Scam in MozambiqueFake officials
Police demands for money in Mozambique
How it works
Police may use their position to demand money. A claimed fine can become an opportunity to pressure a traveller into paying without proper verification.
Warning signs
- You are pressured to pay a fine immediately.
- The officer will not clearly explain the fine.
- The officer refuses to provide a receipt.
How to avoid it
- Stay calm and ask what the fine is for.
- Always ask for a receipt.
- Say you want to contact your embassy or the anti-corruption hotline to verify the fine.
- Do not assume that asking to go to a police station will make the situation safer.
If it happens to you
Ask for a receipt and mention contacting your embassy or the anti-corruption hotline to verify the demand. Avoid confrontation. Record details when it is safe.
- 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.
- Redditr/travel2022Close call in Mozambique with police corruption.. anyone had similar/tips?A traveller reported being subjected to a prolonged police shakedown in Tofo involving accusations and demands for payment.Read on Reddit
- Redditr/Mozambique2026Questions about safety in MozambiqueA commenter described police stopping them repeatedly for money and requesting a bribe during airport security screening.Read on Reddit
- Government adviceSafety and security - Mozambique travel advice - GOV.UKUK travel advice records visitors reporting police harassment, intimidation, robbery and requests for bribes.Read on Government advice
Questions
What is the police demands for money scam in Mozambique?
Police may use their position to demand money. A claimed fine can become an opportunity to pressure a traveller into paying without proper verification.
How can I spot it early?
You are pressured to pay a fine immediately. The officer will not clearly explain the fine. The officer refuses to provide a receipt.
How do I avoid police demands for money in Mozambique?
Stay calm and ask what the fine is for. Always ask for a receipt. Say you want to contact your embassy or the anti-corruption hotline to verify the fine. Do not assume that asking to go to a police station will make the situation safer.
What should I do if it happens to me?
Ask for a receipt and mention contacting your embassy or the anti-corruption hotline to verify the demand. Avoid confrontation. Record details when it is safe.
Where in Mozambique does this happen?
Encounters with police across Mozambique.
How common is this scam in Mozambique?
Common. 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.
Are there similar scams in Mozambique?
Yes: robbery at police stations.
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