What to do if accused of 'touching' a local woman in Sharm El Sheikh and police demand compensation money?
Based on 2 discussions with 3 participants · Last activity: 12 days ago
TL;DR
A known scam in Sharm El Sheikh: a local woman claims a tourist touched/bumped her, police are called, and they demand a 'compensation' payment of hundreds to thousands of dollars until you pay; the hotel guide often sides with the locals.
What the community said
A recent 2026 case: a tourist accidentally bumped a local woman at a disco, police detained him, and the woman's husband filed a complaint demanding $10,000 to withdraw it.
13 days ago $10,000 demand
Experienced travelers warn that in these situations, proof doesn't matter — police may detain you until you pay. The only real solution is making the incident public and contacting your embassy for help.
13 days ago
A similar older incident: a local woman claimed a tourist pushed her at a hotel, police were called, and 'compensation' of $1000 was demanded; the tourists ended up paying around $400 on the spot to avoid further trouble, with the hotel guide siding against them.
14 days ago ~$400 paid