New Delhi Scams: Avoiding Misfortune in India’s Most Chaotic City

Big cities have the potential to get a little messy and New Delhi is no exception. Here’s a guide on how to spot and stay ahead of New Delhi’s scams before they ruin your trip. 

If you’re planning to go to India, it’s more than likely that you’ll end up flying into its infamous capital city, a real-life concrete jungle teeming with 21 million people.

New Delhi is virtually synonymous with “you love it or you hate it,” and while it may not be so cut and dry, the expert-level scams one might encounter in this mega-city can understandably lead to hatred. 

Delhi is definitely not as relaxed and carefree as God’s Own Country of Kerala, but rather some sort of enigma: beautiful historical monuments lie adjacent to decrepit old buildings and shantytowns.

Pristine restaurants, western-style hotels, and relics of the Mughal Empire sit mere streets away from groups of child beggars and mischievous monkeys.

Cars, trucks, rickshaws and cows jolt and jive together, narrowly avoiding collisions in a dance of organized chaos. Gray smog alerts to the infamous air quality- a level so hazardous that covering one’s face and mouth is more of a requirement than just a  suggestion

In a city jam-packed with millions more people than it can fit, it is not the least bit surprising that some will take up deceptive and immoral ways to make ends meet. But for those of us on the receiving ends of such deceits, the scammers motives are of little importance.

While there is clearly no end in sight to these hurtful tricks, as travelers, it is possible to beat them at their own games by knowing what you might be hit with in advance- so here you have it y’all, a guide on how to avoid New Delhi’s scams and start off your India backpacking trip on a bit of a better foot than we did!

#1 “This area is closed due to riots”

Talk about something hitting close to home. This particular scam is not just one I may have heard of, but unfortunately know all too well from very recent experience. It goes a little something like this: Conniving rickshaw drivers will wait outside of popular transit areas, namely the main Delhi Metro Station.

Betting on the fact that foreigners will not know where they are going, and likely will be internet-less, they prey almost exclusively on backpackers, or other budget travelers, who are looking to get to the Paharganj area.

Being a budget-friendly area peppered with hostels, and conveniently situated in a maze-like neighborhood, to a scammer, hearing “Take me to Paharganj!” is like pressing a big old “Go!” button. These guys are good, and well connected. They will bring you to a gated area complete with heavily- armed military men. (They really do know how to employ the scare factor.)

Said military men will then explain that “Paharganj” is closed “due to riots” or some other “insert-extreme-event here”. Banking on the fact that naive, exhausted, backpackers have no way to verify such claims, they proceed to cart you along to Scam #2 – fake tourist agencies.

Here’s what’s really up:

• Paharganj is a neighborhood filled with hundreds, if not thousands, of stores, restaurants, accommodations and everything in between. It is NEVER closed, and while it’s not the nicest neighborhood in Delhi, it’s far from being actually dangerous.
• There is also not a single gate anywhere around or within its bounds- if any driver of any kind tries to bring you to a gated area and insist that it is Paharganj, hit em’ with the facts and watch their devious excitement melt away before your very eyes.
• Make sure to use the app Maps.me to download a free map of Delhi before arriving. This handy tool will work even without internet, so you’ll be a step ahead of anyone trying to take you on some wrong turns.
• If possible, try to avoid rickshaws altogether, especially upon arrival. A giant backpack is a sure sign that you probably don’t know where you’re going yet, and thus a delight to New Delhi’s scammers. If you’re coming from the airport, see if you can arrange a pickup with your guesthouse, or if possible, use Uber. It’s delightfully cheap and circumvents any price/location scamming!

#2  Fake Tourist Agencies

If you thought Scam #1 was good, Scam #2 is here and ready to take a generous lead. Yup, fake tourist agencies really do exist, and in New Delhi they’re plentiful. We’re talking official looking buildings, offices, and paperwork, complete with friendly, educated folks who truly make you think they care about your predicament.

These guys don’t miss a beat- unless you’re in the know, there’s absolutely nothing that would indicate these things aren’t the real deal. Once they reel you in, they will undoubtedly try to force you to stay at a very expensive western hotel, or if you’re looking to leave from Delhi, coerce you into booking a taxi or whatever else through their very overpriced services.

Here’s what’s really up:

• If you are ever brought to or suggested to go to a “Tourist Center”- think no further and – get. out. immediately! While actual travel agencies and Tourism Ministries do exist, these hole-in-the-wall shops (with their all too real looking signs) are anything but official. The scammers who work in these will stop at nothing to get your money, and to their credit, are awfully witty and present an aura of helpfulness and understanding.
• Spoiler alert: They are anything BUT helpful.
• As with New Delhi scam #1, finding yourself in one of these places can be avoided by dodging rickshaws from the airport or major train stations. When in doubt, Uber it out!

#3 Fake Foreigner Counter at New Delhi Railway Station

You may be catching on by now that the theme to these scams tends to be the “faking” of real things. And frustratingly enough, these guys have no qualms about attacking India’s best mode of transport: trains.

A stone’s throw from Paharganj, New Delhi’s main train station is frequented by millions and will likely be on your itinerary as a budget backpacker.

While the main entrance is very clear, clueless tourists will often be brought via rickshaws to a fake “foreigner counter” that’s cleverly positioned very close to the station.

The damn thing even has – like the agency- an ~ official-looking sign~. This fake counter will try to sell you fake tickets at vastly overpriced amounts.

We knew about this one in advance, but on our way to the station we had to forcefully insist to the rickshaw driver that he bring us to the main entrance, once it was clear he was trying to deliver the scam.

Being polite is well and good in most every circumstance, but with rickshaw drivers, don’t be afraid to assert yourself.

Here’s what’s really up:

• A foreigner train counter really does exist, and it’s filled with extremely helpful, friendly employees who will do everything they can to help you. In fact, the guy who helped us get our tickets is also the person who explained the whole tourist agency scam!
• This office is located inside the MAIN entrance of New Delhi Railway Station. Once you enter, take your first left and go up the stairs on the right; the office will have a sign on it letting you know you’re in the right place. This is the ONLY official office- so if you’re not at the main entrance, you’re in the wrong place.
• The main entrance of the station even has signs posted proclaiming “Beware of touts!” – this is another indication you’re in the right spot.
• This scam is most easily started by rickshaw drivers. When you’re leaving a super crowded market it may be hard to take anything else, but if at all possible walk the extra few blocks to call yourself an Uber. And as always, make sure your maps are functioning.

#4 Double Rickshaw Pricing

Like many things in India, rickshaws are part of the double pricing scheme. Basically, locals are charged an absurdly small amount such as 10-20 rupees, which also happens to be the legal rate, while foreigners are forced to pay upwards of 200 rupees for a relatively short ride.

While the law specifies a single price for everyone, this is an extremely common practice amongst drivers, and something many tourists are completely oblivious to.

Here’s what’s really up:

• While it is POSSIBLE to try and bargain or flex your knowledge of the true rates, it might not be worth the hassle. Save yourself some time, stress and rupees and use Uber or Ola Cab (another version of Uber). Also, the Delhi metro is pretty well connected, as modern as anything in Europe, and definitely worth a try!

#5 Ubers requesting you pay in cash

Photo Credit: Hindustan Times

While Uber is by and far the recommended transport in Delhi, it’s not without its potential for a good old scam.

Despite the app telling you in advance the cost, and that cost being electronically deducted from your bank account, some drivers may try to tell you it “didn’t work” or that “they need to be paid in cash.”

Here’s what’s really up:

• Just like in the western world, Uber India is a strictly cashless app. The company makes it very clear that you should NEVER pay a driver in cash, and any disputes should be made online to their customer service reps. If you end up in this situation, remind your driver of this and do not under any circumstances give them cash. If there really is an issue with them getting paid, rest assured that Uber’s got it.

#6 Beggars with Children

While not really a full-on scam, this is definitely something you should be aware of. Young mothers will often “rent” a baby that’s not their own in order to get more cash. It’s also not unheard of for a beggar to follow you around and even wait outside of stores you may go into.

Here’s what’s really up:

• This level of poverty is obviously heartbreaking, and the decision of whether or not to give anything might seem like a no brainer. I’m not trying to jade you, but it is worthwhile to know that not every beggar may be what they seem, and in the end, every donation does perpetuate this desolate cycle. Be mindful, make your own decision, and if you do choose to donate, give the money or whatever it may be to the adult and never the child.

And there you have it, 6 of the most common scams in New Delhi. If all this sounds stressful- hear me out.

India is a mesmerizing and magical place, and these scammers represent a very small percentage of its 1.1+ billion people! Avoid rickshaws from the airport, download maps.me and remember this list and you’ll forget that any of the above are even possibilities.

If you’re still feeling overwhelmed, (and understandably so) plan to keep your time in Delhi as a short, jumping off point into your incredible Indian adventure. If mountains call to you, be sure to check out the guide to Kasol for everything you need to know about the hippie paradise of the Himalayas.

Samantha Shea

Samantha is the founder of Intentional Detours. Originally from the USA, she’s been backpacking the world since 2017, and is passionate about slow, adventure travel that puts local communities first. She has visited 19 countries and has been living in the Karakoram Mountains of Asia’s Hunza Valley since 2021. She’s super passionate about helping people get off the beaten path anywhere (on a budget of course), and her travel writing has been published in the likes of BBC Travel, CNBC, Business Insider, and more.