Question 1

What is the "Hotel Redirect Taxi Scam" scam in Mumbai?

Accepted Answer

Taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers picking up tourists from the airport or CST frequently claim that the hotel the visitor has booked is "closed," "full," or "under renovation." The driver then offers to take the passenger to an alternative property where the driver collects a commission from the hotelier. The substituted hotel is typically more expensive, of lower quality, or both. Confirm your booking directly with the hotel before departure and screenshot the confirmation. If a driver claims your hotel is unavailable, call the property yourself using the number in your booking email — not a number provided by the driver. Use prepaid taxis from airport counters or app-based rides to reduce exposure to commission-driven drivers.

Question 2

What is the "Fake Online Hotel Booking" scam in Mumbai?

Accepted Answer

Fraudulent websites mimicking legitimate Indian hotel booking portals create convincing listings for Mumbai properties, complete with stolen photos and fabricated reviews. Tourists who book and prepay via UPI transfer or bank deposit arrive to find no reservation exists at the property, or in some cases, the property itself does not exist at the address given. Book only through internationally recognised platforms (Booking.com, Agoda, MakeMyTrip official app) or directly via the hotel website — verify the URL carefully before entering payment details. Never transfer money via personal UPI IDs or WhatsApp. If a deal is significantly below market rate for the area, treat it as a strong red flag.

Accommodation Scams in Mumbai

Hotel Redirect Taxi Scam

Fake Online Hotel Booking

Experienced a scam here?