What are common scams in Sharm el-Sheikh (currency exchange, tour guides) and how to avoid them?

From messages by 2 participants in 2 sources · Last activity: 52 days ago

TL;DR

Never transfer money to third parties for currency exchange — only exchange in person, cash for cash. With tour guides, avoid private meetings and don't hand over your voucher until the service is actually provided, as some may become aggressive.

What the community said

A tour guide took the tourist's voucher and became threatening when she tried to leave. She only got out of the situation by threatening to publicly expose where and at what price she'd bought the excursion — the guide then quickly escorted her out.

Scammers posing as 'currency exchange helpers' contact travelers privately after someone in a chat asks for exchange contacts. They ask for money upfront, then block and delete the chat if you refuse.

Encountered an attempted currency exchange scam: the contact insisted on prepayment, but the traveler refused to send money until she actually had the Egyptian pounds in hand. She was then insulted and blocked in two separate chats.