Morocco, a popular destination for its breathtaking landscapes and rich culture, is not immune to the misadventures that tourists can encounter. Among these, some scams seem to be recurrent, as reported by many travelers. These incidents, shared on online forums, provide a picture of the pitfalls to avoid for future visitors to the kingdom.
One of the most frequently mentioned scams concerns taxis. Several testimonies converge on the same reality: drivers claim that their meter is out of order, which allows them to charge rates well above the normal. Tourists describe having been forced to abandon their journey in progress, faced with the insistence of drivers to demand disproportionate amounts. Some users of carpooling services, such as Uber, note that these platforms have helped reduce these abuses, offering a more transparent and reliable alternative.
Another common scam in Morocco involves the local currency, the dirham. The confusion between the different notes, particularly the purple 20 dirham note and the blue 200 dirham note, is exploited by some to deceive tourists. Malicious waiters or shopkeepers take advantage of their customers’ distractions to make them believe that they have made a mistake by giving them a note of lesser value. These situations can deprive tourists of large sums of money, without them immediately realizing it.
Given these risks, visitors are advised to take certain precautions. These include familiarizing themselves with the currency before starting a trip and choosing taxis whose drivers agree to use the meter. Using carpooling services can also minimize the risk of transportation scams.
