Marrakech Emergency Card

Tourist Police / Authorities

• Brigade Touristique (Tourist Police)
  +212 524 384 601
  Jemaa el-Fnaa square, next to Café de France — English-speaking
• Ministry of Tourism complaint line
  080 200 3737
  Free from any Moroccan phone

First 10 minutes if something happens

1. 1.Get to a safe, public spot (café, hotel lobby, shop) and call Police on 19 if anyone is hurt or in immediate danger.
2. 2.Freeze cards immediately in your bank app (do this before calling the bank — it's faster). Revoke Apple Pay / Google Pay from a trusted device if your phone was taken.
3. 3.Change the password on your primary email from a trusted device, then sign out of every other session. Email is the master key to everything else.
4. 4.Contact Brigade Touristique (Tourist Police) on +212 524 384 601 to file a report — you'll need the reference number for insurance, banks, and your embassy.

Full 8-step checklist at gacs.app/safe-traveller/marrakech

Top 5 scams to watch for

1. 1. Henna ambush (Jemaa el-Fnaa)
   Women grab your hand and start applying henna before you can react, then demand €20+ per hand.
   Avoid: Keep hands in pockets in Jemaa el-Fnaa, especially near the food stalls.
   If it happens: Do not let them finish. Pull your hand away — the mark scrubs off with lemon.
2. 2. Snake-charmer & monkey photo
   Snake charmer drapes a snake on you or hands you a monkey, then demands €10–€30 for the photo.
   Avoid: Do not stop near snake charmers or monkey handlers. Do not take out your phone near them.
   If it happens: Pay only what you offered upfront (20–50 dirham is fair).
3. 3. 'Guide' to a tannery / carpet shop
   A friendly local walks you to a shop, gets 30% commission, you pay 3× the local price.
   Avoid: Use Google Maps offline. No streets are closed.
   If it happens: If already at the shop, leave without buying — you have no obligation.
4. 4. Airport / Menara taxi 'no meter'
   Petit-taxi drivers refuse the meter and quote 200–400 dirham for a 70-dirham airport ride.
   Avoid: Use Careem app in Marrakech — cheaper and fixed price.
   If it happens: Photograph the taxi plate (top right of dashboard).
5. 5. Currency swap at the medina
   Vendors give change in older-issue notes or short-count you when handing over cash.
   Avoid: Break large notes at your riad or a bank before entering the medina.
   If it happens: Refuse old-issue notes and ask for correct change.