturing that you have a stain, just walk away like you don't understand anything they say. They may be armed, so better to avoid direct confrontation.
This modus operandi has been reported by multiple people around the Shooting Club area, so please be aware of your surroundings when you are out. A little bit of common sense, awareness and confident demeanour, should keep you relativey safe.
Take care.
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6 comments:
Kim - created a link from your post but not seen on your blog yet. Anyway, good warning so I like to help spread the word.
Thanks - Darell
http://sphinx-egyptexpat.blogspot.com/
Great advice, thanks! There are scams in every part of the world but that should not take away from what experiences that country can offer you.
Yes, there are scams everywhere and no it should not take away from the expereince of a country.
But the only defense against scams is awareness and that's what this post was intended for. To make people aware of the scam, so as to be able to avoid it if they are approached in this fashion.
I can't believe it - I came upon your blog following others of expats in Egypt. I fell victim to this very scam in Heliopolis - in 1982!!!
It came at the end of a baaad week and I stupidly ran after the guy with a penknife! The fact that I am still alive today is probably due to having lost him!
Hi Kim,
My name is Manna. I came across your blog while doing research for a trip to egypt that we plan to take in december. Where ask-alladin and other sites have given us a good idea of the outsiders view of egypt, your articles have been invaluable in getting more of a feel for the nukkads and gallis of Cairo :)
I am based in NY, I have been here for the past 8 years. I am originally from Pune, India. We (me and my husband) plan to spend a week in Egypt on our way to India.
Since our travel is between the 24th of Dec and the 1st of the new year, it seems like we cannot really join any package tours that operate internationally. We expect to visit Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. We were wondering if you could guide us to local resources (trustworthy tour operators, decently priced hotels etc). We were thinking of simply renting a car through Sixt for the entire time and just going it on our own. What do you think about that?
You can contact me at manna.singh@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best
Manna
This is exactly what happened to me in 2007 when i stayed in Mohandeseen! Damnit, lol! They took my cell phone.
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