Online Scams in Hammamet

Bezness: Romance and Companionship Fraud

Tunisia has a well-documented form of romance fraud locally called bezness, in which individuals — primarily young men — cultivate romantic relationships with foreign tourists, particularly European women, under false pretenses. In Hammamet, encounters typically begin on the beach, in the medina, or via social media contact initiated during or after a visit. The goal is to extract money, gifts, or ultimately a visa or residency arrangement. Victims report losing thousands of euros and suffering significant emotional harm. The US State Department specifically identifies internet romance and financial scams as prevalent in Tunisia.