Maggie, Egyptian tourist scams, general scamming

Submitted by Lina (United Kingdom), Aug 17, 2010 at 09:23

Maggie, the first thing you, and most others on this site, need to do is learn to keep people at an arm's length. Never invest yourself emotionally and also treat the relationship like a bit of no-strings fun - just as he might. Then go back to Europe and forget all about him. Don't be ashamed to be ruthless, even if you don't have the scammer's sociopathic tendencies; tell yourself early on that this won't last, that it's limited fun and, well he's good looking but is good looking really worth years of humiliation, financial and emotional breakdown? Beauty has a heavy price to pay. But it's better seen than had.

Any red flag you see: money, insults or mentions of religion... close the book and burn it. It's the same story played out again and again. Learn all you can about Nigerian/Russian scams, about sales and marketing or any underground vice trade, and you'll see how it works. Many women have a romantic notion about foreign men, particularly those going through a crisis of some sort. So what's the salesman gonna do, he's gonna set up an industry based on this.

One of the trends I see on here involves women who feel sort of "doomed if I do doomed if I don't". That there's a glimmer he may be up to no good, but life and men in the West are so gloomy that maybe it's worth the risk. That's the most worrying aspect.

I'm not saying interracial/religious or whatever relationships can't work. Of course they can, they have for centuries, but there is a certain etiquette that comes with all dating. Women hook up with losers all the time, but double the risk of you're into someone you barely know (internet, tourist resort) and is from a completely different world to yours.

Back to you, I'm assuming you met the diving instructor in Hurghada or Sharm - these men usually (99% of the time) have several women on the go, and are very sophisticated in how they juggle them. They may be using each woman for a different purpose, and disgustingly, they usually categorize women according to nationality. For instance, Russians for sex, Germans for money and Brits for citizenship or perhaps all at once. Yep, that's right women are seen as products. They network their scams. Pay attention if they suddenly disappear for a week - most likely they have one of their ladies over on holiday, or they're possibly over visiting her. It's every woman's worst nightmare. And scary how easily they manage to get a woman for almost every week. They consider themselves players - well they're doing something right.

And it has nothing to do with your ethnicity - some will even scam women of their own nationality, I've seen it with my own eyes. I myself believe their own women have it worse than anyone. At least us Western women have relative rights and can get out when we want without fearing God or society.

Furthermore, most - not all - of the men are from poor, uneducated backgrounds in Upper Egypt. So they come to work in resort areas but most of their commission comes from female tourists. They will get you to part with your money in the shrewdest ways: through "shared property", spoiling you to begin with (via another poor girl's money) then keeping their hands in their pockets, or telling you they've lost some money so could you lend them some "temporarily". Or they've had an accident (eventually they have a car crash every week when really they've been in bed with a 6 foot tall Russian blonde). They'll ask if you have any female friends. Or they need to pay to quit the army.

They won't ask you about your interests and political viewpoints. If they seem interested in you it's because they're trying to evaluate how scammable you are and what you have material-wise.

He doesn't seem too fixed on you at the moment, as you said he doesn't call you constantly. But there could be several reasons for this. Firstly, the cost of international phone calls. Secondly, he could have so many women on the side that he needs not. Scammers who are short of supply will harass you daily.

Again, scams are very sophisticated and increasingly so. Less people are falling for it at their own free will. The rest go along with it. So they need to up their game. How else could they get intelligent grown women with years of marital experience to part with their time and money? It's like when companies try to sell you something and it seems too good to be true, until you read the small print later on...

I can understand why you like him, as Western men can be cold in comparison, but nothing ever lasts. It's down to you and what you want from the relation. If you do visit him, remember to stay aloof and then you'll be fine. Let his sweet words fly over your head just like tough Egyptian girls would. If you're scared don't go alone or keep to yourself and enjoy the sights. My main fear for you is that you will be reeled in by him - that's the worst he could do. Like with drugs, addicts start off by telling themselves that they can quit whenever they want, and then they're hooked. Even cynics and hardnuts can fall for it. Been there done that got the T-shirt. The problem is it's non-refundable.

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