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Mozambique (MZ)

Portuguese-speaking East African country with 2,500 km of Indian Ocean coastline, extraordinary marine parks, growing LNG energy sector, and low cost of living for expats in Maputo.

Capital: Maputo
Region: Africa
Language: Portuguese
Currency: MZN (MT)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 20)
Emergency: 119
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Scam Warnings

Common scams targeting expats in Mozambique.

Mozambique presents several scam and fraud risks for expats. The most prevalent are: rental and property fraud, false immigration agents, M-Pesa and SIM-swap fraud, traffic police extortion, and employment scams targeting NGO and extractive-industry workers. Petty theft (phone snatching, bag theft) is the most common daily security concern in Maputo. Mozambique is NOT in SEPA and NOT an EU member — the Consumer Protection Law (Lei 22/2009) governs consumer rights; the primary enforcement body since 2026 is the new General Inspectorate of Food and Economic Security (IGSAE), which replaced INAE. Stay connected to expat community groups for current scam and security alerts.

Fake Rental Properties and Landlord Impersonation

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Fraudsters post rental listings on Facebook, OLX, and WhatsApp for properties they do not own or that do not exist. They request advance deposit payments — often USD 500–2,000 — before any viewing. Once payment is made via bank transfer, Western Union, or M-Pesa, the "landlord" disappears. Maputo's tight high-spec housing stock makes plausible listings easy to fabricate.

How to spot it
  • - Price is significantly below market rate for a high-spec Maputo property
  • - Landlord refuses or is unable to meet in person to show the property
  • - Deposit or "holding fee" is requested before any in-person viewing
  • - Contact is via WhatsApp only with no fixed office address
  • - Payment via Western Union, informal M-Pesa transfer, or cryptocurrency rather than a verifiable bank transfer
  • - Landlord claims to be abroad and offers to send keys by courier after payment
What to do: Only pay a deposit after viewing the property in person and verifying the landlord's identity and property ownership documents. Use a registered real estate agent for all transactions. Never transfer money for a property you have not physically inspected. Report fraud to the Polícia da República de Moçambique (PRM) on 119.

False Immigration Agents and DIRE "Fixers"

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Unregistered intermediaries approach newly arrived expats offering to process DIRE (residence) permits, work permits, or other immigration documents for large fees. They collect payment and disappear, or produce fraudulent documents that are later rejected by DIRE, creating serious legal complications. Some approach expats directly at the DIRE office or airport arrivals.

How to spot it
  • - Approaches you at the airport, DIRE office, or via WhatsApp without a prior recommendation from a trusted source
  • - Claims to be able to obtain permits faster than official timelines for a premium fee
  • - Is not registered with the Ordem dos Advogados de Moçambique (OAM) — verify at oam.org.mz
  • - Asks to keep your passport while processing (this is illegal)
  • - Requests payment in cash only with no receipt or formal contract
What to do: Use only OAM-registered immigration lawyers for immigration matters. Verify lawyer registration at oam.org.mz. Your employer's HR department or relocation agency should recommend verified practitioners. Report suspected fraudsters to the Polícia da República de Moçambique (PRM) on 119.

M-Pesa and Mobile Money Fraud

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Mozambique's dominant mobile money platform is M-Pesa (operated by Vodacom Mozambique). Fraudsters contact victims by phone or SMS claiming to be Vodacom support, police, or government agencies. They request M-Pesa PINs or one-time passwords under pretexts such as "verifying your account" or "confirming a prize win". A particularly effective variant involves a fake "wrong transfer" notification asking you to send the money back — before you have verified your actual balance.

How to spot it
  • - Unsolicited call or SMS asking for your M-Pesa PIN, OTP code, or account number
  • - Message claims you have "won a prize" and must confirm account details
  • - SMS claims a transfer was made to you by mistake and asks you to return it before you check your real balance
  • - Caller claims to be from Vodacom, DIRE, the tax authority, or another government agency
  • - Caller creates urgency or pressure to act within minutes
What to do: Never share your M-Pesa PIN or OTP with anyone — Vodacom and all legitimate organisations will never ask for them. Verify your M-Pesa balance independently before acting on any alleged wrong transfer. Report fraud to Vodacom customer service (82 1234) and to the Polícia da República de Moçambique (119).

SIM Swap Fraud

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Fraudsters use social engineering or corrupt telecom staff to transfer your Mozambican mobile number to a SIM card they control. With your number, they intercept M-Pesa transaction confirmations and one-time passwords, enabling them to drain mobile money accounts and linked bank accounts. Expat workers with high M-Pesa balances are disproportionately targeted.

How to spot it
  • - Your phone suddenly loses network signal without explanation — this is the primary sign a SIM swap has occurred
  • - You receive a text confirming a SIM replacement that you did not request
  • - You can no longer access your mobile banking or M-Pesa account
  • - Transaction notifications stop arriving on your phone
What to do: If you suspect a SIM swap, call your operator (Vodacom 82 1234, Tmcel 1200, Movitel 600) immediately from another phone. Freeze M-Pesa and bank accounts by calling the bank fraud line. File a report with PRM (119) and the INCM (Instituto Nacional das Comunicações de Moçambique: incm.gov.mz, +258 21 227100) which regulates telecom operators.

Street Phone Theft and Bag Snatching

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Opportunistic theft of phones, bags, laptops, and jewellery is the most common security incident in Maputo. Thieves typically operate on foot or from motorbikes, snatching phones from hands in moving traffic or from pedestrians. Busy areas near the Mercado Central, Sommerschield, and Polana are high-risk zones.

How to spot it
  • - Being approached closely by strangers on foot in busy areas or near ATMs
  • - A motorbike slowing alongside you on the pavement or road edge
  • - Groups near market areas or transport stops
  • - Being distracted by one person while another approaches from behind
What to do: Do not use your phone in public while walking, particularly near busy roads. Keep bags close to your body and avoid visible valuables. Use inDrive or Bolt rather than walking at night. Keep car windows closed and doors locked in stationary traffic. If you are a victim, do not resist — your safety is more important than any possession. Report to the Polícia da República de Moçambique (119) and your employer's security officer.

Traffic Police Extortion (Multa Informal)

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Some Mozambican traffic police officers at roadblocks request informal "payments" for alleged or invented traffic violations. Expat drivers with foreign-plated vehicles or rental cars are particularly targeted, as are those who appear unfamiliar with the formal fine process.

How to spot it
  • - Being pulled over without a clear or explained violation
  • - Officer discusses a "fine" that can be paid immediately without issuing a formal receipt
  • - Threatened with vehicle impoundment for minor or unclear violations
  • - No official police receipt book is produced for the alleged fine
  • - Discussion takes place away from the vehicle or in an isolated setting
What to do: Politely request an official fine ticket (auto de notícia) with a receipt, payable at a police station. Ensure all vehicle documents are in order before driving. Many officers will release you once you insist on the official process. Do not pay cash informally. Carry copies of documents — do not hand over originals.

Employment Scams Targeting NGO and Extractive-Industry Workers

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Fake job advertisements for well-paid positions in oil and gas, NGOs, international organisations, and mining companies are posted on social media. Victims are asked to pay "processing fees", "training fees", or "visa fees" to secure positions that do not exist. This scam frequently impersonates real Mozambique-active organisations (Total Energies, ENH, WFP, USAID-funded programmes).

How to spot it
  • - High salary with minimal stated experience requirements
  • - Any request for advance payment of any kind before starting work
  • - Contact via WhatsApp or personal Gmail address rather than official company email domain
  • - No verifiable company website, physical address, or Mozambique company registration
  • - Offer letter arrives very quickly with little or no structured interview process
What to do: Verify all job offers through the company's official website and contact HR directly using publicly listed contact details from that website. Legitimate employers in Mozambique do not request payments from candidates. Report suspected employment scams to the Polícia da República de Moçambique (119) and MITESS (Ministry of Labour).

Property Fraud in Maputo and Coastal Areas

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Mozambican land ownership is complex: all land belongs to the state under the Land Law (Lei 19/97), and individuals hold DUAT (Direito de Uso e Aproveitamento de Terra) land-use rights rather than outright ownership. Fraudsters sell DUATs they do not hold, present outdated or forged DUAT documentation, or sell in areas with overlapping customary and formal rights claims.

How to spot it
  • - Seller cannot provide a current DUAT certificate and caderneta predial
  • - Price is significantly below comparable properties in the area
  • - Seller pressures for quick payment before a named "other buyer" secures the property
  • - Property is in a rapidly developing coastal area (Pemba, Nacala, Beira coast) where values are rising and fraud is more common
  • - No independent lawyer has been engaged by the seller for the transaction
What to do: Engage an OAM-registered lawyer before any property transaction in Mozambique. Verify DUAT status with the relevant Serviços de Cadastro e Geografico. Never pay any sum without notarised documentation. Your employer's legal department can recommend verified property lawyers.

Counterfeit Currency

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Counterfeit Mozambican Metical (MZN) notes — particularly MT 500 and MT 1,000 denominations — are occasionally in circulation. ATM-dispensed notes are reliably genuine; the risk is with change received at informal markets or from unlicensed money changers.

How to spot it
  • - Note has a different texture or paper weight to other genuine MZN notes
  • - Security thread or watermark is absent or visibly different
  • - Received as change in a large denomination at an informal vendor
  • - Colour-shifting ink on high-denomination notes does not shift correctly
What to do: Learn genuine MZN security features (watermark, security thread, colour-shifting ink on higher denominations). Use bank ATMs for cash. Avoid unlicensed money changers. Check change received at informal markets immediately before leaving.

Reporting

Where to report: Polícia da República de Moçambique (PRM): emergency 119. For financial and fraud crime: Brigada Anti-Crime Económico (BACE) — contact via PRM Maputo headquarters. For telecom fraud and SIM swap: INCM (incm.gov.mz, +258 21 227100). For consumer fraud: General Inspectorate of Food and Economic Security (IGSAE) — replaced INAE in 2026. For immigration fraud: DIRE and PRM. For employment fraud: MITESS (Ministry of Labour). For banking and M-Pesa fraud: Vodacom (82 1234) or your bank's fraud line. Your home country embassy for serious cases involving significant financial loss.

Consumer helpline: General Inspectorate of Food and Economic Security (IGSAE) — replaced the former INAE in 2026, under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Maputo. For immediate fraud or crime assistance: Polícia da República de Moçambique on 119. For telecoms fraud: INCM at incm.gov.mz or +258 21 227100.