Street Scams in New Delhi, India
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in New Delhi — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Jaipur, Mumbai, and Goa.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
3
Street Scams Scams
12
Total in New Delhi
How it works
A person near the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, or Qutub Minar tells tourists the site is closed today due to a government function, religious holiday, or maintenance. They offer to take tourists to a nearby "better" sight instead, earning commissions.
How it works
Organized groups using children approach tourists claiming to be fundraising for schools or food. The children are controlled by adult minders nearby and proceeds rarely go to any legitimate cause. Some use distraction while accomplices pickpocket.
How it works
A man dressed as a sadhu or Hindu holy man approaches tourists near temples or monuments and offers a free blessing — placing a red tilak on your forehead or tying a saffron thread around your wrist without asking. Once the blessing is given the individual demands payment, often becoming aggressive or following tourists who refuse. Accomplices nearby create social pressure to pay. This scam operates heavily around Laxmi Narayan Temple on Mandir Marg and near Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.
See all scams in New Delhi
12 total warnings across all categories