Someone offers gems, carpets or a deal I can resell at home
Walk away. Nothing that needs you to hurry or ship it home is a deal.
A friend you met a day or two ago takes you to a shop and explains that these stones or carpets sell for far more at home, so you can pay now and cash in later. The pitch comes with urgency, "export quality" labels and a shipping fee you pay up front.
Say this
“Not interested. I don't buy things to resell.”
In Hindi: Mujhe nahin chahiye. Main resale ke liye kuch nahin kharidta.
Do this
- Don't pay, sign or hand over a card, however friendly it feels.
- If you want to buy something, take your time, compare two or three places, and pay on the day you collect it.
- Never agree to ship goods home to "get your money back later".
Use this instead
Buy only what you would happily keep, at a price you checked yourself.
Already paid or handed something over?
Photograph everything you got and the receipt. Call your bank right away and say it was fraud. Report to 1363 or the police on 112.
Where this comes from · checked Oct 2026
- r/india: drivers stopping at handicraft shops (Sep 2023)
- r/delhi: two days of scams, rickshaw then fake agency (Mar 2026)
Traveller posts are individual accounts, not a count. This is guidance, not legal advice or a guarantee. When in doubt, don't pay and check with your hotel.