Other Tourist Scams in Amritsar, India

How it works

Scammers posing as officials from the CBI, Enforcement Directorate, Narcotics Control Bureau, or customs authorities call tourists on their Indian SIM cards claiming they are under investigation for money laundering, drug trafficking, or a customs violation. The caller demands the victim remain on video call — the "digital arrest" — while threatening immediate arrest if they hang up or alert anyone. Victims are then instructed to transfer funds to "clear" the case. A retired government official in Amritsar lost ₹23 lakh in one documented 2024 case. The scam set national records in India in 2024 with ₹1,935 crore in losses.

How it works

At Amritsar's ISBT (Inter-State Bus Terminal) on GT Road, unofficial touts and individuals posing as helpers approach tourists and insist their pre-booked bus has been cancelled, does not exist, or has already departed. The claim is false — the buses typically run on schedule but are difficult to find in the sprawling, confusing terminal layout. The goal is to redirect tourists to a more expensive taxi, private minibus, or a new ticket sale that earns the tout a commission. Multiple traveler accounts document this tactic specifically on routes to Dharamsala, Chandigarh, and Delhi.