
Scam in IndiaBuses and trains
Station entrance blockers in India
How it works
Scammers stand at the entrance, demand to inspect your ticket and physically try to stop you entering. They exploit visitors' uncertainty about station procedures.
Warning signs
- A person in the crowd blocks your path.
- They demand your ticket while steering you away from the entrance.
- They direct you to an outside office.
How to avoid it
- Follow the proper entrance and security process.
- Ask police or enquiry staff for help.
- Do not follow someone to an outside ticket office.
If it happens to you
Avoid a physical confrontation. Move towards police or station staff and ask for assistance.
- 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/SoloTravel_India2025Two weeks solo in India - trip report & costs breakdown.A traveller reported scammers preventing their intended crossing over railway tracks by falsely claiming access restrictions and a required tourist-office permit.Read on Reddit
- Redditr/india2024I am a tourist arriving a week ago, exchanged money at airport and was given 2000 note, not knowing they were not legitimate.A commenter described a purported guard selectively stopping foreign visitors and directing them to a printer for an unnecessary boarding pass.Read on Reddit
Questions
What is the station entrance blockers scam in India?
Scammers stand at the entrance, demand to inspect your ticket and physically try to stop you entering. They exploit visitors' uncertainty about station procedures.
How can I spot it early?
A person in the crowd blocks your path. They demand your ticket while steering you away from the entrance. They direct you to an outside office.
How do I avoid station entrance blockers in India?
Follow the proper entrance and security process. Ask police or enquiry staff for help. Do not follow someone to an outside ticket office.
What should I do if it happens to me?
Avoid a physical confrontation. Move towards police or station staff and ask for assistance.
Where in India does this happen?
Railway station entrances It has been reported in Delhi.
How common is this scam in India?
Occasional. 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: fake ticket offices and tourist information centres, fake train boarding-pass requirement.
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