Scams and red flags: how people get caught

Why foreigners are targeted

It is not that Egypt is uniquely dangerous. It is that people who are new to any market do not know what normal looks like — and that gap is what gets exploited, everywhere in the world.

Almost every case we hear about follows the same shape: pressure to act fast, money moving before anything is verified, and no independent person checking the paperwork.

Red flags you should never ignore

• You are asked to pay before you have seen the property in person or through someone you trust
• The person showing you the property cannot prove they are the owner or are authorised to act for them
• You are pushed to decide today because 'someone else is interested'
• The price is dramatically below everything comparable
• You are asked to transfer money to a personal account with no contract
• The contract is only available in a language you cannot read, and they discourage translation
• Documents are shown on a phone screen but never sent to you
• The agent becomes irritated when you ask for verification

The habits that protect you

• Verify ownership before money moves — every time, no exceptions
• Use your own lawyer, chosen by you, paid by you
• Keep every agreement in writing, including small ones
• Never let urgency override verification
• Get receipts for every payment, and pay traceably where you can
• Have someone physically inspect the property if you cannot

If you are not in Egypt yet

Buying or renting remotely is possible, but it raises the bar. You need someone on the ground who is accountable to you, not to the seller.

Insist on live video walkthroughs where you direct the camera, rather than edited footage. Ask to see the street, the building entrance and the view from the actual windows.