Destinations › India › Bangalore › Scams
Bangalore, India
10 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Bangalore, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.
Fake recruitment offers targeting foreign visitors and recent arrivals, requiring an upfront 'processing' or visa fee for a job that does not exist.
Rental scooter and motorbike operators withholding the deposit over pre-existing scratches, with no signed condition report at handover.
Overcharging at unmetered pharmacy and convenience purchases where no price is displayed, particularly around hotel districts.
Individuals presenting fake identification and demanding to inspect wallets or passports for a 'currency check', targeting people leaving ATMs.
Unofficial 'tourist information' desks selling overpriced day trips with itineraries that differ substantially from what was described.
Counterfeit electronics and accessories in the commercial street markets, sold with fabricated warranty paperwork.
Phone snatching from open bags and hands in crowded market lanes and at bus terminals during evening rush.
Airport taxi drivers taking a longer route into the city and adding unexplained toll and 'night' surcharges outside the hours they apply.
Auto-rickshaw drivers declining the meter for anyone who looks non-local, quoting two to three times the metered fare. App-based cabs are the practical alternative.
Shortchanging at small shops and street stalls, usually on 500-rupee notes when small change is claimed to be unavailable.
