Scam in MozambiqueShopping
Inflated shopping prices in Mozambique
How it works
A seller may open with a very high asking price for an unpriced item. Bargaining is expected, so the first quote may be far above a reasonable final price.
Warning signs
- There is no price attached to the item.
- The opening quote is far above the price your accommodation suggested.
How to avoid it
- Ask your accommodation about fair prices before shopping.
- Bargain calmly before agreeing to buy.
- Confirm the currency and final amount.
- Walk away politely if the price is too high.
If it happens to you
If you have not paid, decline politely or continue bargaining calmly. If you have paid, you can ask for a refund, but avoid an angry confrontation.
- Get somewhere safe. Do not chase a thief or physically resist a threatening robber.
- Check for injuries and seek medical help if needed.
- Freeze missing cards and tell your card issuer about any unauthorised payments.
- Save receipts, messages and booking details. Write down the time, place and what happened.
- Report the incident where safe. If visiting a police station, take someone with you and carry no valuables or excess cash.
- Contact your insurer. Contact your embassy if your passport is missing, you are detained or you need help dealing with officials.
What travellers report
Posts about this scam on other sites, summarised in our words. Open one to read the original.
Questions
What is the inflated shopping prices scam in Mozambique?
A seller may open with a very high asking price for an unpriced item. Bargaining is expected, so the first quote may be far above a reasonable final price.
How can I spot it early?
There is no price attached to the item. The opening quote is far above the price your accommodation suggested.
How do I avoid inflated shopping prices in Mozambique?
Ask your accommodation about fair prices before shopping. Bargain calmly before agreeing to buy. Confirm the currency and final amount. Walk away politely if the price is too high.
What should I do if it happens to me?
If you have not paid, decline politely or continue bargaining calmly. If you have paid, you can ask for a refund, but avoid an angry confrontation.
Where in Mozambique does this happen?
Shops and stalls where goods have no displayed price.
How common is this scam in Mozambique?
Occasional. Travellers generally face less hassle in Mozambique than in many nearby countries, but taxi overcharging, inflated asking prices and demands for money by police can occur. Theft risks include street robbery, theft at police stations and valuables going missing during airport security checks. Agree prices early, carry small notes and keep valuables in sight.
Who can I report it to?
Police: a police report may be needed for an insurance claim after theft. Go with someone else and avoid taking valuables or excess cash. Be aware of the risk of demands for money and theft at stations. Your embassy: contact your embassy for help with detention, a stolen passport or demands for money by officials. You can also mention contacting it to verify a claimed fine. Anti-corruption hotline: mention contacting the hotline to verify a claimed fine. No telephone number is provided. Card issuer: use your banking app or the issuer's official contact channel to freeze stolen cards, report unauthorised payments and ask about a dispute. Airport security supervisor: if belongings disappear during screening, report the loss promptly. Give the checkpoint, time and a description of the missing items. Ask for a written record. Travel insurer: contact the insurer through its official claims channel. Keep receipts, incident notes and any police report it requires.
Reviewed by @snuck