India has an unfortunately deserved reputation for scams, both classic and newfangled. Of course, most can be avoided with some common sense and an appropriate amount of caution. They tend to be more of a problem in the major gateway cities (such as Delhi or Mumbai), or very touristy spots (such as Rajasthan). Chat with fellow travellers and check the India branch of Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree forum (www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree) to keep abreast of the latest cons.
AMost bottled water is legit, but ensure that the seal is intact and the bottom of the bottle hasn’t been tampered with.
AWhile in transit, try to carry packed food if possible, and politely decline offers of food or drink from locals on buses or trains; hygiene can be an issue and people have been drugged in the past.
AThough there have been no recent reports, the late 1990s saw a scam where travellers died after consuming food laced with dangerous bacteria from restaurants linked to dodgy medical clinics. In unrelated incidents, some clinics have given more treatment than necessary to procure larger payments from insurance companies.
A Gunk (dirt, paint, poo) suddenly appears on your shoes, only for a shoe cleaner to magically appear and offer to clean it off – for a price.
A Some shops are selling overpriced SIMs and not activating them; it’s best to buy your SIM from an official outlet such as Airtel, Vodafone etc and check it works before leaving the area.
A Shops, restaurants or tour guides ‘borrow’ the name of their more successful and popular competitor.
A Touts claim to be ‘government-approved’ guides or agents, and sting you for large sums of cash. Enquire at the local tourist office about licensed guides and ask to see identification from guides themselves.
A ‘Tourist offices’ turn out to be dodgy travel agencies whose aim is to sell you overpriced tours, tickets and tourist services.
Be careful when paying for souvenirs with a credit card. While government shops are usually legitimate, private souvenir shops have been known to surreptitiously run off extra copies of the credit-card imprint slip and use them for phoney transactions later.
Ask the trader to process the transaction in front of you. Memorising the CVV/CVC2 number and scratching it off the card is also a good idea, to avoid misuse. If any-one asks for your PIN with the intention of taking your credit card to the machine, insist on using the machine in person.
Be extremely wary of accepting food or drink from strangers, even if you feel you’re being rude. Women should be particularly circumspect. Occasionally, tourists (especially those travelling solo) have been drugged and robbed or even attacked. A spiked drink is the most common method, but snacks and even homemade meals have also been used.
Don’t be fooled by smooth-talking con artists who promise foolproof ‘get rich quick’ schemes. In this scam, travellers are asked to carry or mail gems home and then sell them to the trader’s (nonexistent) overseas representatives at a profit. Without exception, the goods – if they arrive at all – are worth a fraction of what you paid, and the ‘representatives’ never materialise.
Travellers have reported this con happening in Agra, Delhi and Jaisalmer, but it’s particularly prevalent in Jaipur. Carpets, curios and pashmina woollens are other favourites for this con.
Always agree on prices beforehand while using services that don’t have regulated tariffs. This particularly applies to friendly neighbourhood guides, snack bars at touristy places, and autorickshaws and taxis without meters.
Ask for permission where possible while photographing people. If you don’t have permission, you may be asked to pay a fee.
ATheft is a risk in India, as anywhere else. Keep your eye on your luggage at all times on public transport, and consider locking it, or even chaining it on overnight buses and trains. Remember that snatchings often occur when a train is pulling out of the station, as it’s too late for you to give chase.
ATake extra care in dormitories and never leave your valuables unattended. Use safe deposit boxes where possible.
ARemember to lock your door at night; it is not unknown for thieves to take things from hotel rooms while occupants are sleeping.
ACabbies and autorickshaw drivers will often try to coerce you into staying at a hotel of their choice, only to collect a commission (added to your room tariff) afterward. Where possible, prearrange hotel bookings and request a hotel pick-up.
AYou’ll often hear stories about hotels of your choice being ‘full’ or ‘closed’ – check things out yourself and reconfirm and double-check your booking the day before you arrive.
ABe very sceptical of phrases like ‘my brother’s shop’ and ‘special deal at my friend’s place’. Many fraudsters operate in collusion with souvenir stalls.
AAvoid friendly people and ‘officials’ in train and bus stations who offer unsolicited help, only to guide you to a commission-paying travel agent. Look confident, and if anyone asks if this is your first trip to India, say you’ve been here several times and that your onward travel is already booked.
AUpon arriving at train stations and airports, if you haven’t prearranged a pick-up, use public transport, or call an Uber or equivalent, or go to the prepaid taxi or airport shuttle-bus counters. Never choose a loitering cabbie who offers you a cheap ride into town, especially at night.
AWhile booking multiday sightseeing tours, research your own itinerary, and be extremely wary of anyone in Delhi offering houseboat tours to Kashmir – we’ve received many complaints over the years about dodgy deals.
AWhen buying a bus, train or plane ticket anywhere other than the registered office of the transport company, make sure you’re getting the ticket class you paid for. Use official online booking facilities where possible.
ATrain-station touts (even in uniform or with ‘official’ badges) may tell you that your intended train is cancelled/flooded/broken down or that your ticket is invalid or that you must pay to have your e-ticket validated on the platform. Do not respond to any approaches at train stations.
A A good travel-insurance policy is essential.
A Email copies of your passport identity page, visa and airline tickets to yourself, and keep copies on you.
A Keep your money and passport in a concealed money belt or a secure place under your shirt.
A Store at least US$100 separately from your main stash.
A Don’t publicly display large wads of cash when paying.
A Consider using your own padlock at cheaper hotels.
A If you can’t lock your hotel room securely from inside, stay elsewhere.