What are the common scams in India?

common-scams-in-India

In India Visitors are welcomed with open arms, the general public will go out of their way to help tourists in all sorts of ways. But like they say, it takes an exception to prove the rule. Read the full article about what are the common scams in India?

Especially in the big cities, where tourism is a booming business, there will always be the occasional unscrupulous tout or scammer waiting to take advantage of the unsuspecting traveler. To avoid falling victim to scams, it is best to be forearmed. Here are some common scams in India.

The common Scams in India are.

Hotel Scam:

If you ask a Driver about your Hotel, Drivers will pretend that they have never heard of your hotel even though it is one of the most famous hotels in town! To overcome this is to know where your hotel is in relation to the airport or train station etc.

The reason they do this is because they would prefer to take you to another hotel where they get a commission for bringing them business.

FAKE TOURIST OFFICE:

This is a tricky one to deal with. You will be led to an ‘official tourism office’ where they will tell you that the plans and reservations you’ve made are fake, and that they will help you make new bookings. As they pose as government officials, it is easy to fall prey for this common tourist scam.

To overcome it immediately contact your operator and let them know if you find yourself in this situation, and also contact the hotels you’ve been booked at.

HOTEL MOVED OR CLOSED:

Sometimes your driver will say that the hotel has closed or moved and then they take you to a slightly differently named hotel where they get a commission. It is important to remember that if you ask a stranger off the road for assistance, he or she is most likely to help out as much as possible.

Most taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers also tend to be the same. But there are those who wouldn’t be as nice. And preying on visitors’ lack of on-ground knowledge is an easy way to fool them. To overcomes, get the address of your hotel and phone number handy in case you need to have them explain directions to the driver or tell the driver that you’ve already paid an advance.

BEGGARS & PICKPOCKETER:

If you are in a busy street or shopping mall where so many Beggars & pickpockets may start, grab your bags and even put their hands in your pocket. Gifting you something then asking to be paid:

A common place for this Indian scam is around the temples and holy rivers. For example a child or “holy man” will tie a string around your wrist or put a red dot (tilak) on your forehead and then ask for 50 rupees! If someone tries to give you something is sure it is actually a gift and not a scam.

Another beggar tactic is to have a 12 year old girl carry a 6 month old baby while the 12 year old gestures for you to feed “her” baby. The truth of the matter is that it almost always isn’t her baby and the reason they do it is because they’ve learned that they make triple the money if a young girl carries a baby. Don’t fall for this ploy.

BILLING MISTAKE:

When you find additional items on your bill, the person in question will quickly acknowledge the mistake and take the said items off the bill. But, the service charge and luxury tax (if applicable) which is calculated on the previously inflated amount will remain.

Asking for a new bill is the easiest way to avoid prolonged discussion on the matter. A simple way to avoid this is to only go to “fixed rate” shops. If this isn’t possible then you will need to bargain.

INFLATED TAXI/AUTO FARE:

This also makes its way to the list of some of the most common tourist scams in India. Driver will ask where you want to go and then quote an arbitrary number as fare.

The reason given for not playing by the meter is that it is difficult for them to get a customer on the way back. This is far more common later at night. Threatening to call a cop can be an effective deterrent, but this could be time-consuming.

A better option would be to simply use an aggregator service, which has become fairly common in all big cities in India. A government-authorized prepaid counter is another workaround.

THE OLD SWITCHEROO:

When trying to get change for a larger currency bill, or while paying for something, the perpetrators will either palm a few notes and say you haven’t paid enough, or switch your currency note for a counterfeit one.

Counting the notes while paying or declaring that you just withdrew them from an ATM are good ways of avoiding currency scams.

Always count your changes carefully, No matter who you are dealing with. The train station, the travel agent, the shoe shine boy, the bank, anyone can make a “mistake”. And when you show them that their calculations were off, you will be greeted with a look of astonishment and amazement.

And suddenly they locate the missing bill – in their lap or on the floor! Use the calculator on your cell phone if you buy more than a few items. That alone will deter most miscalculations.

Obviously exchanging money can be a risky business that scammers like to be involved with. The airport exchange places are usually fine but they do rip you off. I personally like ATM’s the best because they are safest and have some of the best exchange rates. Learn more about it on my blog, “handling & exchanging money in India“.

SIM CARDS:

Some unauthorized agents may sell others/Stolen SIM Cards to you It’s quite difficult to get a SIM card in India and typically involves a lot of paperwork and other hassles. If you don’t fill out that paperwork but someone sells you a SIM, there is a good chance it’s a used or defunct card that simply won’t work.

You’re best to go to an official main office from one of the carriers and do all the arduous paperwork and get an official SIM card that will work until it’s been inactive for 3 months and then they’ll promptly cancel your service.

Avoid traps in India Navigating through local transport can be tricky, but if you know your way through the scams, it can be a very eventful experience.

Safety tips and ways to avoid tourist traps Keep an eye out on those bills and ask for a new one in case you smell something fishy.

THE ROAD FEE:

Owing to its reputation of being a slightly unfriendly city, tourists often ask ‘is Delhi safe for foreigners?’. For the large part, it is, provided you take adequate precautions. But sometimes, the very people responsible for safeguarding the people’s interests exploit them.

Although this isn’t actually dangerous except for a little monetary loss, it is still one of the scams to be aware of in India. Officials, either designated or pretend, ask for arbitrary fees or taxes from unsuspecting tourists. Although, asking for proper identification and a clear explanation of the said demand is enough of a deterrent.

On the whole, India people love tourists, and we love sharing the wonders of our country with you. Don’t let these scams scare or deter you; now that you know about the common tourist scams in India, you’re well prepared to grab it by the horns.

Do your research before Travel in India

This means looking up the destination on the Internet, studying maps and getting advice from other travelers about that place you’re thinking of going.

This will help you get any insider knowledge before you arrive making you more prepared to deal with the possible onslaught of scams that await you.

India is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. INDIA is a huge, beautiful, land full of wonders. From the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean, from Thar Desert to the snowy mountains of Sikkim, It is a country full of beautiful sights and beautiful people. India is a unique country with diversity. “Unity is diversity” is the main slogan of our country.

There is a harmonious blend of art, religion and philosophy. Though India has been subjected to a series of invasions, she has retained her originality even after absorbing the best of the external influences.

The diverse geographical locales of India delight the tourists. The monuments, museums, forts, sanctuaries, places of religious interest, palaces, etc. offer a treat to the eyes.

Who is the biggest scammer?

Mac Gregor, Scottish con man; tried to attract investment and settlers for the non-existent country of Poyais.

Bernard Madoff, creator of a $65 billion Ponzi scheme, the largest investor fraud ever attributed to a single individual.

Who is the richest scammer in the world?

Emmanuel Nwude is a Nigerian advance-fee fraud artist and former Director of Union Bank of Nigeria. He is known for defrauding Nelson Sakaguchi, a Director at Brazil's Banco Noroeste based in São Paulo, of $242 million: $191 million in cash and the remainder in the form of outstanding interest, between 1995 and 1998.

What are the most common types of scams?

What are some common types of scams?

Debt collection scams.

Debt settlement and debt relief scams.

Foreclosure relief scams.

Grandparent scam.

Imposter scams.

Mail fraud.

Mortgage closing scams.

Lottery or prize scams.

Who is the best scammer in Ghana?

The mystery around his background and wealth makes it likely that he is the richest scammer in Ghana.

Criss Waddle's Audi worth 59k.

Nana Wan.

Pope Skinny openly flaunts his wealth.

Nhyiraba Kojo.

Medikal.

Is scamming illegal on PayPal?

PayPal is aware of reports being made by a security researcher about a way to potentially commit fraud on the PayPal system. It's fraud. It's illegal. Neither PayPal nor the police will look kindly on anybody who pulls the scam, regardless of it being published by a researcher who works for a security firm.

Search This Blog

Googole Blogger

Google Blogger Guide A to Z