A "guard" at the Egyptian Museum followed us for 20 minutes, opening ropes and "explaining" things we never asked about, then blocked the exit until we paid baksheesh. We gave 50 EGP to make him leave. Politely but firmly: "la shukran".
🗓️ Scam date: 11 August 2025
📝 Reported: 28 August 2026
The driver said his meter was broken and quoted a "special tourist rate" of 600 EGP from the airport to downtown. Uber showed the same trip at 120 EGP. He refused to lower it and we had to get our bags out of the trunk ourselves. Book Uber or arrange a hotel transfer.
🗓️ Scam date: 7 December 2025
📝 Reported: 26 June 2026
At the Giza entrance, a man said the pyramids were "closed for prayers" until 2 pm and offered a cheap tour "in the meantime". The tour was a papyrus shop and a "perfume palace". The pyramids were never closed. Touts cannot close the pyramids.
🗓️ Scam date: 25 May 2025
📝 Reported: 28 March 2026
Our guide's "certified papyrus institute" sold "museum-grade" papyrus prints at 8x the price of Khan el-Khalili. The guide's commission was obvious when he waited outside. Guides get 40–50% at these institutes.