Scam in IndiaChanging money
Unusable banknotes passed as change in India
How it works
Someone gives you demonetised notes or damaged notes that other sellers may refuse. Old yellow ₹500 notes and old red ₹1000 notes cannot be exchanged.
Warning signs
- You receive an old yellow ₹500 note or old red ₹1000 note.
- A note is ripped, taped or badly damaged.
How to avoid it
- Inspect notes when receiving change.
- Refuse demonetised notes.
- Ask for a replacement for damaged notes before leaving.
If it happens to you
Ask the person who gave you the note to replace it immediately. Do not pass an unusable note to someone else.
- 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.
Questions
What is the unusable banknotes passed as change scam in India?
Someone gives you demonetised notes or damaged notes that other sellers may refuse. Old yellow ₹500 notes and old red ₹1000 notes cannot be exchanged.
How can I spot it early?
You receive an old yellow ₹500 note or old red ₹1000 note. A note is ripped, taped or badly damaged.
How do I avoid unusable banknotes passed as change in India?
Inspect notes when receiving change. Refuse demonetised notes. Ask for a replacement for damaged notes before leaving.
What should I do if it happens to me?
Ask the person who gave you the note to replace it immediately. Do not pass an unusable note to someone else.
Where in India does this happen?
Cash payments and change
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: short change and disputes over cash paid, poor-value currency exchange.
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