Cyber scammers target Grand Egyptian Museum visitors

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) has issued an urgent alert to global and local visitors concerning a sophisticated wave of cyber scams exploiting the museum's popularity. Fraudulent websites and fake social media pages are actively luring tourists with deceptive offers of "immediate bookings" and heavily discounted admission tickets, aiming to steal sensitive personal and financial information.

Ahmed Ghoneim, the CEO of GEM, revealed that specialized teams are continuously monitoring and combating these digital threats. The museum has been engaged in a "continuous digital battle" with cybercriminals, working closely with cyber-crime authorities. This collaboration has led to the dismantling of numerous fraudulent operations.

"We have successfully shut down more than 50 fraudulent websites operating both inside and outside of Egypt," Ghoneim stated. He acknowledged the persistent nature of the threat, noting that scammers unfortunately keep resurfacing despite these efforts. To combat this, Ghoneim emphasized that the museum's single official website is the only authorized and secure platform for securing admission tickets.

The surge in scamming activity correlates with the immense global anticipation surrounding the museum, one of the world's largest archaeological institutions. To enhance visitor protection, GEM has launched an upgraded, highly secure electronic booking platform. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has echoed the warning, cautioning the public against unauthorized third-party applications, particularly those mimicking the official museum branding on app stores. As peak travel seasons loom, GEM urges extreme vigilance and advises against sharing sensitive banking or personal credentials on any platform outside the verified official domain.

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We have successfully shut down more than 50 fraudulent websites operating both inside and outside of Egypt. While we are continuously tracking these attempts, they unfortunately keep resurfacing.