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As one of the most dynamic and historic cities in the Middle East, Muscat has been welcoming the travelling masses for centuries. Home to some of the region's finest attractions and traditional marketplaces, no tour of Oman would be complete without a stopover in its capital. As in any major tourist hub, Muscat has its fair share of tourist scams and those who would take advantage of unassuming tourists. Here's how to avoid falling prey to such a negative experience on a trip to Muscat.

The downside of not having Uber and similarly regulated taxi service operators is that most taxi drivers take matters into their own hands. While taxis operating out of Muscat are metered, whether the drivers use them or not is in doubt. This is why all travellers must insist on using only metered taxis when touring Muscat and also have an accurate understanding of their destination and the fastest route there. This is due to the fact that some drivers may use longer routes to charge more or quote a higher price for the trip indicating a longer ride than the journey actually is. Using Waze or Google Maps can be of great use in such instances.

Another popular scam involves locals asking tourists to snap pictures. After taking the photograph and the tourists hand the camera back to the owner, they will drop it and blame the unsuspecting tourist. They will often demand payment to "fix" the camera. It is wise to refuse to take snaps of anyone other than fellow tourists when you are out and about exploring Muscat even if it seems rude.

Tourists based at a hotel in Seeb such as the Avani Muscat Hotel or any centrally situated rest must also be weary of ATM scams. Scammers will often keep tabs on specific ATMs near banks and major hotels and use information gleaned from a card skimmer to hack into your account later. Never allow any locals to help you with withdrawing money from an ATM. It's also prudent to cover your hand when entering the PIN so that no one can visually ascertain the code. Withdrawing cash in Muscat can be avoided altogether by paying via credit card for everything although you will need some local cash on hand for shopping in bazaars.

As one of the more ingenious scams in Muscat, a local will casually drop white paste droplets onto foreigners from on high. Another local will likely come up to the foreigner and try to help the tourist clean off bird poop from their clothing. This is when they will try and nick your wallet or grab your purse and make a run for it. Once again, refusing the help of strangers is the only way to avoid this scam while keeping your belongings tucked away in a hidden area may also be prudent.

As a trick that has been performed in the streets of many Middle Eastern tourist hubs, the "guess where the ball is" game is one we are all familiar with. A man will often use three cups or boxes and switch them around to confuse onlookers about the location of the ball. Those who guess correctly will be awarded a prize or money. Although the game itself is harmless, it is often used to distract tourists from their belongings while walking on the road or inside a souq so that pickpockets can grab valuables while they are concentrating on the location of the ball.

Those who are single and looking to mingle during a getaway in Muscat must be aware of this humiliating tourist scam. A pair of men or women will chat up a tourist at a bar and show interest before suggesting a better bar nearby. After enjoying a few drinks at the second bar, the tourist will be expected to foot the bill, which is 5 to 10 times higher than the previous drinking hole. The bars are also in on this scam so don't frequent bars that are off your well-researched itinerary.