The short answer
Know the handful of patterns, agree every price before anything happens, and never follow someone who approached you first. Most Marrakech scams are pushy selling and small overcharges, not crime. The common ones are the 'closed street' detour, unofficial guides, uninvited henna, snake and monkey photos, unmetered taxis and extra items on a food-stall bill.
In more detail
Almost everything travellers call a scam here runs on politeness and social pressure rather than force. The opening is usually a favour: directions, a 'quick look', free help, a sprig of mint. The favour then turns into a tip, a shop visit or a fee. Anything offered freely and unasked in the medina is rarely free, so the simplest rule is to decline help you did not ask for.
Saying no works if you keep it short. A calm 'la, shukran', a small shake of the head and a steady walking pace end most approaches. Do not stop to explain or argue. Saying you are going back to your riad, or that your guide is waiting, closes the conversation faster still. Declining is completely normal here, and most people move on at once.
A licensed guide for your first medina walk removes most of the friction, because touts and faux guides drift away when you are already accompanied. It is a comfort choice, not a safety necessity. Plenty of visitors explore happily alone once they know the patterns.
Good to know
- Streets in the medina do not close for tourists. Keep walking your original way.
- Ask for 'compteur' (the meter) before you sit in a petit taxi, or agree the fare first.
- Keep your hands to yourself near henna artists unless you have agreed a design and a price.
- Ask the price of every dish before you sit at an evening stall, then check the bill.