Taxi and hotel scams: verify a claimed closure or detour
If someone says your hotel is closed or unreachable, contact the property using your booking confirmation. Do not rely only on the number supplied by the person proposing a replacement.
Before setting off, match the driver and vehicle to the booking and confirm the fare arrangement, destination and extra charges.
At an airport pickup, a placard with your name is only a starting point. Confirm the driver’s identity, your destination and the booking details before leaving the terminal.
Say: “I will check with my hotel directly before changing the booking.”
Gem, jewellery and shopping offers promising easy profit
Treat guaranteed profits from reselling gems, jewellery or other goods, special export deals and “today only” investments as reasons to step away. Do not carry goods for someone you have just met.
For souvenirs, compare prices, check the item and ask for a receipt with the seller’s details. A driver’s recommendation does not prove quality or authenticity.
Tour guides, unwanted services and surprise fees
Use the official visitor desk to check whether you need a guide or ticket. Agree a guide’s fee, duration, language and inclusions before the tour starts.
You can accept or decline directions without agreeing to a paid tour. Decline clearly if you do not want a paid service.
ATM, card and payment-link scams: protect your details
Shield your PIN, keep your card in view and decline unsolicited help at an ATM. Stop if the machine appears damaged or altered.
Read the amount and recipient before authorising a payment. Do not share passwords or one-time codes with someone claiming to arrange a refund. Contact your bank through its official app or the number on your card.
If a card is retained or a transaction looks wrong, contact the card issuer through its official support channel. Keep the ATM location, time and receipt if available; ask the issuer what to do next instead of accepting a stranger’s instructions.
Confirm prices before ordering
Ask for a menu with prices and clarify optional extras before ordering. Review an itemised bill if the total differs from what you expected.
A misunderstanding or an unfamiliar price is not automatically fraud. Ask staff to explain the charge before deciding what to do.
Train tickets and travel bookings: check changes directly
Use a website or contact you reached independently. Check the operator’s name, itinerary, pickup point, cancellation terms and total price before paying.
Confirm tickets through the transport operator’s official service. A person at a station saying your train is cancelled is not a substitute for an official status update.
Fake government websites and paid arrival-form offers
Open government services through the official portal, and check the full web address before entering passport or payment details. A logo or a high search position does not establish that a website is official.
Air Suvidha 2.0 is a specific example: the Civil Aviation Ministry says the health self-declaration service is free and identifies airsuvidha.civilaviation.gov.in as its official portal. Do not assume that separate visa services are also free; check their own official fees.
Give without pressure
If you want to donate, take time to check an organisation independently and ask how the contribution will be used. A convincing story or a badge alone does not establish legitimacy.
You can decline an unsolicited purchase or donation request without arguing or following someone to another location.
A quick check before you pay
- Verify changes with your original provider.
- Read the price, cancellation terms and payment recipient.
- Keep written confirmations and receipts.
- Step away if someone prevents you from checking details.
What to do if you suspect a travel scam in India
Move somewhere you feel safe. Save receipts, booking messages, payment references and relevant details without putting yourself at risk to collect evidence.
Contact your bank promptly about a suspicious payment and ask your provider about its dispute process. Report suspected crime to the police; use 112 if there is immediate danger.
A bank, booking platform or police report does not guarantee a refund. Ask about the applicable dispute process and deadlines, and keep a record of whom you contacted.
BEFORE YOU GO
Common questions
Find helpful answers and plan your next journey with confidence.
Contact the hotel using the number in your original booking confirmation before agreeing to a replacement. Confirm any route or pickup change with the property or original transport provider.
Check with the transport operator or tour provider through its official service or your original booking confirmation. Do not buy a replacement only because someone at a station or pickup point says your booking cannot be used.
No. Prices and ticket categories can differ. Check the published price, ask what is included and agree the total before paying. Request an explanation and itemised receipt for an unexpected charge.
Do not give your PIN, passwords or one-time codes to someone who contacts you offering a refund. Contact the bank or provider through its official app, website or the number on your card to verify the request.
Yes. India’s Civil Aviation Ministry says Air Suvidha 2.0 is free and names airsuvidha.civilaviation.gov.in as the official portal. This does not mean that a separate visa application is free.
Contact the card issuer or bank promptly through an official support channel and ask about securing the account and disputing the transaction. Save receipts and messages. Report suspected crime to the police; call 112 for immediate danger. A refund is not guaranteed.