Question 1

What is the "Digital Arrest Phone Extortion" scam in Amritsar?

Accepted Answer

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. No Indian law enforcement agency conducts arrests via video call. Immediately hang up on any caller claiming you are under digital arrest. Do not transfer money under any circumstances. Report to cybercrime helpline 1930. Tourists on Indian SIM cards or with WhatsApp accounts active during their trip are specifically at risk if their number has been exposed through hotel check-ins or SIM registration.

Question 2

What is the "Bus Station Cancelled Bus Scam" scam in Amritsar?

Accepted Answer

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. Ignore all unsolicited helpers at the bus terminal and walk directly to the official enquiry counter or your bus bay number as listed on your ticket. Call the bus operator or driver using the number on your booking confirmation rather than relying on bystanders. If the number does not connect, go to the enquiry window — do not accept a tout's claim that no bus exists.

Other Tourist Scams in Amritsar

Digital Arrest Phone Extortion

Bus Station Cancelled Bus Scam

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