Watch Out for This Scam in Maputo Mozambique 2024 

I am South African and street vendors always pull this hard sell even if you barely looked their way. But we dont call them scammers cause their hustle is pretty obvious. Just say no thank you and move on. Edit: in a third world country, asking the price of any item is due diligence to yourself as a consumer. Otherwise shame on you for not protecting your hard earned money!

Good lesson to always ask the price for everything first, especially being in a new country.

Maputo Fish Market is very expensive place to eat. Food is fresh and delicious, but completely overpriced for the local economy. Same thing happened to me when I went there to eat.

For a better experience and scam free, it is best to have a local guide. Unfortunately even for some of us Mozambicans, the scams exists. I’ve been through that a few times, and I was born and raised here.

As a Mozambican, i apologize for my peers behaviours, we´re not all like that

Even that $33 just for cooking is way too high. Sounds like a scam bro. Don't think we do that in Zambia. If we do, cooking must be less than $10.

They had "scammer" written all over their faces

As a Mozambican I really appreciate you doing this video, and I’m so sorry you had to go through this. Unfortunately life is hard, even for me as a Mozambican I suffer from this. Most people don’t understand that being fair is better than just overpricing things. I hope you don’t lose hope in Mozambique 😢

When people like them come up to you and greet you like that, then there must be strings attached. Don't go with them. At first when I was watching, I thought it was a scam. In third world countries, this type of fraud is very common. Be careful now. You are doing a great job.

Thx for visiting my country, Moz, Sly! I'm sorry u encountered those scammers in my country. I'm embarrassed!. 😲😤😭

It's not with tourist only, they do that to the locals also, I was born and raised in Maputo, never went to the Fish Market coz people always told me about the scams.

As a Mozambican I'm so embarrassed 😢

This is Mozambique as a whole, I live in neighboring Eswatini, your first greeted by the border where you have someone trying to overcharge you for the “insurance” for your vehicle. Then you have the passport officials who may or may not stamp your passport with the entry stamp, so when you leave your missing a stamp and they can act like you there illegally and extort you. Your then met with multiple hostile police road blocks who dream something up for you to pay them a bribe, they demand your passport so they hold it until you pay. You finally get to your destination and you have to worry about your parts being stolen off your car while your sleep, then if your lucky they sell your own mirrors back to you at one of the robots. On top of that every restaurant and bar try to scam you if they hear you not Portuguese speaking. No thanks, I keep my ass out of Mozambique.

Never go with the first person you see. Definitely a scam

I am Mozambican, and live in Maputo....you either go to real restaurant or you ask somebody to help (a guide for the first time you go to markets and fairs)...Damn they got U, I am sorry

When the guy grab you all I saw was a scammer. I would have walked around and checked out the other vendors. Live and learn

That's messed up they did that even after extending kindness by inviting others to eat with you. That alone is not a good look. Live and learn I guess.

I am glad to know that you called someone to assist you. That's shameful, next time when I go there I will look for them just to tell how bad their actions are. And I guess that they should be reported to the authorities in the market.

They where smiling way too hard

Thank you Gamito and Thomas to say your names on the vídeo, I will make sure don't go on you restaurant. Thank you Slay for showing us this to scammer.

$90 ??? wow you wouldn't even pay that much in the US for a meal like that.

You should always ask for the price before anything gets done. I'm from Mozambique I know how they work

Dang I’m glad you got the prices straightened out! The guys you were dining with seemed friendly!!

Great idea to call for help, well done Sly. What scumbags those people are, sitting there next to you knowing that they are going to rip you off. Safe travels.

Best advice is to always go with a local friend or guide, and always I repeat always ask the price before anything and never go with the first vendor!

I'm really really sorry for what happened to you. For the amount you bought of seafood, you should have paid about 1200-1500 MT MAX depending on your sides and drinks, because for cooking the established price is 250MT per kg of seafood, then you add the sides and drinks, at the prices marked.

But 99% of the world uses the metric system. Surely you must be used to it by now with all the travel you have done 🤷🤷🤷

Moz Ta maluco🤣🤣🤣

Once you step outside the US, you always have to haggle the given price, except there's a given fixed price that applies to all buyers. Otherwise, you could pay as much as 50% or more than the locals pay. Your American accent alone gives you away as a walking 🏧 because you're (Stereotipicaly) rich as an America I'm sure you've learned the hard way by now because you've been in many different countries. Goodluck brother and keep living the dream.

$92 wow got burnt! hate scammers. 😡 but you did it for the greater good of everyone watching. 🙏

Thanks for posting about your experiences, the good and the not-so-good. My son will visit Mozambique mid-March 2024. 🤜🏾🤛🏽I have shared your video with him. Perhaps a deterrent for scammers is to get a close-up of their faces along with their names and announce up front that they may be featured on yr RU-vid channel. Stay adventuresome, have fun and be safe out there in those roads! Long live Mother AFRICA!!🙋🏾‍♀

Thanks for sharing your travel sites experiences. I don't like to go to that fish market, it is too much trouble to have a nice delicious lunch. If you had walked/drove a little further in the sunrise direction you would arrive at the classic Costa do Sol restaurant. There you can enjoy the real sea food goodies for a fair price.

Bro, I’m watching this from Rainer beach south seattle and can’t believe your style of traveling. YOU ARE CRAZY BRO. Enjoy life, it’s short.

They scammed you on both ends, the food and preparation. I never ask a hustler where to get xyz

sad that happen too you , they seemed so nice but the food looked good

I followed this video and I say that I am deeply saddened by this situation. I have worked in the fish market since 2010 and I always say that I am against price speculation because we have a price list, my sincere apologies for the inconvenience and we are not all like that.

As a Mozambican, I can only sincerely apologize for this behavior of our compatriots, but I do not think it is right to judge an entire country because of the bad behavior of a group of people who, in my opinion, are not representative. The country is made up of several provinces and different ethnic groups. It is not fair. I recognize that there are many Mozambicans with biases that make us ashamed in various areas, but we also have many Mozambicans who make us proud. For future visits, it would be a good idea to look for tourist guides, they can help a lot. Try to find out more about our country. There are many good things, although I recognize with great sadness that we have many bad things that need to be improved. Mozambique is not just Maputo. Maputo is the capital of the country. The best tourist destinations in Mozambique, depending on what you are looking for, are not just in Maputo.

I’m so ashamed with this situations. Mozambique is a beautiful country and friendly people. My advice would be to never go to those places alone, even if you read on internet. I personally stopped visiting Fish Market because they use those scams to steal money. Next time try to visit the Fishing Market (Mercado dos Pescadores) which will give you much better experience.

Unfortunately I’m from Mozambique and I have to agree with you

Great video! It comes with the territory for sure.

A total scam. Mozambique has great seafood but Lol 😂😂😂.

I'm mozambican e infelizmente tenho que aceitar que know how It feels ,I know this place near Mercado do Peixe , etc. People have taken advantage of foreigners by raising prices, etc., even as Mozambicans we are sometimes deceived by these bad faith people, but it is only in that place especially, the rest of the restaurants has an honest and quality service.

Thanks for sharing

The next time look for Costa he is very good cooker and good in price

Yep they got ya. Live an Learn

Yeah bro, saw that coming a mile away, be safe man..the dude in the market made me angry!

Look at it as school fees...always negotiate prices before transaction...

I have been living in Mozambique for 16 years. They are good and loved, but unfortunately you fell into the clutches of lions. I am very sorry, but you have learned that you must ask the price of everything before...

My gosh they scammed u so bad this is why it's so important to look around and avoid tourist attractions 😢

You are brave man. Excellent lesson. Thanks a lot.

That’s not a scam, you just paid way too much…

love the video as usual! thanks for uploading

6000mzn that's a scam of its own, and that's coming from me, a local

7:28 This translation is for "what is your name" instead of "how are you." (ho yine)

Even us locals no longer eat at the fish market dude…

It was way too expensive, there are cheaper places to go and enjoy seafood sea side.

Those streets are beautiful and clean, far from the dusty streets of most parts of Africa. Mozambique is doing great.

Thank you, sir

Don’t worry, I’m not going there.

As South African I know about this scam. I have been scammed once there, I never eat there anymore. It's a pity they are killing their own business every South African that I share this scam with, they are saying they will never it there. they will buy fish and go.

Always get prices before committing

That means in any point how are you, it means what is your name.

If anyone ever visits Maputo, do not eat thereee, the food isn't really good, it tastes like chicken, and it's extremely pricey for baddly served food, that food does not represent Mozambique at all😭😭 when he told you abt chima that's typical Mozambican food

I'm never investing in this country!

Next time reach out FIRST for local who are very active on social media for Guidance! Hit me up next time.

I apologize for these ppl tryna scam u .

Your fault: you didnt ask the price before eating

Eveyrwhere you go threre's scam,i can say in mozambique its better

Sorry they scammed you. Good morning from Seattle Washington

Mozambique is a beautiful country and safe ,please stop being to negative about this country. You can get across bad people everywhere in the world when you travel around, in the world there good and bad people including so called rich countries. My brother leaves in USA and have bad bad experiences but we don't just focus in the negative things but positive things... my advice to all is be live life in harmony stop judging so called 3rd world countries jus because of a small thing one individual done, now the all Mozambique is bad!!? Come on guys be smart... Next time you travel just do some research everywhere you go... I'm mozambican and i can happily help doe's coming to visit my country, if needed with the language and show around. Thanks

Mozambicans always scam you when they notice you are a foreigner, even after doing the best things for them, they see your kindness like you're doing something you must do for them because they deserve it... I'm Nigerian and I live here in Maputo, I always try to give as much as I can to help, I remember giving a lady who asked me money for food 1000mts ($15) instead she told me the money wouldn't be enough

Are u in the military?

Scammers, they disgrace my country.

when u asked how to say "how are you" they told you how to say "what is your name"🤣 but anyways, i hope u enjoyed my country and i hope u come back more times.

Sad butThat’s just the cost of being a tourist

You paid for the experience. You could have buy prawns in your hotel for less. But the experience you can’t buy.

At least the food was good.

Good job man

That was sad 😔 😔 sorry men.

You passed by several boards with the stipulated prices, read it next time. If someone overcharges you, there is a Municipal police station on the market. By the end of it, you ate the freshest seafood at reasonable prices, try eating that in America for 120 bucks

How are you ? Is very very diferent from what is your name? How are you? In Changana means: unjani 😅😅😅😅

As locals we don’t concern you to go there😢

Those guys guys there don’t know how to speak shangana when asked them that how do you say how are you in local shangana they say a wrong so let me help them say when you say how are you in shangana your have to say woyini is meaning how are you so the guy it was saying what is your name when hi says hidzini Vito dzaku and that is not a shangana is ronga speaken in Maputo you will find proper shangana in Gaza province by the way I’m SERGIO from Mozambique but based in South Africa by my work

Man that place was made for tourists and rich people of Mozambique man, everyone that goes there gets scammed 😂😂😂

Please go to the fish market with a mozambican guide or just don't go there

Hit me up next you around. You'll be safe 🇲🇿

It's 400 mts

Funny enough i have never been scammed and I'm from Maputo 😅

i hate maputo they always hassle me they once tried to charge me 500 for a small beer tbh i just stick around ponta boane and matola

How are you in changana is "Undjani" this guy is lying

Ñot a good place to eat the seafood i guess

Hi bro,that's nice food

Ain't no way bro is in my city

And we are so sorry for dose scams that you meet them in awa beat full country

Bro you fell for it and you were an easy target man...and the guys you were eating with they should have known and stopped that but anyway. And what you asked in changana "how are you" ( what they said means "what's your name" ). You just found the wrong guys to chill with man.

lol..yeah the guy that scammed you was the first person you met and the last person you fed.

bro coulda picked any other place😭🙏

I wanna meet you

You live and you learn bro. Take the L and continue the journey. Go to my home country of Botswana bro 👊🏿

$33 dollars is fair