Algeria Scams: Tourist, Online & Investment Fraud Guide
Common scams affecting tourists and residents in Algeria, with official reporting routes through the Ministry of Interior.
Emergency number: 17 (police), 1548 (police assistance line) — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Algeria is a large North African country with a predominantly domestic tourism sector and a digital economy that runs to a great extent through Algerie Poste: the CCP postal accounts and the BaridiMob app are how salaries, pensions and everyday transfers move, which makes them the country's main phishing target. Fake BaridiMob pages, 'account blocked' SMS, calls impersonating post-office or bank staff extracting card details and OTPs, and Edahabia card fraud are the recurring national scripts, alongside phishing against CPA, BNA and other banks.
Commerce fraud lives on Ouedkniss and Facebook: fake listings with advance-payment demands, cloned shop pages, non-delivery, and 'buyers' running overpayment tricks; because online card payment is still limited, cash-on-delivery disputes and CCP transfer fraud fill the gap. The emigration pressure feeds visa brokers who charge families for European appointments, work contracts or study placements that never materialise, and fake 'visa lottery' services promise guaranteed wins for a fee. Investment fraud pushes forex and crypto 'formations' through social media despite tight currency controls, and informal foreign-exchange dealers add short-counting and counterfeit-note risks. Foreign visitors to Algiers, Oran and the Sahara mostly face overcharging, unofficial guides and inflated 'friend prices'.
The Algerian police can be reached on 17, with the 1548 assistance line for non-emergency matters, and the Gendarmerie's cybercrime units handle online cases through the Ministry of Interior portal at interieur.gov.dz. When card or account details have been given up, the bank or Algerie Poste call comes before everything else.
Common scams
- Phishing messages impersonating Algerian banks or government services
- Phone impersonation scams posing as tax or police officials
- Investment and crypto fraud promoted via social media
- Online marketplace fraud with no delivery
Tourist-specific scams
- Unofficial guide approaches at Algiers Casbah and Sahara sites
- Overcharging unlicensed taxis at airports
- Overpriced or counterfeit Tuareg craft goods in the south
Online shopping scams
- Fake online shop listings with no delivery
- Social media phishing targeting bank credentials
- Delivery fee SMS scams impersonating postal services
Job scams
- Fake overseas job ads requiring advance fees or document copies
- Task scams via messaging apps escalating into deposit demands
- Visa brokers and fake 'lottery guarantee' services charging families staged fees
Romance scams
- Dating-app grooming escalating to investment or money requests
- Fake online partners seeking emergency wire transfers
- Hijacked accounts begging contacts for top-up cards and CCP transfers
Investment scams
- Fake forex and crypto trading platforms promoted on social media
- Pig-butchering combining romance with fabricated investment portals
- Paid 'trading formation' courses funnelling students into rigged platforms
How to report a scam here
- Contact your bank immediately to freeze affected accounts
- Call 17 (police emergency) or 1548 (police assistance line) to report fraud
- Visit the Ministry of Interior portal at interieur.gov.dz for reporting guidance
- Preserve all screenshots, messages and transaction receipts as evidence
Local reporting & protection links
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Contact your bank as soon as you notice, using the number on your card or the official app, and request an emergency hold on the payment. The window for stopping or recalling money narrows fast, so this comes before anything else. For CCP, BaridiMob or Edahabia fraud, contact Algerie Poste through its official channels with the transaction reference, have the card blocked, and reset your codes. Say you were deceived into authorising the transfer, ask for the receiving account to be reported, and take a reference number. Ask about freezing the card and resetting your online banking if details were shared. A police case number from 17 or the 1548 assistance line supports the formal dispute, and cybercrime cases can be routed through the Gendarmerie's specialised units via interieur.gov.dz.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
What number do I call to report a scam to the police in Algeria?
Call 17 for a police emergency or use the 1548 assistance line for non-emergency reports. You can also visit your nearest police station or file a request via the Ministry of Interior services portal at services.interieur.gov.dz.
How do BaridiMob and CCP scams work in Algeria?
Fake pages and 'account blocked' messages imitate Algerie Poste and BaridiMob to harvest CCP numbers, Edahabia card details and the OTP that follows, and callers posing as post-office staff extract the same by phone. Algerie Poste never asks for codes by call or message — open the app yourself, ignore links, and block the card through official channels the moment details are exposed.
How do I buy safely on Ouedkniss?
Prefer meeting in person and paying on inspection over any advance transfer, be wary of prices well below market and sellers who push urgency, and treat requests for CCP deposits 'to reserve' an item as a red flag. Cloned shop pages copy real dealers' names and photos, so verify phone numbers against the dealer's established listings.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance