and if you’re unsure politely decline drinks or food offered by strangers.
1156
Gem Scams
Scams India has its fair share of scams, but most problems can be avoided with a bit of common sense and an appropriate amount of caution. Scams change as tricksters try to stay ahead of the game so chat with travellers and tourism officials to keep abreast of the latest cons. Look at the India branch of Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree Travel Forum (www.lonely planet.com/thorntree), where travellers often post timely warnings about problems they’ve encountered on the road.
Contaminated Food & Drink » Some private medical clinics have given patients more treatment than necessary to procure larger payments from travel insurance companies – get a second opinion if possible. » The late 1990s saw a dangerous scam in Agra and Varanasi when several travellers died after being fed food spiked with bacteria from restaurants linked to dodgy medical clinics. The scam has been quashed, but could always reappear.
» Most bottled water is legit, but ensure the seal is intact and the bottom of the bottle hasn’t been tampered with. » Crush plastic bottles after use to prevent them being misused. Better still, use your own water bottle and water-purification tablets or a filtration system to avoid adding to India’s plastic waste mountain.
Credit-Card Con Be careful when paying for souvenirs with a credit card. While government shops are usually legitimate, private souvenir shops have been known to surreptitiously run off extra copies of the creditcard imprint slip and use them for phoney transactions later. Insist the trader carries out any transaction in front of you. Or pay with cash.
Druggings Very occasionally, tourists (especially those travelling solo) are drugged and robbed during train or bus journeys. A spiked drink is the most commonly used method for sending them off to sleep. Use your instincts,
This long-running scam involves charming con artists who promise foolproof ‘get rich quick’ schemes. Travellers are asked to carry or mail gems home and then sell them to the trader’s (non-existent) overseas representatives at a profit. Without exception, the goods – if they arrive at all – are worth a fraction of what you paid, and the ‘representatives’ never materialise. Don’t believe hard-luck stories about an inability to obtain an export licence, and don’t believe the testimonials they show you from other travellers – they are all fake. Travellers have reported this con happening in Agra, Delhi, and Jaisalmer among other places, but it’s particularly prevalent in Jaipur (see p121). Carpets are another favourite for this con.
Overpricing Agree on prices beforehand, particularly if eating in places without menus, flagging down an autorickshaw or arranging an airport pick-up from your hostel or hotel. This will save you money and could deflect potentially ugly misunderstandings later.
Photography When photographing people use your instincts – some people may demand money afterwards. See also p1169.
Theft » Theft is a risk in India, as it is anywhere else. » Keep luggage locked on buses and trains. Be extra alert just before a train departs; thieves often take