ShoppingCairo, Egypt

"Certified" papyrus institute sold prints at 8x the market price

Scam date: 2025-05-25 Reported: 2026-03-28

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.

More reports in Egypt

Transport

Airport taxi: "meter broken", tourist flat rate applies

📍 Cairo, Egypt

🗓️ 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.

Tickets & Attractions

"Pyramids are closed for prayers" — driver reroutes to a papyrus shop

📍 Giza, Egypt

🗓️ 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.

Photos & Performers

Camel ride: "free photo" then 500 EGP to get back down

📍 Giza, Egypt

🗓️ Scam date: 15 February 2026

📝 Reported: 1 March 2026

The camel handler said the photo was "free, gift from Egypt". After the photos, he refused to let the camel kneel — "500 EGP to come down". We paid 200. Agree on the total price before you get on any animal.