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
Yasser (not verified)
shame on them
Tue, 2010/10/12 - 12:22whenever i see such issues, for instance, the one happened with Fady and Patricia, i feel very embarrassed and shame as being an Egyptian.
6 months ago i knew a British lady on Facebook, she was 45 years old...in fact, she didn't look her age on the web cam but younger...we talked and shared many things, and day after day we involved in spiritual affairs, and there was mutual spiritual affinity, she decided to come to meet me and ofcourse i agreed. we met, but unfortunately she wasn't really look the same as on cam but exactly her age, as iam 29...i welcomed her for week, within this week i couldn't improve the relation because things are really different in person than online. after she had left i sent her an e mail explaining my feelings toward her and told her we can be only friends, i say this because she wanted me as a husband! and now we r best friends.
i can't deny that my dream was always to live in the west not for gaining money no, money comes and goes, but for the weather, the health, and the beauty..above all these is conventional behavior!, but i cant cheat any one just to fulfill this dream.
so, i would really tell men who are intend to cheat to achieve a desire or anything..stop it...GOD loves honest people...nothing worse breaking woman's heart and let her shed tears!
Anonymous (not verified)
hello,khalid I am so sorry
Wed, 2010/10/13 - 18:05hello,khalid
I am so sorry because my english is bad,but i hope you will understand me.4 years ago i meet online man from egypt.He was honest with me and tell me he are married and have 3 children.He work in saudi and his wife also,but not in same city.He told me cant live with she because dont love her and she is bad women.In the last vacation he was in egypt and take second wife,uncle's daughter.He told me she is poor and alone after his father dies and he mary with she for protect and send money for eat,mary for duty.Always he told me that firest wife want punish and destroy him and make problems in his company,she said his boss to exit him from comp.She ask him in court and now he have not job,not money(cant use account)and cant leave saudi.He was always gentleman and proud man ,but now he call me and crying,he ask me money...not more ..but i was suprised.He can be honest or he lies me? pls pls contact me in my messenger because i must to know.good bless you .
Anonymous (not verified)
Sharm
Sun, 2010/10/17 - 18:27Is anyone going to be in sharm in November? I have been with my Egyptian boyfriend for one year now. Everything is great. We're both Muslim, get along great and have met each others families. Final test I want to do is to try to honey trap him. Just to be absolutely sure before we marry. Are there any ladies in a similar position that may consider doing it? I could do the sane for you???? All I want to check is if he would entertain flirtatious conversation and give his number fir future contact!
Khalid
Wrong approach
Sun, 2010/10/17 - 19:31I am kind of torn on this.
On the one hand, if he passes the test, it is a sure way of knowing he is sincere. Given that this is a tourist area and you are a foreigner, that may be something to consider.
On the other hand, I think that such a trap is not right. Sometimes people would get weak moments, and go along with things that they do not start themselves, but if they are pursued, they may fall for it.
What if he just give his number as "I will help you if you need me, call me if you want to"? What if it is common courtesy?
I, as a man, would not respect a woman that arranges such a trap. I would think she is too scheming, untrusting, and someone to fear being in a relationship with.
Isis (not verified)
Re: Sharm
Mon, 2010/10/18 - 23:58My first reaction to your post is that if you feel the need to set this man up and "test" him, then you have doubts about him and your relationship with him. Did you ever think that he may try to do the same with you? Also, that the man comes from Sharm is a big red flag anyway. My advice would be that you need to allow more time to get to know him before you make a big regrettable mistake. Resolve the trust issues in this relationship before any consideration of marriage. You've only known him for a year -so what's the rush anyway?
Anonymous (not verified)
Marriage
Mon, 2010/11/08 - 21:35I have met and formed a relationship with an officer in egyptian army.. im western, christian, divorcee with children
Is it difficult for us to marry? - I was told he may get into trouble if he did marry me? - Any ideas or help pls
Adel (not verified)
answer about the Egyptian men want married for money or get out
Tue, 2010/11/09 - 15:09i'm Egyptian also and i can agree with this answer realy alot of Egyptian men here in Egypt want get married because get outside or money but not all ppi there are also alot of men looking for love and honest girl also like any country in the all world you will find nice men and bad and also nice girls and bad and about me i'm looking for girl for married because i'm looking for honest and respectable i don't need to money or want girl passing me or traveling me out becuase all my family live in usa for 20 years ago i'm really looking for honest girl but i can't find to this time because alot of them lier and need money also thank you
Anonymous (not verified)
TO ALL LADYS OUT THERE BE
Sun, 2010/11/14 - 08:29TO ALL LADYS OUT THERE BE CAREFUL OF A MAN FROM PORT SAID HE GOSE BY THE NAME OF RAMY SOLIMAN HIS REAL NAME IS MOHAMED AHMED AHMED ALY SOLIMAN DATE OF BRITH 6 JULY 1986 .THIS MAN IS RUTHLESS VERY VIOLENT HE WILL ASK FOR MONEY IF YOU SAY NO HE WILL BEAT YOU. I WENT THROUGH HELL THE LAST THING I HEARD ABOUT THIS MAN THAT HE IS TRIYIN TO GET A VISA TO THE US .
MMansour (not verified)
Don't even trust Egyptian
Mon, 2010/12/06 - 20:45Don't even trust Egyptian doctors. They will try to seduce or befriend women from UK, Canada or U.S to get citizenship if they can't pass their USMLE. I traveled to Egypt about 5 months ago after meeting a nice young doctor online. He paid for my food and took me to all kinds of places. He said that I was so unique, beautiful and that he was falling for me. After staying in Egypt for 3 weeks, I went back to the states very happy. About 1 month into our online relationship, he started telling me he had money problems because doctors supposedly don't make much in Egypt. I sent him about 200 dollars a month to help him with living expenses and he said he would take the USMLE and can easily find residency in the U.S. Knowing this, I thought it wasn't too bad to help him since he is a doctor and could possibly pay me back later when he comes to the U.S.
Just recently, a distant friend of mines from college flew to Egypt and met the same doctor! He said that he was falling for her and that she was special. And it if I hadn't heard this rumor from my friends that our distant friend has fallen for an Egyptian, I would have never known it as the same Egyptian doctor!!! I later confronted him online and he said he only swore his love to me. Go figures, even Egyptian doctors can be scammers.
Khalid
Fake doctor perhaps?
Tue, 2010/12/07 - 01:39Seems that he is not even a doctor, and managed to convince you and her that he is. He is a scam artist.
By the way, becoming a doctor in Canada is very hard for a foreign trained physician, so getting citizenship means nothing if he is not practicing medicine. No real doctor in their right mind would do it that way.
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