Originally Posted by
IAN-UK
I'm not clear why you permitted this to happen. I'm pretty sure you'd kick up a fuss in Toronto if security officials tried to fleece you (OK - an unlikely situation there! but you know what i'm getting at).
You probably felt intimidated by the uniforms, but really you had nothing to fear in standing your ground: by allowing yourself to be parted from your cash you make it more likely that the low-level scamming of travellers will continue.
Good old Egyptian Baksheesh . Its a fact of life here if you're a foreigner but look around there are signs . Trolleys are free, visa costs $25 etc . People just try it on . Just say no to requests for cash they'll not push it as its just them chancing your naiivety .