Archive · 12 Nov 2025
Viral Videos Highlight Tourist Scams in Goa and Delhi
Imagine you are visiting a new country and want to get around.
Two travelers, one from Germany and one from Korea, recently shared scary stories about their trips to India.
In Goa, a German vlogger had trouble booking a taxi using an app because local rickshaw drivers were upset he didn't use them.
They tried to charge him much more money.
The rickshaw drivers even followed his app-booked taxi and caused problems, leading to the driver being fined.
In Delhi, a Korean student was shown around by a man pretending to be a professor.
Later, the rickshaw driver, who was part of the plan, tried to charge him a lot of money for a short ride.
The man also asked for more money, almost scamming him.
Both travelers said that even though these things happened, they still believe India is a good country with nice people.
These stories are making people talk about how to keep tourists safe and stop unfair charging.
A German vlogger in Goa reported being harassed by local taxi operators for using a state-run app, leading to intimidation and police intervention.
The German tourist noted a significant price difference between app-based taxis and traditional rickshaws for the same short distance.
A Korean student in Delhi described a "worst experience" involving an unsolicited guide and an inflated rickshaw fare demanded by a driver.
The Korean student also reported an attempt by the unsolicited guide to scam him out of $100.
Both incidents, shared via viral videos, have reignited discussions about tourist safety and taxi scams in India.
- Who
- A German travel vlogger (Alex Welder) and a Korean content creator (Walter K)
- What
- Both tourists shared experiences of being overcharged and facing intimidation/scams related to local transport and unsolicited guides.
- When
- Recently, with videos going viral.
- Where
- Goa (Patnem) and Delhi (Old Delhi), India.
- Why
- The incidents highlight issues of unfair practices, competition between traditional and app-based transport, and tourist scams.
App-Based Ride Services
Traditional Taxi/Rickshaw Operators
Pricing and Competition
App-Based Ride Services
App-based services offer more affordable and transparent pricing. The issue people have with these apps is about undercutting local prices.
Traditional Taxi/Rickshaw Operators
Traditional operators feel threatened by app-based services, leading to intimidation tactics and potentially inflated prices for tourists.
Safety and Trust
App-Based Ride Services
Some tourists feel safer using app-based services for transparency and ease of booking.
Traditional Taxi/Rickshaw Operators
Some locals act as guides or intermediaries, but can then lead tourists to overcharge and attempt further scams.
- Goa Incident Location
- Patnem, South Goa
- Goa Incident App Used
- GoaMiles
- Goa Incident Rickshaw Demand
- ₹500 for a short trip
- Goa Incident GoaMiles Fare
- ₹300 for the same distance
- Delhi Incident Location
- Old Delhi
- Delhi Incident Rickshaw Fare Demanded
- ₹3,800 (approx. $45)
- Delhi Incident Potential Scam Amount
- $100 from an elderly man