6 Common Tourist Scams to Avoid in Mauritius

An Indian Ocean island country, Mauritius is known for its stunning beaches, broad skylines and coastlines, unique wildlife, and expensive resorts. Mauritius is undoubtedly one of the best tourist destinations for a romantic and peaceful getaway across the globe. 

However, it is not perfect, and some of the areas in this country can be filled with scammers trying to fool tourists.

Scroll down to learn all about the common travel scams in Mauritius and ways to avoid them.

Knowing about these scams in advance is helpful to avoid making mistakes during the holiday. Here are some of the top tourist scams in Mauritius:

1. Booking Scam

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There have been some instances whereby people fell victim to fake websites and agencies when booking hotels and guesthouses in Mauritius. While these websites usually look genuine, they ask you to pay upfront for advanced booking. 

However, when you arrive at the hotel, you will find out that the booking was fake, and your money will not be refunded. 

Common around: Across the country   

2. Hotel Price Scam

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Mauritius is filled with multiple hotels, guesthouses and resorts. While most of these are genuine, some are filled with scammers. You will experience overcharged bills for any small service. Even the price of bottled water can be triple the usual price. 

Moreover, if you are choosing all-inclusive packages, there is a possibility that you are paying much more than what you had to pay if you went out for food and drinks. 

Common around: Port Louis, Curepipe and Grand Baie

3. Taxi Fare Scam

There can be a few scammers among the taxi drivers in Mauritius, overcharging tourists on their trips. They avoid turning on the meters and asking for unfair charges by taking longer routes for set destinations. 

Moreover, in some cases, they may drive you to certain shops and restaurants, forcing you to get their services, as they receive a commission from those places. 

Common around: Port Louis and Curepipe 

4. Shopping Scam

Mauritius is filled with multiple tourist shops that can be major rip-offs. While there are places for duty-free bargains, many of these like to scam tourists by selling fake brand labels. They often show clothes, shoes or bags with real brand labels, and it can be difficult to understand that they are fake. 

Tourists pay large amounts to purchase these, only to find out the products do not belong to the real brands. 

Common around: Port Louis and Curepipe 

5. Entry Fee Scam

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Art lovers prefer to visit the art galleries and museums in Mauritius. However, museums can be a huge scam for tourists. They charge an additional entry fee besides the regular sightseeing price simply for the tourists to see a small glass room or to get access to a privileged area. 

This is a scam to extract money unnecessarily when tourists can explore the area without access to those places. 

Common around: Across the country

6. ATM Scam

A stuck ATM is a common problem in any part of the world, and Mauritius is no exception. When trying to withdraw money, you might come across this issue. During this problem, you will see a friendly stranger approaching, offering to help with the issue. 

However, they try to scan your card using a card skimmer they hide in their pockets and memorise your PIN as you enter it. They use it later to drain your account. 

Common around: Across the country

Knowing about the travel scams in Mauritius can be a great way to be aware of these. Most people purchase Travel Insurance to Mauritius, as these policies offer various kinds of financial and emergency coverage, ensuring safety in a foreign country. Here are some other tips you can follow to avoid the common scams and possibilities of theft in Spain:

• Make sure to keep your valuable belongings in the hotel room instead of carrying them while sightseeing. Pickpocket is a common issue, and having Travel Insurance that provides financial emergency can protect you from this problem. 

• While booking hotels, guesthouses or cruises in Mauritius, make sure to choose only reliable and reputed websites after checking their reviews. Taking help from travel agents can also be useful. Avoid making advance payments unless you are sure of the website. 

• Check all the prices and reviews of a hotel before booking it. Select the packages carefully after comparing them and identifying the right ones to avoid being overcharged for the services. 

• Try to avoid taxis and book Uber cabs when going out. If you are unable to get them, make sure to ask the driver to turn on the meter and avoid paying for the trip upfront. You can also prevent them from taking longer routes by following the directions through Google Maps. 

• Mauritius has many flea markets where you can purchase cheap clothes, spices, and other souvenirs. Try to go for these places and avoid bigger stores that claim to sell branded products. 

• If you are going to explore museums, check for the entry fee in advance from the website or the reviews of the visitors. Avoid paying extra for additional access, as you can enjoy the site without these as well. 

• Always choose reliable ATMs within the premises of banks. If the ATM does not work, seek help from the bank workers. Avoid accepting help from any stranger or local in your surroundings. 

• Keep your important documents safely in the right place. If you still face issues like loss of passport, seek help immediately from the High Commission of India in Mauritius. 

The police forces in Mauritius are quite competent and always look out for the tourists who need help. Apart from that, the High Commission of India office in Port Louis, Mauritius, can also help you deal with any problems in a foreign country. 

Here are a few emergency contact resources that can come in handy whenever you deal with trouble and hassles in Mauritius during your holiday:

• Police (Direct): 999, 112
• Police (Information Room): 208 0034, 208 0035
• Ambulance: 114
• Fire Services: 115
• Crime reports: 148
• 24/7 toll-free helpline for complaints: 8002345
• High Commission of India: 00-230-2083775, 2083776

That was all about the most common tourist scams in Mauritius. Undoubtedly, Mauritius continues to be a top tourist destination. However, it is still important to look out for the possibilities of theft, pickpocketing and other scams that can cause you to lose your money or other valuable belongings. Knowing about these can be helpful to avoid them during your vacation.