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)
question
Mon, 2012/05/21 - 08:45Hello, Janet, just let me know more at carmine.relinquo@yahoo.com, please, if you know me. Thanks
Suliman (not verified)
Fady
Thu, 2009/01/22 - 06:49If this man is 40 he should be married with growing up children, he should grow up, life is for working and living, and it is what you do with it that counts, I am sick of these men looking at women for the easy way out. I saved 20.000.00 le by working as a waiter in Luxor, I tried many times to get visa, and eventually I got one, I now work in a school teaching arabic to english muslims in Birmingham UK, I married for love and at age 40 I have two children 10 and 7, this Fady should do the same, but he sound lazy, he wants some woman to keep him in luxury, its a pipe dream, he will grow old and alone unless he puts right his wrongs.
Claire (not verified)
Fady and men like him.
Sat, 2009/01/31 - 07:31I have been conned by three egyptian men, one Fady, one Moheb and a Saba,they are all out for what they can get, Saba was the worst, he is a security guard at a hotel on TV street Luxor, I found out he had three women on the go, and we all turned up the same time in June last year, when he wanted to see one he would lock the other two in the flat they shared, thats what made me see sense, a local policeman told me about the other two, so when he let me out of the flat I dumped him, he still texts me with undying love, I now know it is undying love for my moeny. I still love Egypt but no more men for me, I will stick to English from now on. Claire from Manchester UK.
Khalid
Common sense
Sat, 2009/01/31 - 16:29The problem is not in "English" vs. "Egyptian". Rather, the solution is always using common sense, caution and reasoned rational thought.
Claire (not verified)
Con Men
Sat, 2009/01/31 - 19:37Khalid, the problem is the way Egyptians see English, I for instance earn £200 a week, not a lot, but they work it out as 2000 le. Most I have met earn between 200 and 500 le a month, so they think we are rich,you can almost see their minds calculating £200 a week into 8000 le a month, what they don't seem to understand is that what they pay 10le for we pay £10 for in UK, so our money is not that good over here. I have been asked out for drinks from seemingly nice men, and when the bill comes they hand it to me. I have never met an Egyptian (except one woman egyptologist) who will give anything to an English woman, even a small gift would be welcome, no Khalid, they just take and take, so from now on I will stick to my rule of no egyptian men friends. I am sure you are the exception my friend, but you got out of egypt so can be unaware of whats going on now. Regards Claire.
Khalid
Partially
Sat, 2009/01/31 - 20:35Yes, part of the problem is income disparity, on a pure currency exchange formula, ignoring cost of living.
But it is not the main problem.
The main problems are:
- A high percentage of crooks among those who work in resorts and hotels. They see an opportunity for income, away from the social stigma of being a leech or parasite. There is no extended family around to take him to task. And since the other end is a foreigner with no extended family or law on her side, they take advantage of the situation.
- A semi-willing victim. Many of the women just fall for these cons for whatever reason: perhaps being on vacation, perhaps the mystique and allure of different settings and different men, or trying to compensate for something missing. If such victims are forewarned and put some defense as to these advances, they would be in a better position to not fall for such tricks. But romance, cultural-blindness or whatever makes them oblivious to that.
Most Egyptians are very decent people, with a high sense of honor and dignity. They are generous and friendly. Westerners are surprised by these traits, if exposed to them in a neutral settings from "normal Egyptians". They would not accept being such a parasite or taking advantage of women like that. It would make them feel inferior. If you get to know some Egyptians outside of the resort areas and hotels you will see what I mean.
I agree that being from the same culture puts you in a neutral setting and you can figure out -- to a great extent -- if the other side is honest or not. Being from different cultures complicates things, and can cause many blind spots.
My comment about common sense still applies though.
Anonymous (not verified)
Can you tell me more
Thu, 2014/01/23 - 09:24Can you tell me more information on these men please?
Anonymous (not verified)
Hi, I know its been 5/6
Sun, 2015/03/22 - 12:19Hi, I know its been 5/6 years, but can you tell me more?
Ronnie Uval (not verified)
Egyptian con men
Tue, 2009/02/03 - 09:55I was looking for something about Egyptian men and came across your site. My sister was taken for a ride by a Luxor man named Hamadah, she lent him money to put in the bank so he could ask for a visa to visit England, apparently hopeful visiters must show they have money in the bank, his application was turned down, but he then would not return the money to her, it was several thousand Egyptian pounds, she asked for advice from a lawyer there, and his answer was that she should not have lent him the money without some written and signed proof. Quite right of course, he knew her for 3 years, she thought she could trust him. Now like the previous lady she will never trust an Egyptian man again. I found that I was propositioned over and over again by men and boys, I cat believe they were all gay, I am straight, some of these men were married, it seems they will do anything for money, if they were starving I could maybe understand it, but they all looked well fed to me. Ronnie, London UK.
lulu (not verified)
Could you describe Hamada,
Mon, 2012/04/30 - 10:26Could you describe Hamada, and where he worked please?
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