Scam in IndiaHotels and rooms
False claims that your hotel is closed or unreachable in India
How it works
A driver or tout says your hotel is closed, full or cut off by roadworks. They steer you to a hotel that pays them a commission. A travel agent may pretend to phone your hotel. In Delhi, they may claim there are no rooms anywhere and sell an overpriced car journey to your next destination. Similar false hotel claims occur elsewhere in India.
Warning signs
- A stranger unexpectedly says your booked hotel cannot take you.
- The driver insists on a different hotel.
- Someone offers to make the only phone call used to check the story.
How to avoid it
- Keep your hotel's contact details and booking confirmation ready.
- Contact the hotel yourself.
- Get a second answer from someone independent.
- Insist on your original destination unless you verify a real problem.
If it happens to you
Contact your hotel directly and ask for directions or help arranging transport. Do not buy replacement rooms or onward travel under pressure.
- 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.
- Redditr/delhi2024Got scammed at delhi airportTravellers said their driver falsely claimed protests had closed access to their hotel and took them to a tourist office selling an expensive replacement itinerary.Read on Reddit
- Redditr/SoloTravel_India2025Two weeks solo in India - trip report & costs breakdown.A traveller reported being told that roads to their Paharganj accommodation were blocked and that a tourist-office permit was required.Read on Reddit
Questions
What is the false claims that your hotel is closed or unreachable scam in India?
A driver or tout says your hotel is closed, full or cut off by roadworks. They steer you to a hotel that pays them a commission. A travel agent may pretend to phone your hotel. In Delhi, they may claim there are no rooms anywhere and sell an overpriced car journey to your next destination. Similar false hotel claims occur elsewhere in India.
How can I spot it early?
A stranger unexpectedly says your booked hotel cannot take you. The driver insists on a different hotel. Someone offers to make the only phone call used to check the story.
How do I avoid false claims that your hotel is closed or unreachable in India?
Keep your hotel's contact details and booking confirmation ready. Contact the hotel yourself. Get a second answer from someone independent. Insist on your original destination unless you verify a real problem.
What should I do if it happens to me?
Contact your hotel directly and ask for directions or help arranging transport. Do not buy replacement rooms or onward travel under pressure.
Where in India does this happen?
Tourist areas and taxi journeys from airports or railway stations, especially late at night It has been reported in 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.
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