Is Mumbai Safe in March 2026?

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.

How to avoid: 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.

Scammers in Mumbai markets, tourist areas, and even at some small shops replace legitimate merchant QR codes with their own, or hand tourists a fraudulent QR code to scan for a "refund" or "payment." Scanning and entering your UPI PIN sends money to the fraudster rather than the merchant. India reported over 6 lakh UPI fraud cases in 2024-25, with Mumbai among the highest-volume cities.

How to avoid: Always verify the recipient name displayed on your payment app before confirming any UPI transaction — it should match the merchant. Never scan a QR code handed to you by a stranger. Be aware that UPI is for paying out, not for receiving money — if someone asks you to enter your PIN to receive a refund, that is always a scam.

Touts near the Gateway of India and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus approach tourists claiming that a major attraction is "closed today for a government function" or "under renovation." They then offer to take visitors to an alternative site — usually a shop or overpriced private tour — collecting a commission from the business. The attraction is virtually never actually closed.

How to avoid: Verify opening hours directly with official websites or your hotel before departing. If someone on the street tells you an attraction is closed, walk to the entrance yourself to confirm before accepting any alternative. Major Mumbai landmarks rarely close without advance public notice.

In Colaba and tourist-heavy South Mumbai, auto-rickshaw drivers refuse to use meters and demand flat rates 3–5x higher than metered fares. Some claim to not go to certain areas to force tourists into higher-priced alternatives.

How to avoid: Use Uber or Ola apps which are widely available in Mumbai. Alternatively, take the metered prepaid taxi from taxi ranks at major stations. Auto-rickshaws are technically not permitted south of Mahim in South Mumbai.

Auto-rickshaw drivers near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus tell tourists the station they want is closed or flooded, then offer to take them to an alternative that earns the driver a commission.

How to avoid: Verify all "closed" claims by checking Google Maps or asking multiple unrelated people. Walk into the station yourself before trusting any driver who tells you it is inaccessible.