Scam in MozambiqueFake officials
Robbery at police stations in Mozambique
How it works
Police have been known to rob tourists at stations and put them in a cell. Asking to be taken to a station during a dispute may therefore increase the risk.
Warning signs
- Police demand your cash or valuables for no clear reason.
- You are pressured to hand over belongings without a receipt.
How to avoid it
- Do not insist on going to a station as a way to resolve a demand for money.
- If you need to file a report, go with someone else.
- Leave valuables and excess cash somewhere secure before visiting.
- Contact your embassy if you are being threatened or detained.
If it happens to you
Avoid physical confrontation. Ask to contact your embassy, especially if you are detained. Once safe, write down what happened and seek help with reporting it.
- 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.
Questions
What is the robbery at police stations scam in Mozambique?
Police have been known to rob tourists at stations and put them in a cell. Asking to be taken to a station during a dispute may therefore increase the risk.
How can I spot it early?
Police demand your cash or valuables for no clear reason. You are pressured to hand over belongings without a receipt.
How do I avoid robbery at police stations in Mozambique?
Do not insist on going to a station as a way to resolve a demand for money. If you need to file a report, go with someone else. Leave valuables and excess cash somewhere secure before visiting. Contact your embassy if you are being threatened or detained.
What should I do if it happens to me?
Avoid physical confrontation. Ask to contact your embassy, especially if you are detained. Once safe, write down what happened and seek help with reporting it.
Where in Mozambique does this happen?
Police stations outside Maputo; Maputo is described as an exception to this particular warning.
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.
Are there similar scams in Mozambique?
Yes: police demands for money.
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