Street Scams in Varanasi, India
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in Varanasi — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like New Delhi, Jaipur, and Mumbai.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
4
Street Scams Scams
11
Total in Varanasi
How it works
A man dressed as a priest or sadhu approaches tourists at the ghats, places a blessing mark on their forehead, ties a thread on their wrist, and recites a prayer. He then reveals the "price" for the blessing — often thousands of rupees — and becomes aggressive if refused.
How it works
In the narrow alleyways of the old city between Dashashwamedh Ghat and Manikarnika Ghat, individuals offer tourists hashish or opium as a cultural or spiritual experience, sometimes framing it as part of a "Shiva ritual." After the substance is consumed or even simply handled, a person posing as an off-duty police officer appears and demands a bribe to avoid arrest. In some cases no drug is involved at all — the "police officer" uses the threat alone to extort cash. The scam is coordinated between the seller and the fake officer.
How it works
Friendly locals, often posing as students or teachers, approach tourists and offer to show them "authentic Banarasi silk" at a family shop or factory. The shops are commission arrangements and the prices are massively inflated compared to legitimate silk stores in the city.
How it works
Near Manikarnika Ghat (the main cremation ghat), touts approach tourists and give an unsolicited explanation of the cremation ceremony, then demand large "wood fund" donations as a condition of viewing or as a supposed contribution to families who cannot afford cremation.
See all scams in Varanasi
11 total warnings across all categories