Scam in AngolaTheft
Pickpocketing in Angola
How it works
Someone takes money or belongings without you noticing. Even areas described as safer from violent crime still have pickpocketing.
Warning signs
- Your phone or wallet is visible and easy to reach.
- Your bag is open or outside your view.
How to avoid it
- Keep your bag closed and in front of you.
- Hide spare cash in a money belt.
- Keep gadgets and jewellery out of sight.
- Carry only the valuables you need.
If it happens to you
Move somewhere safe. Freeze stolen cards, secure affected accounts, and report the theft to police.
- Move to a safe, staffed place. Do not chase a thief or fight over belongings.
- Seek medical help for any injury. After a sexual assault, seek medical attention immediately.
- Freeze stolen cards and contact your card issuer about disputed transactions. Secure accounts linked to a stolen phone.
- Write down what happened, including the time, place, amount lost and any vehicle or officer details. Keep receipts and messages.
- Report the incident to police and request a report or reference number if available.
- Contact your insurer. If your passport is lost, stolen or withheld, contact your embassy or consulate.
What travellers report
Posts about this scam on other sites, summarised in our words. Open one to read the original.
- Government adviceAngola travel adviceCanadian travel advice reports regular pickpocketing and bag snatching, including in Luanda, tourist areas and around the airport.Read on Government advice
- Government adviceAngola Travel Advice & Safety | SmartravellerAustralian travel advice lists pickpocketing among common crimes in Angola and urges particular care in crowded places such as markets.Read on Government advice
Questions
What is the pickpocketing scam in Angola?
Someone takes money or belongings without you noticing. Even areas described as safer from violent crime still have pickpocketing.
How can I spot it early?
Your phone or wallet is visible and easy to reach. Your bag is open or outside your view.
How do I avoid pickpocketing in Angola?
Keep your bag closed and in front of you. Hide spare cash in a money belt. Keep gadgets and jewellery out of sight. Carry only the valuables you need.
What should I do if it happens to me?
Move somewhere safe. Freeze stolen cards, secure affected accounts, and report the theft to police.
Where in Angola does this happen?
Across Luanda, including the colonial part of the city. It has been reported in Luanda.
How common is this scam in Angola?
Common. The main risks described in Angola are theft, robbery, police demands for money, and motorcycle taxi overcharging. Luanda has pickpocketing, muggings and carjackings, but there is no clear measure of how often tourists face scams. Plan transport ahead, keep valuables hidden, and carry an authorised copy of your passport.
Are there similar scams in Angola?
Yes: mugging and robbery, carjacking.
Who can I report it to?
Police: report theft, robbery or fraud once you are safe. Ask your accommodation or a trusted guide for help finding a police station. Request a report or reference number if available. Police handling complaints about officer conduct: report police abuse with the officer's identity number if you safely obtained it. In Luanda, the number should be on an armband near the shoulder. No specific complaints unit or contact is provided. Card issuer or bank: use the official banking app or a verified contact number to freeze a card and report unauthorised payments. Embassy or consulate: contact your country's embassy or consulate through its official contact details if your passport is stolen or withheld, or you need consular help. Travel insurer: use the claims or assistance contact on your policy. Keep police paperwork, receipts and evidence of your losses.
Reviewed by @snuck