Maybe you have also heard few or more horror stories of travel scams in India happening to travelers. The reality of scams is not so terrible that can stop you from exploring the country. With a little knowledge of such travel scam’s taking place in India and being a bit careful, you can securely travel the country and enjoy its amazing beauty.
India is a city of diversity. With amazing popular and offbeat destinations to some quick but beautiful weekend getaways from the major metro cities, this country has a lot to offer. Traveling throughout the country can give you a mix of good and bad experiences. Now, it’s up to you, if it motivates you or frightens you from exploring the country ahead.
It’s an unfortunate fact that several kinds of scams happen with people traveling in India. Either you are a citizen of India or visiting India from other countries, scams don’t differentiate. I have also faced and learned from most of these travel scams in India. In a few I was trapped, in few I got lucky. Whenever I got trapped, I wished I had known about these scams before I started my journey.
So, today I decided to pen down my experience that can help my fellow travelers to learn and be more vigilant and careful. Yes, I am warning you about the travel scams taking place in India, yet I intend to make you aware instead of being afraid of traveling the country. You can enjoy a lot of amazing experiences too.
Hot Tip: If you’re a foreigner coming to India for the first time,
do not forget these seven important things:
- A valid passport and visa.
- Travel insurance of your choice to protect your travel.
- A well-researched and planned list of things and activities you want to explore in the city.
- Google Maps on your phone.
- Download a language and translation apps like Google translator or Duo lingo.
- Family, friends or colleagues; talk to the person you know who travels often and get some advice.
- If possible travel in a group. Traveling in a group is the best.
It’s not a good idea to drop your plan to travel to India. India is considered as a unique travel destination offering architectural and cultural diversity. Every country has its good and not so good experiences. You can save yourself by becoming aware of some of these common travel scams.
Visiting India can be one of the best experiences in your life. Here’s the list of top 13 travel scams in India that you may encounter during your journey to the country. No need to be paranoid. Being aware, careful and prepared, you can save yourself from being a victim of these scams.
1. Cab to Hotel Scam –
Cab driver pretending to be unaware of the route to your hotel
This is one of the most common travel scams in India. This Scam is tried on every traveler who is unknown to the area. Based on the experiences received from most of my traveler friends in different countries, if I say this particular scam is a global one, I may not be wrong. Most often travelers arriving on the airports encounter this scam.
Your taxi or cab or auto-rickshaw driver will tell you that he doesn’t know where your hotel is. Some drivers will tell you that due to the high season, your hotel is full. Some will tell that your hotel is now closed or temporarily not taking bookings. Be it any reason, they will try to earn extra money from you. They will also give you lucrative offers to get nice rooms in another hotel. They may offer you to take to a travel agent who can find you a hotel with connectivity.
Many people end up falling for this scam. I have also being victimized to this scam. During my first trip to Mumbai, my cab driver told me that there is no hotel in the nearby area. I had checked that there were plenty of hotels at my drop point. He drove me 16+ inside the city and I still think in the same neighborhood. I ended up booking a hotel with bad services and a high price.
How to save yourself from such travel scams –
Prefer booking your hotel in advance. Most of these hotels provide free pick and drop service.
In case there is no pre-booking, insist your driver take you to the hotel that you have planned your stay. Keep your Google Maps Direction on. You can also call at the reception and inquire about availability. If you have booked a pre-paid taxi, don’t give the voucher/receipt to the driver until he drops you at your destination. The driver requires this voucher to receive his payment from where you booked it.
2. Taxi Meter Billing Scan – When your meter runs fast
This is one of those travel scams in India which you may experience while hiring a non-app based cab or taxi. It’s not like that all meters run fast. Many taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers are honest. But, you may encounter the one who is not honest. Some taxi or auto-rickshaw drivers alter their vehicle meter to run fast. This alteration in meter makes the meter run faster.
How to save yourself from such travel scams –
To save your hard-earned money from this scam, you need to be extra careful. You need to watch the meter to ensure that it’s showing ZERO fares when you hire it and its meter is ticking over at a consistent pace. If you get any suspicion, ask your driver to stop immediately and rectify the meter. Before hiring, check for the actual fare to your destination, only pay that amount to the driver. If he refuses to accept the actual fare, ask him to take you to the nearby police station to sort the matter out.
You can also use GPS navigation or maps feature to calculate actual distance from the origin point (your location) to the destination and ask him to follow your directions only.
3. The reduced fare on return while visiting shops – Such offers may lead you in the trap
If you are traveling to India from abroad, higher chances are you may find such offers from your hired taxi driver. Beware, it is just another common travel scams in India. In this case, the taxi driver may ask you about your interest and plan for shopping. He will try to know more about your interests. Then, he may offer a reduced fare on the return trip if you agree to visit any on-the-way shop recommended by him. While such offers don’t always result out as a scam. But, chances are you may be paying commission to the driver while making purchases at a highly tagged price on products.
How to save yourself from such scams –
Once you agree to visit the shop of his choice and enter into the shop. The salespeople in the show won’t let you get away easily. Even if you don’t make any purchases, such an exercise can end up consuming your precious time. If you don’t want to get caught up in such offers, it’s best to miss this offer.
4. Scams behind Moved or Closed places
This is a very common travel scam. This requires awareness and prior research. You may encounter such travel scams in India at any place within the country. At railway stations, if you are looking for Reservation Center or Tourist Counter, you may face similar scams.
You may meet people who will tell you that the place is moved, not functional or closed. When any unknown person tells you that resources you are looking for has been removed, had its name changed. Don’t trust that person blindly. They may take you to a travel agent to make your booking. At the railway station, few people may tell you that your train has been canceled or there is no train running at the desired time. They may offer you to take a car or a different train to your destination. These tricks are to trap you to use the alternative option at a higher cost.
How to save yourself from such scams –
Ignore these kinds of people and keep going to the place where you want to go. Take the assistance of the inquiry counter inside the railway station or approach a government-employed person (Police, TTE, etc) for correct information.
5. Begging Scams – which is mostly at every traffic signal & over-crowded markets
If you are traveling India for the first time, chances are you have not seen widespread poverty. It can be heartbreaking to see small kids begging on the road with no shelter. It can make you cry to see a mother with a sleepy baby begging for money in the scorching heat. Another common begging scam you may witness is a poor woman or adolescent kids approaching tourists to buy milk to feed the baby. It can be difficult to resist giving money. The reality is you are not helping them. While poverty is real, begging is mostly carried out by an organized group.
A similar scam operates by selling cheap pens at high prices by poor kids or women at the traffic signals.
How to save yourself from such scams –
It is better to not give money to child beggars or beggars carrying a baby as they could be a victim of trafficking.
6. Overcharging or Wrong-charging Scam: Taxi or Auto-rickshaw
One of the most commons travel scams in India is the change in the price of the taxi or auto-rickshaw.
The ways it works –
When you are traveling in India, you agree on a price in advance with the driver or handler at the stand. At the drop point, the driver will ask double the amount or may tell you that the price was fixed on per person basis. You may end up paying the double price or the driver may start shouting at you for payment. Shortly, you will find yourself surrounded by his friends.
A similar thing happened to me. When I was traveling to Jammu – my Tuktuk driver dropped me at the wrong decision and started demanding fare. Then, I requested to leave me at my destination. He started shouting that this is the right destination. Shortly, nearby shopkeepers started favoring the driver. It was part of their general practice to loot people.
How to save yourself from such scams –
It is tough to avoid being a victim of this scam. You can take a few precautions in this situation. Write down the fixed fare with total number of person traveling and show it to the driver. Get his confirmation on the same paper. It is a small task added but can save you from getting part of scam.
It is also advised that to get basic understanding with the local currency. You can also download a currency converter app in your android or apple phone.
Pay attention when giving or taking back balance amount. Take your time to check if you have received back the correct change.
7. SIM Card Scam
If you buy a SIM card in India, shopkeeper will ask you a copy of your passport and passport size photograph. Keep your documents handy while traveling. If shopkeepers don’t ask for any document, then they are either giving you a used SIM. It means the moment your SIM will not get verified, it will shut off.
How to save yourself from such scams –
Always visit the authorized stores only to buy your SIM Card. No matter what, doesn’t rely on the hotel staff, auto/drivers or unauthorized local shops for these.
8. Rental Car Scams
It can provide you comfort to hire a drive for entire day traveling. Sometimes, you hire a driver for whole day and tour the city. Chances are you leave your travel bags in the trunk as driver suggest and go to visit some place. When you return, you realize that some of your belongings have gone missing.
How to save yourself from such scams –
When you hire a driver for whole day and decide to leave your bags with him, make sure to lock you bags. Make sure that you have not kept any valuable items in the bag. Additionally, pay the driver only at the completion of the trip.
9. Paid blessing scams in India
At religious places such as Pushkar and Varanasi, Sadhus will approach you. They will ask and offers to perform a religious ceremony for you. They will tie a red holy thread on your wrist and demand large money. Not all sadhus practice this kind of scam at religious places. Beware of fake sadhus who try to take a lot of money from you in the name of religious events.
How to save yourself from such scams – Don’t fall for such scams. Unless it’s a religious festival, you can easily get inside the temple to worship. At the times of rush, even these fake priests cannot help you much. Always check the temple website for any such facility. Donate what you feel is reasonable and don’t fall for such travel scams in India.
10. Beware of pick-pockets
Pickpockets work in gang. In a gang – one will keep the watch on the target, one will block the way, one will grab and one will hides the loot in jacket and escapes as soon as he can. In Crowded tourist areas, crooks may create a diversion. It allows the group to pickpocket you while your attention is distracted from your valuables.
How to save yourself from such scams –
With a little effort, you can avoid theft of your belongings. Don’t leave your wallet at coffee table in a cafe or at desk in cyber cafe or put it in lap while arranging something.
You may often see boards that say, “Beware of pickpocketing”. You can reduce your risk of pickpocketing by staying alert in areas where pickpocket is common. Put your valuables in pockets that are harder to access.
And, get the travel insurance that covers the theft and damage of your belongings during your trip.
11. Scams on Entry fee – Fake tickets
Being unaware of the charges and free destinations, you may totally rely on the tourist guide or local guide. They may approach you to provide you easy access on making small payment. They may also try to charge entry from you fees at places where entry is totally free.
There are higher chances that you plan to attend your favorite concert, any major event, or shows in nearby attractions. When a major event takes place in city, there is high demand of tickets and accommodation. However, it is just another most common travel scam in India.
Scammers benefit this situation. They may set up a fake website for you. They will show you that tickets are getting sold rapidly to book at instance. Don’t get in the trap. During your trip, always make a considered choice when you book anything.
How to save yourself from such scams –
Check the entry free details at the main gate or inquire at the payment counter. Don’t pay without proper verification of applicability of charges.
12. Scams running behind free assistance: Carry-my-bag Scam
While traveling, there are high chances of facing such kind of proposal. Such scams involve a newly made friend during trip. It may involve an unknown person at railway station or outside airport. Person with less reliability may approach you and ask you to assist them in carrying travel bags.
They may offer to pay you or trick you in emotional ways. Helping is a good attribute but don’t just start carrying a bag without awareness. Such bags may contain prohibited items, such as drugs.
How to save yourself from such scams –
If you carry something for someone, find out what is inside the bag.
13. Scams running behind friends or relative in need
Scammers practicing such scams may phone, email or message your friends or relatives while you are on a trip. Some involved in this scam pretends that they are from a hospital and ask for money for your medical care.
How to save yourself from such scams –
Stay in touch with your friends and family. When you are on a trip, share your pictures and locations on social media accounts with proper privacy settings.
India is not the easiest place to visit but it is one of the most rewarding places you should not miss at any cost. It offers some truly incredible and astonishing sights that every traveler must experience. So, in order to help you, here are some quick tips on surviving any kind of travel scams in India or anywhere on the planet.
- Stay careful and aware – these attributes can save you from any kind of scams.
- Be cautious of anyone that you encounter during your trip.
- Don’t accept invitations from people you feel suspicious.
- When booking any local service, be clear about the cost before you go ahead.
- While making transactions, protect your passwords.
- The most important tip is to stay in touch with your family and friends. Contact them regularly. It will also provide your family with an assurance that you are safe on your trip.
- Update your contacts with emergency numbers issued by Government to save you from trouble.
- Inspect the bottled ware and packaged food before purchasing
- Whenever you buy or pay for something, make sure that you check and count your change carefully.
When you are on a trip and have been the victim of a travel scam in India, contact local police immediately. Secondly, contact your travel insurer and talk about the guidelines in such situations.
If you have encountered any other travel scam, share it with me in the comments. Stay safe and keep traveling.
