A word of caution for female tourists visiting Egypt: be careful of the many of the men working in tourist areas in Egypt.
Although the vast majority of Egyptians have a high sense of honor and good conduct, it seems that tourist areas seem to attract a relatively high concentration of people with lax morals, who would exploit tourists in many ways. It can manifest itself as persistent aggressive begging, peddling cheap goods, charging 10X the normal prices for services and goods, and what this article focuses on: exploiting female tourists.
Looking at the bulk of the comments on my notes on compulsory army service in egypt they are mostly from non-Egyptian women who married (or intend to marry) an Egyptian man, and army service has become an obstacle.
So, once you here the word "habibti" (meaning "my love" in Arabic), and before you call him "Habibi", let alone go down the marriage route, read on below for more information.
The exploitation happens in many forms, but is normally centered around one of the following:
Easy and Free Sex
Many tourists come from countries where sex is more freely practiced outside of marriage. Youn g Egyptian men working in tourist areas who
are not married see this as an opportunity, and are met with acceptance from the female tourists.
A source for Money
Many Egyptian men who practice this scam view the "wealthy" tourist as a source of income. They keep asking their "girl friend", "fiance" or "wife" for money for various excuses, just like a professional scammer would play a confidence game on a victim.
An Opporunity for Immigration
Some of those men want to get out of Egypt, and see their marriage as a way to gain residence and citizenship in a Western country. The economy in Egypt has been stagnant for decades, and poverty, lack of opportunity and the high cost of marriage lures some youth to trying these tricks.
Why it works?
There are several factors that work in favor of the Egyptian scammers here.
One factor that helps is that most Egyptian men look desirable to Western women, being of darker complexion than their compatriots. The fact that the foreigners are white blonds work in making the women attractive and desirable for Egyptian men.
Another factor is that the woman is coming to the tourist place to have a good time. It may be a break from stressful work or study, or perhaps a past relationship. This helps blind her to what is happening.
Yet another factor is the cultural differences which also create temporary blindness.
Moreover, those workers being away from their village or city of origin, where they would be observed by their extended family and friends tend to make it easier for them to engage in sexual relationships and scams without being scrutinized by acquaintenaces, and no stigma is attached to these behaviors.
Finally, the scammers have perfected their techniques over the years, and are very skillful at what they do.
Blacklists
Blacklists have emerged on the internet, to warn potential female tourists from known exploiters. These have all the faults of user contributed content on the internet in that they can be innacurate, biased, or even rigged by rivals or pranksters. However, in the absence of any other information, they can be useful, provided they are taken with a good deal of skepticism and research and common sense applied.
- An overview article on what a "black list" is, at Arabia.pl.
- Dezy House: Blacklist for Hurghada, in English.
- Dezy House: Blacklist for Sharm El Sheikh, in English.
- Wanted List of Egypt.
- Egyptian Blacklist on Topix.
- KunstKamera blacklist.
Happens everywhere, not only Egypt
Before someone gets the impression that Egypt is a cesspool, and Egyptians are crooks, let me say it is neither.
The problem above is not limited to Egypt by any means. Any country where tourists come in to spend money has its share of exploiters. The above black lists have a Turkish one, and a Tunisian one, and there are lots of stories about French, Italian and Spanish men exploiting women tourists as well.
Of course, there is also the Russian bride fraud targeting well to do men in the West.
So, the problem is universal, although this article focuses on female tourists to Egypt.
Final Thoughts
There are many non-Egyptian women married to Egyptian men happily, so over-generalizing from the cases mentioned, or from workers at tourist resort is wrong. Chances are you will be happy with an Egyptian as a husband if you met him in a more natural settings, e.g. while studying or working, and getting to meet his family as well.
The "artificial" environment in resorts, being on holiday, and surrounded by some scammers lend itself to the disasters described.
So, beware ...
Further Reading
- Marwa Rakha: Relationship Warning: Do not get involved with Egyptian Men (also here).
- Global Voices: "Beware of Egyptian Men" says Canadian Embassy, also by Marwa Rakha.
- Trailing Grouse: Egyptian men marrying women for money.
- Yahoo Answers: Egyptian Men marrying foreign women to get out from Egypt.
- Sex, Sun, Stupidity and Gigolos.
- Amy Robson: n English girl who keeps falling in false love with Egyptian men (she finally returned to Britain).
- Someone searching on KunstKamera: for Honest Egyptian Boys?
- List if sites on Romance Fraud in German, and other languages.
- A movie documentary in the making on holiday romance, specially Hurghada.
- Female Sex Tourism on Wikipedia, has lots of links to extensive articles. While Turkey is listed as a major destination, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco are listed as "minor destinations".
- An article from a Canadian perspective: Sex tourism in full boom. Jamaica, Barbados, Dominican Republic and the Caribbean are the major destination for Canadian women.
Comments
Anonymous (not verified)
Attia is back in egypt now,
Tue, 2012/10/02 - 11:23Hi Lynn,
I can do some digging? I am flying to Egypt in a week or so for 3 days re work so It is doable. Please give me as much information as you can, including their marriage deed's details. Feel free to send the information to omarshamsm@gmail.com.
All the best
sally dunlop (not verified)
white woman from new zealand
Thu, 2012/09/20 - 06:08hi i have a sister who just went to tunsia a week ago she has been talking to a man i beleive from egypit i beleive anyway he meet her in tunis they have gone to djebra were he rented a house for the two off them,i beleive he working as a chef now since they got there she beleives he really wants to be with her she is a lot older than him she doeswnt even really know him god knows what will happen,she beleives he wants her weather that is true i wonder she got talking to him over the internet how long we dont know next she went there we all wonder is this real or is there a hidden agenda she wont listen to her family she has had nothing to do with a musliem culture ever so what does every body think real or not
Isis (not verified)
Re: Woman from New Zealand.
Thu, 2012/09/20 - 20:36With so many red flags, in my opinion there is no doubt that she is being scammed. Unfortunately, if she won't listen to her family she will need to find out the hard way which could include emotional and financial loss. He will groom her and wait for the opportunity to ask for money whilst declaring his undying love for her. With all the publicity regarding this type of scamming it is amazing that women are still falling for it. In Australia there has been considerable media coverage on the international "love rat" scams.
Areas of concern are:
1. She met him on the internet
2. She does not know this man
3. She is older than him (not always an issue but scammers tend to target older women because they can be more vulnerable and are perceived to have money)
4. She has travelled alone to a foreign country with little or no knowledge of the culture which raises concerns for her safety and well being
I hope that she sees the "light" and returns to New Zealand safely with her money and pride intact.
Anonymous (not verified)
Re: Woman from New Zealand
Thu, 2012/09/20 - 22:35Heyy.. So what if she met him on the internet, does not mean hes a scammer.. He could be.. But your sister has to find this out.. So many people sucessfully and happily meet partners on the internet. In alot of cases is more safer and can build good and great relationships. I too am from NZ and have a man in Egypt, I met him from the net, we have been in a relationship for 2 yrs now, and very happy have met him twice and will again at Xmas.. He is financially secure, has his own home,a car, great job, hes not married, does not ask me for money.. Due to the nature of his job- we cannot marry (cannot go into this - and means he cannot travel as well), but we are both happy with how it is.. Yes hes Muslim, and does not force me to convert or change.. So yes it can work.. Maybe Im the lucky one.. I hope in your sisters case so is she..And, we text, phone, skype, web cam to keep the relationship alive..Also age is a number.. Scammers are in all walks of life.. she could meet a man in a bar and have the same results.. Food for thought.
Isis (not verified)
To Heyy...
Mon, 2012/09/24 - 21:35You've only met your Egyptian man twice in person and if I were in your situation I would still be wary.
Anonymous (not verified)
...You can't go into it. In
Sat, 2012/11/17 - 06:53...You can't go into it. In other words, you are having an affair with a military officer.
Anonymous (not verified)
ISIS
Tue, 2012/09/25 - 00:25each time has been for one month.. so i have no doubt. And he has never asked me for a thing and pays his share willingly, and in regards to communication - is every day.. be it in the form of a text. a phone call,skype and webcam when hes home from work, but yes i keep my eyes and mind open.. ty for the care
Anonymous (not verified)
QUESTION... PLEASE REPLY!!!!
Tue, 2012/10/23 - 13:50I am going to visit a friend in Egypt, but he asked me not to book a hotel... acording to what he said it is forbiden for egiptian man to go in hotels with tourist.. so he asked me to rent some house or appartment.. is this right? egiptian men are not allowed to visit female tourist in their hotel rooms?
His lady (not verified)
yes...its illegal to be
Tue, 2012/10/23 - 14:07yes...its illegal to be together outside of marriage..
Isis (not verified)
To Question
Tue, 2012/10/23 - 18:50Unless you have at least an Orfi paper (convenient Egyptian marriage contract) you will not be permitted to stay with an Egyptian man privately anywhere. Even if you rent a flat or apartment the landlord is required to have a copy of the this contract as will the hotel if you choose to stay there with him (this is permitted if your Orfi paperwork is in order). Quite frankly he should be paying for the accommodation not you. Please read the posts on this site and others regarding Egyptian men and scams. You need to do more research on this whole relationship.
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