These are the tourist scams Trzly has documented across Indie, grouped by destination. Each one is real, with a clear way to stay safe. Read before you land.
Jak to działa: Unofficial touts approach near the Taj Mahal ticket area or gates offering to guide you, sometimes claiming to be official staff, then demand a high fee or lead you toward a commission shop instead.
Jak tego uniknąć: Only hire guides wearing an official ASI badge, ideally arranged in advance through your hotel. Politely but firmly decline unsolicited offers near the gates.
Jak to działa: Drivers, guides or friendly strangers steer you toward a 'government' or 'authentic' marble-inlay shop, framed as an educational stop, where prices are heavily inflated to cover a commission paid to whoever brought you.
Jak tego uniknąć: Treat any driver-recommended shopping stop with caution, and research fair prices for marble inlay work in advance if you intend to buy. There is no requirement to visit any shop as part of a legitimate tour.
Jak to działa: A photographer near the Taj Mahal or Agra Fort offers to take your photo, or simply starts taking it, then demands payment for prints or digital copies you never asked for.
Jak tego uniknąć: Politely decline any unsolicited photo offer before it happens, or agree a clear price in advance if you do want the service. You are not obliged to pay for a photo you did not request.
Jak to działa: Shops or touts sell gemstones or artefacts described as rare, antique or a special one-time deal, sometimes with a story about export or resale value, when the items are actually cheap or fake.
Jak tego uniknąć: Buy gems and antiques only from established, licensed dealers, never on a stranger's or driver's recommendation, and be sceptical of any claim about guaranteed resale value.
Jak to działa: A taxi or auto driver, or a fake 'tourist office', claims your hotel is closed, full or unsafe, then diverts you to another hotel or agency that pays them a commission.
Jak tego uniknąć: Confirm your booking directly with the hotel by phone, insist on being taken to your actual address, and ignore unsolicited 'official tourist offices' near the station and markets.
Jak to działa: A friendly contact offers a deal to buy gems, jewellery or carpets and resell them abroad at a profit, asking you to pay now and carry or receive goods later. The goods are worthless and the money is gone.
Jak tego uniknąć: Never buy valuables to 'resell for profit' on a stranger's promise. Treat any unsolicited investment or export deal as a scam and walk away.
Jak to działa: Drivers refuse the meter, quote inflated flat fares to tourists, claim your destination is 'very far' or take long detours, sometimes via shops that pay commission.
Jak tego uniknąć: Use a ride-hailing app with a fixed price, or insist on the meter and know the rough fare first. Decline detours to shops and pay only what was agreed.
Jak to działa: People outside the Red Fort, Qutub Minar or other sights claim the official queue is closed or sell 'skip-the-line' or fake tickets at inflated prices.
Jak tego uniknąć: Buy only at the official ticket counter or verified online site. Ignore anyone intercepting you outside, and check opening hours in advance so their claims do not work.
Jak to działa: Goa's taxis famously do not use meters, and drivers quote high flat fares to tourists, claim a route is longer than it is, or refuse app taxis to protect their trade, so you can pay several times the fair price.
Jak tego uniknąć: Use the GoaMiles app or airport prepaid counters where the fare is fixed in advance. If you must take a street taxi, agree the full price before getting in, and know the rough going rate for your route beforehand.
Jak to działa: Some rental agents point out 'new' scratches or dents when you return the scooter and demand a large repair fee, or rent out a bike with existing damage and blame you for it later.
Jak tego uniknąć: Before riding off, film a slow video of the whole scooter and photograph every mark, and show the agent any damage you find. Rent from a well-reviewed shop or through your guesthouse, and keep your passport rather than handing over the original as a deposit.
Jak to działa: A minority of shacks and tourist restaurants hand over an inflated bill, add drinks or dishes you never had, or charge a 'special' price higher than the menu once the meal is over.
Jak tego uniknąć: Check that prices are on the menu before ordering, keep a rough tally as you go, and read the bill line by line. Question anything you do not recognise; a fair shack will correct it without fuss.
Jak to działa: Dealers openly offer drugs on the beaches and at parties, but possession is a serious crime in India, and some deals are set up so a 'policeman' appears moments later and demands a large bribe to let you go.
Jak tego uniknąć: Simply do not buy or carry drugs; the risk of arrest, a real prison sentence or an extortion trap is far too high. Walk away firmly from anyone offering them, especially strangers who approach you at night.
Jak to działa: Operators may quote a low price for a jet-ski or parasailing ride, then add charges for a life jacket, a second round or 'photos', pushing the final total well above the agreed figure.
Jak tego uniknąć: Fix the total price, the duration and exactly what is included before you hand over any money or get on the water. Pay at the end, keep the agreed number in mind, and refuse extras you did not ask for.
Jak to działa: Jaipur is famous for a gem scam in which a friendly 'dealer' or new 'friend', sometimes reached via a driver or guide, persuades you to buy gemstones to resell at a huge profit back home under a duty-free allowance. The stones are worthless glass or vastly overpriced, and the promised buyer never exists.
Jak tego uniknąć: Never buy gems as an investment or to resell for someone else, however convincing the story. Treat any stranger who steers you toward a jewellery shop as a tout, and only buy stones you want for yourself from an established, independently reviewed shop.
Jak to działa: Drivers often refuse the meter for tourists and quote a fare several times the real price, especially from stations, the airport and outside major sights, sometimes claiming the meter is broken.
Jak tego uniknąć: Agree a price before getting in or, better, use Uber or Ola, which fix the fare in the app. Have a rough idea of the correct fare, carry small notes, and simply wave off any driver who will not give a fair price.
Jak to działa: A driver or self-appointed guide offers a cheap city tour, then insists on stopping at 'special' handicraft, carpet or gem emporiums where they earn a commission and prices are inflated. Some claim your chosen shop or restaurant is closed to divert you.
Jak tego uniknąć: Be clear you do not want shopping stops, and treat any unrequested detour to an emporium as a red flag. There is no obligation to enter or buy; ask to move on, and check opening hours yourself rather than trusting a driver's claim.
Jak to działa: At Amber Fort, the City Palace or in the bazaars, a friendly man may attach himself as a 'guide' or offer a special viewpoint, then demand a steep, open-ended fee afterwards.
Jak tego uniknąć: Decide up front whether you want a guide, and agree an exact price and scope before starting. Government-licensed guides carry official photo ID; a polite but firm 'no thank you' is enough to decline the rest.
Jak to działa: A taxi or auto driver claims your booked hotel has shut down, moved or is fully booked, then offers to take you to another place that pays him a commission, often at a worse rate.
Jak tego uniknąć: Call your hotel directly to confirm, and insist on being taken to the address you booked. Reputable hotels do not vanish; ignore drivers who try to redirect you and, if pushed, get out and arrange your own ride.
Jak to działa: A driver claims the meter is broken, tampers with it, or simply quotes a high flat fare once he sees you are a tourist, leaving you to pay several times the real price. Tampered meters are a well-documented problem in the city.
Jak tego uniknąć: Insist on the meter before you set off, and ask your hotel what a typical fare should be. If the driver refuses, take another or book an Uber or Ola, which fix the price in the app and remove the argument entirely.
Jak to działa: Drivers or touts approach arrivals inside the terminal offering a 'special' price, or quote well above the real fare, sometimes using a fake fare app or a counterfeit rate card to justify a huge charge for a short trip.
Jak tego uniknąć: Ignore anyone touting inside the building and use only the official prepaid or cool-cab counter, or a booked ride-hailing app, at the marked pick-up point. Confirm the fare on a receipt or in the app before you get in.
Jak to działa: A taxi or rickshaw driver insists on stopping at a 'special' handicraft shop, gem dealer or emporium on the way, where he earns a commission and prices are heavily marked up, or claims your hotel is full and offers another.
Jak tego uniknąć: Decline any unrequested shopping stop firmly and ask to go straight to your destination. If a driver claims your hotel is closed or full, call the hotel yourself to check rather than accepting his alternative.
Jak to działa: Near Colaba and the Gateway of India, a woman carrying a baby asks you not for money but to buy a tin of formula from a nearby shop; the overpriced tin is later returned to the shop and the cash split with the seller.
Jak tego uniknąć: Politely decline and do not buy goods on a stranger's behalf. If you wish to help, give to an established charity rather than to organised street begging, which often involves children who see none of the money.
Jak to działa: Stalls around Colaba Causeway and the tourist sights start prices very high, present ordinary items as rare or antique, and count on visitors paying the first figure without haggling.
Jak tego uniknąć: Haggling is expected; offer well below the opening price and be ready to walk away, which often brings the price down. Compare a few stalls and treat any genuine-antique claim with healthy scepticism.