Eastbound to Agdz: the 'broken down' car trick

[Chris Scott]

One guy on the first tour told me about getting scammed on the Tazenakht to Agdz road when he came here, back in 2010 on his 1150.
He gave the guy a lift to Tamnougalte to get help, got a meal but eventually got persuaded to buy a carpet too. Video'd the whole thing on youtube.

Quite an elaborate carpet-selling ploy rather than a scam and one I'd not heard of before. But a few days ago, sure enough one of the riders ahead of me got waved down by a couple of sheepish-looking guys broken down near Tasla.
We left them to drive home when they'd had enough.

Also - a lost in the desert survival story on the BBC.
Started in Zagora - ended up in Tindouf!

Ch

[Tim Cullis]

The guy has been doing it for so long there's even a warning in either Rough Guide or Lonely Planet guidebooks. He drives out in the morning with six guys crammed into the car, and one by one his passengers are dispatched to accompany the suckers to the carpet shop.

I stopped one time and he started his spiel and I told him he had broken down in the same place last year but in a green car (this time was white). At which stage they got back into the car and drove off.

Minor victory. Next time though I will take a photo and tell them I'm going to report them to the police station.

[TheWarden]

Nothing new I first encountered this over 10 years ago when we were less experienced with the routine. First time was between Tazenakht and Ouarazazate, then the Todra Gorge, road to Erfoud and a deliberate wind up by us for the scammers heading into Mhamid.

Now I put it down in writing it doesn't look so good. But the first 3 were on my first Moroccan road trip.

The guys between Taz and Ouaz baled when we approached a police checkpoint. The Todra guy got us to the carpet sales pitch but we had an enjoyable lesson on carpet production, drank his tea and eat his food before leaving without buying anything.

The guy on the road to Erfoud was less pleasant, took us to the dark side of erg chebbi and a desert camp before him and his friend got aggressive ish. We baled into the desert in our rental Fiat Uno. The tourist sheep in the 4x4's being driven out to see the sunset gave us some funny looks .

The guys on the way to Mhamid were given a proper run around by us before we humiliated them lol.

But we have picked up some genuine locals in trouble and helped them no end. Know the scam look out for it and you'll soon see it coming and avoid it

[davebetty]

If you are on a bike do they still try to sell you a carpet? What are they thinking?

Actually thinking about it, I did bring a rug back home from Sarajevo, but it was smallish and the impractical fun of it was quite rewarding! Fantasitc carpet too!

So I guess I have answered my own question

[GavinF]

Yep, same thing last month, just outside Ourzazate and all the way to Agdz. Had some interesting company for a while and a nice tea at the end, and the chance for amateur dramatics on my departure, without having bought anything.
The same day on top of Sarho, a guy was so confident I was going to let him take me to a gite that he gave his bike to his pal to "let them know I was coming". I wasn't for moving though, so he had to walk home. Next day I passed the gite about 3 hours drive away, so some walk!

[priffe]

You are my brother and you shall eat cous cous with my family.