6 Common Tourist Scams in India and How to Avoid Them
Being aware is the first quality to a person that is necessary for traveling around India. This awareness will not only allow you to stay on top of things while exploring such a foreign place, but will also allow you to avoid all scams that come upon you during your travels. And in India, you are bound to run into a few.
Learn the most common scams in India before traveling to save yourself from unexpected and unpleasant experiences. India is an amazing place to visit, and it is more than just the bad experiences of previous tourists who went into it with no information. Do your research and enjoy traveling this beautiful country with these tips on avoiding some of the biggest scams in India.
Common scams in India to be aware of
1) The scam of overcharging and upping the price
One of the biggest scams in India, and one you will frequently deal with, is the scam of overcharging. In the eyes of Indian locals, if there is a foreigner, they already assume you have plenty of money to spend.
Not only that, but when you give them the overpriced amount they’re charging you, you will appear slightly foolish. As an American, I know that in my country paying extra is paying respect to the person who is assisting you, as America has a tipping culture. India does not. So do not try to tip on any occasion or you might be taken advantage of. It may even appear rude.
Overcharging is not just a problem with foreigners, but Indians as well. Shopkeepers will get one look of the person and know immediately how much to charge based on their general appearance. The wealthier you look, the more you will be charged.
Solution:
Just because you might be charged based on how wealthy you look, that does not mean you should go around looking cheap. You’re still a foreigner and nothing will change that. You can live in India for 20 years and speak fluent Hindi and everyone will still see you as a foreigner.
Instead, you should know the correct price ranges for everyday things to prevent being taken advantage of. If you know the true worth of something, you should stand up for yourself and never be stuck overpaying.
Rickshaw Prices:
There are many different kinds of cab services in India, all serving different purposes and have varying prices. However, for general knowledge, if you are going anywhere in a tourist location and it’s under 3-4 kilometers, you should only be paying under 70 rupees. Locals would not pay over 100, so neither should you.
If you’re worried about bargaining, look into booking an Uber or taxi service that has a set price. These services might also ask for a tip, but you should not pay anything over the set price.
2) Fake tour guides found in tourist attractions
One of the most commons scams in India you will experience when you travel around tourist attractions, is the people claiming to be tour guides. These people are nothing more than someone looking to scam. They will come up to you asking if you want a guide, and of course people do, but truly these ‘guides’ will overcharge and give you an unauthentic experience.
Solution:
If you wish to book a tour, think ahead of time and book one online instead. And when these random guys come up to you, just be very firm and decline. Some will keep following you if you are not firm enough.
3) People looking to assist you and insisting on a tip
There will be plenty of people looking to offer extra help for you. And while at first it seems to be out of pure kindness, it almost never is. Especially as an American, I always expect a little kindness from strangers just because that’s how we are. But in India no one expects any such thing. In fact, it is mostly something you should look on with suspicion.
Solution:
People in India are very kind, but kindness is not often shown with strangers, it is only found within families and friends. So if someone is offering you help, and you have no idea who that person is, always decline. If you don’t, they will be expecting a big tip, which is a complete scam.
4) Fake tickets to popular tourist attractions
This is a very common issue for any country you wish to travel to, but of course India is no exception. Never trust a random seller, it will most likely be overpriced and fake. Just make sure you are booking tickets directly from the main website or the main ticket booth.
5) Avoid finding cabs and instead use Uber everywhere you go
It’s common in a lot of countries to be scammed by cab drivers, with overpricing and also misdirection. I would not trust any random cab driver in India just because they might take you the long route and ask for more money, and many other reasons. Uber will always take you where you need to be and you pay the set amount, nothing over.
Solution:
If anyone asks you for a tip, do not give it. It is not required and it is not a polite gesture to offer more than what was required of you. Just pay the original amount and you’ll be fine.
6) Beggars asking for money
Whether it be an older woman or a child, there are plenty of people who will come up to you asking for some money. Most commonly you will see older women, religious men, and children requesting for money.
No one wants to think that children will be the perpetrators of a scam, but it happens in India everyday all over the country. The money they earn for the day is not to benefit them, but to benefit the real scammers, who provide for them. Beggars will ask for money from shop owners, tourists, vehicles on the road, and the money is never for a good cause.
Solution:
It’s a really sad thing to see, and while it’s not easy to handle such a situation, do be prepared for it. The best way to handle this is to offer a little bit of food. Always have some snacks or a little food on you, like biscuits or chips to offer, and that’s the best you can do.
Extra tips
India is not for overly kind and generous people
I come from America, a place where kindness is always overdone but always endlessly appreciated. It is quite an extreme to go from that to North India, where everyone is mostly family centered and less about caring for strangers. It’s a cruel world out there. When you travel to India, or at least North India, without a support system you’ll feel completely on your own. Help always comes at a cost. And kindness is not always something that is appreciated. I’ve mentioned some scams earlier, and the solution to avoiding these is always to be more firm. Being firm in India means to prioritize yourself and make safe choices despite the situations you come across. Just be strong and make wise decisions for yourself.
Always carry small cash with you
This is not exactly a scam as it happens to everyone really, but sometimes a cab driver or someone you’re buying from might not have enough change. Foreigners typically use large bills, which is hard to find change for. Even if they are lying that they don’t have change, always use small cash to avoid this problem.
Research before you go
Always research before you travel, especially in India. Learn about the Do’s and Don’ts for Traveling to India, as well as How to Avoid Culture Shock. These guides will be a lifesaver if you want real guides for India from a local and a foreigner.
Learn a few words in Hindi
Practice speaking a few phrases in Hindi before you go, only if you’re planning to visit North India. Learn the words and phrases that you might need to use during your travels, as it might be very helpful. While plenty already know fluent English in India, it would be good to speak a little Hindi to not only impress, but also to show people your confidence and capability of traveling India.
Final thoughts
India is well known around the world for being the biggest scammers. Take that as a joke you may, but it is slightly true in the sense that the attitude here is different. People value their families more than others, which means there is less consideration towards strangers.
Plenty of Indians are great at making money, and some are not afraid of scamming others to do so. In any case, just be an aware person and know that not everyone is here for your best interest. You actually might have to act like the main character a little bit and prioritize yourself, as that is the mentality over here, or at least it is in North India. Be smart, be confident, and have a safe trip in India!
Maeve & Kart
Ram ram!
We’re Maeve & Kart – an introverted American girl with a love for letters, flowers, and chai on one side, and an introverted extrovert nature enthusiast Indian boy with a sweet tooth on the other.
Get yourself a cup of tea and a spoonful of chini and settle in.
We write for all aspiring travelers, folks in long distance and multicultural relationships, and those kindred spirits out there looking for advice on life in India as a foreigner.
As an American/Indian couple, we are currently living together in India in a cross cultural relationship as a result of one of few successful long distance love stories.
Come along with us as we share stories and advice on multicultural discussions, long distance relationships, and the beauty of travel.
Maeve & Kart
Our Long Distance Story
We are Maeve and Kart – a long distance married couple from America and India.
To all kindred spirits out there trying to navigate a multicultural or a long distance relationship, you’re not alone. Learn from our own experiences of how we finally found each other from across the world and remain together living with a blend of both cultures and languages.
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About Us
We're Maeve and Kart – an introvert with a love for letters, flowers, and chai on one side, and an introverted extrovert nature enthusiast with a sweet tooth on the other. Get yourself a cup of tea and a spoonful of chini and settle in. To all aspiring travelers, folks in long distance and multicultural relationships, and those kindred spirits out there looking for advice on life in India as a foreigner - consider this place your sanctuary. As an American/Indian couple, we are currently living together in India in a cross cultural relationship as a result of one of few successful long distance love stories. Our journey is unique, and we're here to share insights and advice for anyone in similar circumstances. Come along with us as we share stories and advice on multicultural discussions, long distance relationships, and the beauty of travel.
