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Some scams

Western Africa

Tourist scams in Senegal

Tourist scams and petty theft are common in Dakar, especially around busy markets and the airport. Watch for inflated taxi fares, missing change, false guides, pickpockets and people posing as airport or hotel staff. Some tricks involve threats or robbery, so leave early if an encounter feels wrong.
  1. 1 TaxisCommonInflated taxi faresDrivers may quote visitors a much higher fare than locals pay. You must bargain and agree on the fare before the ride.Dakar 3Read
  2. 2 Other tricksCommonThe missing-change trickA seller or driver claims to have no change and may keep the extra cash. A Dakar taxi driver may do this even after promising to provide change. Some people genuinely cannot change large notes.Everyday cash payments, including food purchases and taxi rides. Specifically described for taxis in Dakar. 1Read
  3. 3 On the streetCommonFake hotel worker asking for fuel moneySomeone claims to work at your hotel and says they have run out of fuel. They ask to borrow money, using the supposed hotel connection to gain your trust.Dakar 1Read
  4. 4 TheftCommonPickpocketing and the leg-grab distractionPickpockets target crowded places. In a two-person method, one person grabs your leg or clothing while another takes items from your pocket on the other side.Dakar 1Read
  5. 5 ShoppingCommonAggressive selling and guilt pressureStreet vendors may follow you for several blocks and pressure you to buy. Some accuse white visitors of racism after they refuse a purchase.Dakar 3Read
  6. 6 On the streetOccasionalFalse friend or guide leading you to a robberySomeone claims to have met you before or offers to guide you. They gain your trust, then lead you to a remote place where you are robbed.Streets, beaches and markets. Women are frequently targeted at beaches or markets. 1Read
  7. 7 TheftOccasionalMarket vendor snatching cashA vendor grabs cash from a visitor's hand and pockets it. They then claim the money was theirs, making ownership hard to prove.Street stalls. 1Read
  8. 8 Airport and borderOccasionalFake airport staff and hotel-lure extortionPeople claim to work for the airport and say they need no payment. They take your bags and lead you to a restaurant, where they surround you and demand money before releasing you or your luggage. Another version offers an affordable hotel, then involves locking themselves in the room with you and demanding money with threats.Dakar 1Read
  9. 9 Fake officialsOccasionalPolice pressure for a bribe over identificationPolice sometimes stop vehicles to check papers. If you have no passport or identification, an officer may seek a bribe or threaten to take you to the station. The pressure may be a bluff, but it can escalate.Vehicle stops and document checks. 1Read
  10. 10 Buses and trainsOccasionalFalse bus destinationThe fare collector may say the minibus goes to your destination simply to get you aboard, even when it goes elsewhere.DakarRead
  11. 11 Buses and trainsOccasionalFalse claims that a bus is nearly fullOperators understate the number of empty seats to persuade you to pay. Because the vehicle waits to fill, you may then spend hours at the station.Dakar 1Read
  12. 12 TheftOccasionalTheft from separately stored bus luggageValuables can go missing from bags carried separately from passengers.Dakar, Saint-Louis 2Read

Where to stay alert

  • Marche Sandaga, DakarKnown for pickpockets and aggressive hawkers. Crowded stalls make it harder to watch belongings.
  • Place de l'Indépendance, DakarTourists can experience petty crime even around this central area.
  • Airport arrivals and baggage collection, DakarFake airport workers may take bags and lead travellers into demands for money. Touts and taxi drivers also approach arrivals.
  • Gare Pompier, DakarOperators may lie about remaining seats on services towards Saint-Louis. Valuables can also disappear from separately stored luggage.

Habits that keep you safe

Taxis

  • Ask a local for a fare estimate and agree on the price before the ride.
  • Carry the exact fare where possible.
  • For airport trips, confirm the motorway route and toll payment.
  • Heetch and Yango are available in Dakar.

Money

  • Keep small notes for food, taxis and other daily payments.
  • Break large notes at larger businesses.
  • Keep cash out of sight while bargaining.
  • Avoid changing money at the airport.

Cards and ATMs

  • Plan cash needs before leaving major cities, where ATM access is limited.
  • Ecobank ATMs accept MasterCard and Visa.
  • Cover your PIN and put cash away before leaving the ATM.
  • Keep your card issuer's contact details somewhere separate from your cards.

Your belongings

  • Use pockets that fasten and keep bags closed in crowds.
  • Take only the money you need to busy markets.
  • Keep valuables with you on buses, rather than in separately stored luggage.
  • Keep control of your bags at airport arrivals.
  • Avoid displaying expensive jewellery or clothing.

Nights out

  • Avoid beaches at night.
  • Avoid evening and night walks along the Corniche, especially between the International School of Dakar and Club Olympique.
  • Arrange transport before going out after dark.
  • Women should avoid walking alone after dark.

Where you stay

  • Choose accommodation yourself instead of following an unsolicited airport helper.
  • Do not enter a hotel room with strangers who approached you at arrivals.
  • Verify claims that someone works at your hotel through reception.

Tours and guides

  • Decline unsolicited guides who want to lead you away from busy places.
  • Treat claims that a stranger already knows you with caution.
  • Arrange guides through a contact you have checked independently.

Police and officials

  • Carry identification; a passport copy is recommended.
  • Keep the original passport secure when carrying a copy.
  • Stay calm during document checks.
  • Ask for a formal explanation and receipt for any requested payment.

What travellers say about Senegal

Discussions on other sites, summarised in our words. Open a link to read the full thread.

Questions

How worried should I be about scams in Senegal?

Be especially alert in Dakar, where tourist scams and petty theft are common. Busy markets and airport arrivals need extra care.

How do I avoid paying too much for a taxi?

Ask a local for a fare estimate, bargain before boarding and agree on the full price. Carry the exact fare. Heetch and Yango are also available in Dakar.

Can I trust someone offering free help with airport bags?

Do not hand over your bags to unsolicited helpers. Fake airport workers may take luggage and lead you somewhere to demand money. Seek help at an official desk.

What should I watch for at Marche Sandaga?

Watch for pickpockets and persistent vendors. Carry little cash, keep pockets fastened and pay attention if someone grabs your clothing or leg.

What if a seller says they have no change?

Some genuinely lack change, while others use this to keep the difference. Carry small notes and pay the exact amount where possible.

Should I follow someone who says they know me?

Be cautious. A false friend or unsolicited guide may lead you to an isolated place for a robbery. Stay in busy areas and decline the offer.

What should I check before boarding a local bus?

Ask where it is going before naming your destination. On services that wait to fill, look inside and count empty seats before paying.

Is it safe to put valuables in bus luggage?

Keep valuables with you. Items can go missing from separately stored bags on mini cars and Ndiaga Ndiaye buses between Dakar and Saint-Louis.

What if police ask for money during an ID check?

Stay calm and ask for the formal reason and a receipt. Avoid confrontation. Carry identification to reduce problems, and contact your embassy if you are detained.

Where should I avoid walking after dark in Dakar?

Avoid beaches at night and evening or night walks along the Corniche, especially between the International School of Dakar and Club Olympique. Arrange transport after dark.

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