Indian Travel Scams Part 3: Digital Payments and Online Booking Traps
In modern India you can pay for a two dollar chai with your phone faster than you can open your wallet. It feels futuristic and effortless, which is why digital scams work so well. The queue behind you is long, the screen is small and the QR code on the counter looks like every other QR code you have ever seen.
Quick Intel
Scope: UPI payments, QR codes, fake support numbers and cloned booking sites.
Why It Matters: Losses from digital fraud can hit not just your travel wallet but entire accounts if safeguards are weak.
Key Vulnerabilities: Scanning unknown QR codes, clicking payment links, paying in full on unverified sites.
Good News: A few structural habits drastically reduce risk without forcing you to go cash only.
When QR Codes Are Not What They Seem
Unified Payments Interface has turned street corners, chai stalls and taxis into instant payment points. That same convenience has created opportunities for counterfeit QR codes. In some reported cases, scammers simply place their own sticker over a shop's real code so that every scan sends money to the wrong account. In others, you are sent a link that claims to send you money but actually requests payment from you instead.
Remember the baseline rule: you never need to enter your UPI pin to receive money. If a screen asks for a pin, you are authorising a payment out. When paying in shops and cafes, look carefully at the name that appears on your app before you confirm. If it does not match the shop name or owner name you expect, cancel and choose another method.
Fake Support Numbers and Phishing Pages
Another modern twist is the fake support channel. You search for an airline, railway or hotel helpline and dial the first number you see, which may belong to a third party rather than the company itself. The person on the line may ask you to install remote access apps, share one time passwords or follow payment links to "verify" your booking. By the time you suspect anything, they may have enough information to compromise your accounts.
Reach support through official apps or websites that you enter manually or from links on trusted platforms. Never share full card numbers, pins or one time passwords on a call. If a representative insists that you must pay a fee to receive a refund, hang up and contact the company again via a verified channel.
Cloned Hotel and Tour Websites
Some fraudsters build entire fake websites for real hotels or tour companies, complete with copied photos and logos. The address bar may differ from the genuine domain by a single letter. These sites exist for one reason: to take advance payments. Victims often only discover the problem when they arrive to check in and the hotel has no record of their booking.
Treat the address bar like a border crossing. Check every character of the domain, especially if you followed a link from a message or an advertisement. When prices on an unknown site are dramatically lower than everywhere else, assume that the risk has risen accordingly. For expensive stays and long tours, consider paying a small deposit and the rest on arrival, or use a credit card with good dispute rights.
Build A Digital Safety Net Before You Fly
Set up a dedicated travel bank account and connect that account to your payment apps, leaving your main savings in a separate place that cannot be drained via UPI. Turn on real time alerts for every transaction so that unusual activity pings you immediately. Use strong, unique passwords and two factor authentication for your email, banking and booking accounts. Store digital copies of your passport and cards in encrypted cloud storage instead of in your inbox.
Conclusion: Part three of the scam series lives less in crowded streets and more on crowded screens. India's digital tools are powerful and convenient. With a little preparation and a habit of slowing down before you tap "pay", you can enjoy that convenience without giving strangers a shortcut into your accounts.