Fake Booking Site Scams in Morocco
Counterfeit riad, hotel, and tour booking platforms targeting tourists visiting Marrakech, Fes, and other Moroccan destinations.
Part of: Fake Booking Sites
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Morocco's booming tourism sector — particularly the popularity of Marrakech riads and desert tour experiences — has generated a large volume of counterfeit booking platforms. Fake websites advertising traditional riad accommodation or Sahara camel-trek packages collect full prepayment before victims arrive to find no booking exists.
The problem is most acute for independently travelling tourists booking boutique accommodation that does not appear on major global platforms, making the authenticity of a dedicated website harder to assess.
How this scam works on Morocco
A tourist searches for a riad in the Marrakech medina and finds a beautifully designed website with compelling photos and competitive pricing. Payment is requested in full by bank transfer or via a payment link to avoid credit card fees. On arrival, the address either does not exist or belongs to a completely different property.
In a tour variant, a fake agency website advertises Sahara desert tours from Marrakech at prices below genuine operators. After payment, the agency is uncontactable and the tour does not materialise.
Some fraudsters operate fake WhatsApp booking services, sending professional-looking PDF quotes and then collecting deposits before disappearing.
Common red flags
- Riad or tour website requests full payment by bank transfer before arrival
- Website domain does not match the property name and was registered recently
- Property cannot be found on Google Maps or Street View
- Contact is only via WhatsApp and goes unresponsive after payment
- Price is significantly below comparable properties on Booking.com or Airbnb
- Confirmation email comes from a personal Gmail address
How to protect yourself
- Pay by credit card to retain chargeback rights for accommodation bookings
- Call the property directly on a number found through Google Maps — not the website
- Cross-check the property on multiple established platforms before booking a standalone website
- Verify Moroccan tour operators through the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT)
- Check the domain registration age and owner details using a WHOIS lookup
- Avoid paying full accommodation cost in advance for independent bookings
How to report it
- Report to the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) at visitmorocco.com
- File a complaint with the Moroccan cybercrime unit DGSN via leur plateforme officielle
- Report to your credit card company immediately to initiate a chargeback
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a Moroccan riad website is legitimate?
Search the riad name on Booking.com, TripAdvisor, or Airbnb to see if it has reviews. Call the number on their website and verify the address on Google Maps. Legitimate riads will almost always have an independent review presence. If only the standalone site appears, exercise caution.