Scam in IndiaShopping
Driver detours to shops or sales offices in India
How it works
A driver offers to show you good shops or takes you to a tourist information centre instead of your destination. You face pressure to buy crafts or overpriced services.
Warning signs
- The driver suggests shopping stops you did not request.
- Your destination is replaced with a shop or information centre.
- The driver insists that a particular shop is a special opportunity.
How to avoid it
- State your destination clearly before boarding.
- Firmly refuse shopping detours.
- Use an official or booked taxi.
- Insist on being taken to the destination you agreed.
If it happens to you
Decline purchases and ask to continue to your destination. Leave the shop if you feel uncomfortable.
- Move to a safe, staffed place. Avoid a confrontation. Call 112 if you are threatened, injured or in immediate danger.
- Stop further payments. If cards or account details are involved, contact your bank or payment provider immediately.
- Save receipts, booking details, messages and transaction records. Write down the location, time and vehicle or driver details.
- Report the incident at the nearest police station. For a serious crime, insist on an FIR and request a copy. Report online or card fraud to the local police cybercell or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
- Contact your embassy or consulate if your passport is missing. Tell your travel insurer and provide the records they request.
What travellers report
Posts about this scam on other sites, summarised in our words. Open one to read the original.
- TripadvisorNew Delhi ForumNirula Handicrafts Bazaar Beware - New Delhi ForumTravellers reported drivers taking them to a handicraft shop where they encountered high-pressure selling and allegedly overpriced or misrepresented goods.Read on Tripadvisor
- Redditr/SoloTravel_India2025What kinds of travel scams have you personally experienced?A contributor said an auto driver offering cheap help finding a bus instead took them to an affiliated agency selling more expensive tickets.Read on Reddit
Questions
What is the driver detours to shops or sales offices scam in India?
A driver offers to show you good shops or takes you to a tourist information centre instead of your destination. You face pressure to buy crafts or overpriced services.
How can I spot it early?
The driver suggests shopping stops you did not request. Your destination is replaced with a shop or information centre. The driver insists that a particular shop is a special opportunity.
How do I avoid driver detours to shops or sales offices in India?
State your destination clearly before boarding. Firmly refuse shopping detours. Use an official or booked taxi. Insist on being taken to the destination you agreed.
What should I do if it happens to me?
Decline purchases and ask to continue to your destination. Leave the shop if you feel uncomfortable.
Where in India does this happen?
Auto-rickshaw journeys in Bengaluru and unofficial taxi journeys in Delhi It has been reported in Bengaluru, Delhi.
How common is this scam in India?
Common. Scams and touts are common in India's tourist areas, especially in Delhi and around transport hubs. Common problems include inflated fares, short change, false claims about hotels, fake ticket offices and pressure to buy goods or tours. India is generally safe for foreign visitors who take basic precautions against petty crime and theft.
Are there similar scams in India?
Yes: a new friend leads you to an overpriced shop, inflated tourist prices at street stalls, charging above the printed price or using a false price sticker.
Who can I report it to?
Emergency services: call 112 for immediate danger or urgent police, fire or ambulance help. Give your location and speak slowly. Nearest police station: visit in person for non-emergency crimes. For a serious crime, insist on a first information report, or FIR, and obtain a copy. Local police cybercell: make a complaint about internet scams, card skimming or other cybercrime. Bring transaction records and saved messages. National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: use the government portal to report cybercrime. Keep a record of your complaint. Ministry of Tourism helpline: call 1363 or 1800-11-1363 for tourist assistance. The helpline operates 24 hours a day. Bank, card issuer or payment provider: use its official app or contact number to block compromised cards or accounts, flag the fraud and ask about disputed payments. Embassy or consulate: contact your country's embassy or consulate through its official contact details if your passport is stolen or you need consular help. Travel insurer: report the loss promptly. Keep police reports, receipts and evidence of the stolen items or disputed payments. Bengaluru auto-rickshaw complaint service: record the driver's identification number. A BBMP control room contact is listed as +91 80 22975803, but it dates from December 2009. Confirm that it still handles these complaints before relying on it.
What number do I call in an emergency in India?
National emergency services: police, fire and ambulance: 112, Ministry of Tourism 24-hour tourist assistance: 1363, Ministry of Tourism alternative helpline: 1800-11-1363.
Reviewed by @snuck