7 Tourist Scams in Mauritius

You land at SSR International Airport after a long flight and step outside to find a friendly man offering to drive you to your hotel. He quotes a price that sounds about right — maybe 1,500 rupees to Grand Baie. You load your bags and get in. The car has no taxi sign, no meter, no yellow sticker on the door. Halfway to the hotel, the driver announces extra charges for luggage, 'night surcharge,' and tolls — the fare is now 4,000 rupees. When you protest, he pulls over on a dark stretch of road and refuses to continue until you pay. Multiple reports on TripAdvisor's Mauritius forum describe unregistered drivers approaching tourists at SSR airport and quoting seemingly fair prices, then inflating them mid-journey. The Mauritius Tourism Authority warns that official taxis are white with white license plates, a rooftop taxi sign, and yellow stickers on each front door. Some travelers on Quora have reported being driven to commission-paying shops and restaurants along the way, adding 30-40 minutes to the trip. In the worst documented cases, travelers in unregistered vehicles have been robbed after entering the car. The airport has a pre-paid taxi desk inside the terminal — this is always the safest option.

You walk into the Port Louis Central Market — a buzzing, colorful maze of spice stalls, textile vendors, and souvenir shops. You pick up a beautiful hand-stitched sarong and ask the price. The vendor says 800 rupees. You think it's fair. What you don't know is that the same sarong sells for 200 rupees two aisles over, and locals pay 150. When you try to negotiate, the vendor acts offended: 'This is handmade, best quality, special price for you.' The tourist markup at Port Louis Central Market is well-documented on TripAdvisor and travel blogs. Vendors routinely quote prices 3-5 times the local rate for spices, textiles, model ships, and souvenirs. One common trick is to weigh spices on a rigged scale that overreads, then charge by the inflated weight. Another involves pre-packaging spices in attractive bags at tourist prices while locals buy from open bins at a fraction of the cost. The Caudan Waterfront nearby has more fixed pricing but still marks up compared to supermarkets. Smartertravel.com specifically recommends buying sarongs, spices, and locally made goods at the market but warns tourists to research prices beforehand. Pickpocketing is also a risk in the crowded market aisles — the Mauritius Police have flagged Port Louis Central Market as a hotspot.

You're relaxing on La Cuvette Beach in Grand Baie when a charming man approaches with a laminated photo album showing beautiful catamaran trips, dolphin swimming excursions, and island picnics at prices well below what your hotel quoted. He says he runs his own boat and can take you tomorrow for half the price of the big operators. You pay 3,000 rupees cash upfront. The next morning, nobody shows up. Your phone calls go unanswered. The man is nowhere on the beach. This is one of the most documented scams in Mauritius. TripAdvisor's Grand Baie forum has named specific individuals — one operator named Kevin Munsaram had at least eight fraud complaints registered with the Tourism Police since 2023. His method: approach tourists on the beach showing photos of trips he claims to have organized, collect advance payment, then disappear. Another documented pair, 'Pom & Jerry,' operated by Steve and Roobina, were actually jailed for this before returning to the same scam. The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office explicitly warns tourists not to buy excursions from beach vendors. Even when a boat does show up, it may lack safety equipment, insurance, or a licensed captain.

You're walking through Grand Baie and a man at a small kiosk calls out offering an exchange rate of 48 rupees per dollar — noticeably better than the 44 your hotel offered. You hand over $200. He counts out rupees with impressive speed, fanning the bills for you to see. Back at your hotel, you recount and find only 7,600 rupees instead of the 9,600 you were owed. Worse, two of the 2,000-rupee notes feel slightly off — they're counterfeit. The Bank of Mauritius has issued official public notices about counterfeit 500, 1,000, and 2,000 rupee banknotes circulating in the country. Street exchangers and unlicensed kiosks are the primary source of these counterfeits. The classic technique involves quick hand movements during counting — bills are folded, palmed, or double-counted to shortchange tourists who are unfamiliar with the currency. Some exchangers add surprise 'processing fees' after the exchange is complete. Travel safety guides consistently warn that the slightly better rate offered by street exchangers is never worth the risk of counterfeit notes or being shortchanged.

You're walking back to your hotel in Grand Baie when two men in plain clothes approach, flash what appears to be a police badge, and tell you there's been a problem with counterfeit currency in the area. They say they need to inspect your wallet and passport as part of a routine security check. Feeling intimidated, you comply. One man examines your passport while the other flips through your wallet, removing several bills and claiming they 'appear counterfeit.' They hand everything back and walk away quickly. At your hotel, you realize 5,000 rupees and your US $100 bill are gone. This scam is documented across multiple Mauritius travel safety guides. The impersonators may claim there's an issue with fake currencies, accuse you of a minor infraction, or say there's been a crime in the area and they need to verify your identity. Real Mauritius police officers carry official photo ID cards and will never ask to inspect your wallet or remove cash. The Mauritius Police Force advises tourists to always ask for official identification and to call 112 if they feel uncomfortable — real officers will wait while you verify.

You're lying on your towel at Flic-en-Flac Beach when a friendly vendor approaches with a tray of colorful bracelets and shell necklaces. 'A gift for you! Welcome to Mauritius!' he says, tying a woven bracelet around your wrist before you can react. His partner appears with sarongs, carved coconuts, and aloe vera products. The 'free gift' conversation quickly shifts — they want 500 rupees for the bracelet that's now knotted on your wrist, and they're insistent you look at their other products. Saying no becomes increasingly difficult as more items appear. This is the most frequently reported annoyance on Mauritius travel forums. The vendors themselves are not dangerous, but the high-pressure tactics can ruin a beach day. TripAdvisor threads describe vendors who return multiple times even after being told no, sometimes becoming confrontational. The sarongs and crafts being sold are often the same products available at Port Louis Central Market for a fraction of the price. Travel safety guides recommend a firm but polite initial refusal — engaging in conversation, even to be friendly, is taken as an invitation to sell.

You find a stunning beachfront guesthouse in Flic-en-Flac on what appears to be a professional booking website. The price is 30% below comparable listings. The 'owner' communicates promptly via WhatsApp, sends additional photos, and asks you to wire payment directly to avoid platform fees. You transfer €1,500 for a week's stay. When you arrive in Mauritius and drive to the address, the property either doesn't exist or belongs to someone who has never heard of your booking. The photos were stolen from a legitimate listing. The Australian High Commission in Mauritius has issued a specific scam warning about fake booking websites. Multiple travelers have reported falling victim to professionally designed fake sites that mimic real Mauritius hotels and guesthouses. The scammers use real photos from legitimate properties, create convincing-looking websites, and often have WhatsApp numbers with Mauritius country codes (+230) to appear local. Some fake sites even have fabricated TripAdvisor reviews embedded on the page. The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority maintains a list of registered accommodation providers — any property not on this list should be treated with extreme caution.