Destinations › India › Delhi › Scams
Delhi, India
8 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Delhi, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.
Auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers refuse the meter, quote fares 3–5x the real price, or claim a pre-booked hotel is "closed" to redirect to a commission hotel.
Fake "tourist information" centers near Connaught Place and railway stations look official — well-dressed staff, official-looking signage — and sell overpriced tours or fake tickets, sometimes claiming genuine attractions are closed.
Market vendors sell counterfeit goods or "gemstones" pitched as valuable bargains but worth a fraction of the asking price.
Pickpocketing in crowded markets like Chandni Chowk, metro stations, and at festivals.
Fake railway booking offices near stations claim official IRCTC bookings are unavailable, then sell tickets at a large markup or ones that are entirely fake.
Restaurants in tourist areas add unlisted charges or round bills up without itemization.
Aggressive demands for large cash donations at religious sites.
Uninvited "bag carriers" at the airport grab luggage and offer transport at a "good price," then charge well above the going rate.
