Key Takeaways
- The #1 reported scam is the The Fake Ashram Yoga Teacher Training
- 1 of 6 scams are rated high risk
- Use app-based ride services (Uber, Ola) instead of street taxis — always confirm the fare before departure
- Never accept unsolicited offers from strangers near tourist sites in Rishikesh
⚡ Quick Safety Tips
- Keep phones and valuables in secure pockets when in crowded areas
- Use only licensed taxis or app-based ride services
- Book tours and tickets through verified operators with online reviews
- Keep a copy of your passport separate from the original
Jump to a Scam
The 6 Scams
You sign up for a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at an ashram advertising $500 for 28 days.
The 'certification' comes from a made-up yoga alliance, classes have 60+ students, and the guru has no formal training. Some ashrams operate like factories, churning out uncertified yoga teachers. Others have darker issues — there have been documented cases of ashram operators targeting solo female travelers.
Red Flags
- Price well below $800-1,200 for legitimate 200-hour YTT
- No Yoga Alliance (YA) certification mentioned or verifiable
- Ashram has few reviews or reviews mentioning overcrowding
- Guru has no verifiable credentials or lineage
How to Avoid
- Verify the school is registered with Yoga Alliance (yogaalliance.org)
- Read recent Google and TripAdvisor reviews focusing on class size and quality
- Budget $800-1,500 for a legitimate 200-hour YTT in Rishikesh
- Speak to recent graduates before enrolling — legitimate schools will connect you
Restaurants and shops in Rishikesh charge GST (Goods and Services Tax) of 5-18% on your bill.
Many charge this tax without valid GST registration — meaning the tax goes straight into the owner's pocket, not to the government. In 2024, Indian authorities flagged widespread fake GST billing in tourist areas including Rishikesh.
Red Flags
- GST charged but no GSTIN number printed on the receipt
- Restaurant adds GST to prices already listed as inclusive
- Bill has a handwritten GST line rather than a printed tax calculation
How to Avoid
- Ask for a proper GST invoice with the GSTIN number
- Verify the GSTIN on the government portal (gst.gov.in)
- If a business charges GST without displaying their registration, the charge may not be legitimate
- Small eateries and street food vendors are exempt from GST
A woman carrying a baby approaches you near Lakshman Jhula and asks you to buy milk powder for her child.
She points to a specific shop nearby. Moved by the baby, you enter the shop and buy a 500-rupee tin of milk powder. After you leave, the woman returns the milk powder to the shopkeeper, they split the 500 rupees, and she goes back to the bridge to find the next tourist. The same baby, the same shop, the same routine, all day long. This scam is reported across India but is particularly prevalent in Rishikesh due to the high concentration of sympathetic spiritual tourists.
Red Flags
- A woman with a child approaches specifically asking you to buy milk from a particular shop
- She refuses cash and insists on being taken to a specific store rather than any nearby shop
- The milk powder at the suggested shop is priced significantly higher than at other stores
- The same woman and child are seen repeating the approach with other tourists
- The shopkeeper and the woman interact as though they know each other
How to Avoid
- Politely decline and walk away — your compassion is being exploited by an organized operation
- If you genuinely want to help, donate to established charities like Parmarth Niketan ashram's social programs
- Never buy anything from a specific shop that a street beggar directs you to — it is always a kickback arrangement
- Carry small denomination notes if you wish to give directly to people in need
- Report persistent begging scams to the Rishikesh tourist police station near Triveni Ghat
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Get Free Itinerary →You book a white-water rafting trip for 600 rupees from a street-side booking agent.
The price seems great. On the morning of the trip, you are handed a torn life jacket with no buckles and loaded into a raft with twelve other people plus a guide who looks like a teenager. There is no safety briefing, no helmet, and no rescue kayaker following. Legitimate operators charge 1,500 to 2,500 rupees and limit group sizes to 8 with certified guides. Multiple drowning incidents have been linked to unlicensed operators cutting corners on safety to undercut prices.
Red Flags
- The price is significantly lower than 1,500 rupees for the standard Shivpuri to Lakshman Jhula stretch
- The booking agent cannot show a license from the Uttarakhand Tourism Department
- Life jackets are worn, damaged, or missing buckles and straps
- No safety briefing is conducted before entering the water
- The group size exceeds 8 people per raft or there is no safety kayaker following the raft
How to Avoid
- Book with UTDB-licensed operators like Red Chilli Adventure, Jumpin Heights, or Camp Ganga Riviera
- Ask to see the operator's license from the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board before paying
- Inspect the life jacket before getting in — it must have working buckles and fit snugly
- Refuse to raft without a proper safety briefing covering paddle commands and what to do if you fall out
- Pay the full price for a reputable operator — the cost difference is not worth risking your life
You are sitting at a riverside cafe when a man in saffron robes approaches and says he can sense ...
You are sitting at a riverside cafe when a man in saffron robes approaches and says he can sense spiritual blockages in your aura. He offers a free blessing. You accept. He performs a brief ceremony, whispers mantras, ties a red thread on your wrist, and then asks for a donation of 5,000 rupees for the temple. When you hesitate, he says the blessing will turn into a curse if the offering is not completed. Similar encounters happen at the ghats where self-appointed priests perform unsolicited pujas and demand large donations afterward.
Red Flags
- A stranger claims to sense your spiritual state and offers unsolicited spiritual services
- The service is described as free but a specific donation amount is demanded afterward
- The person uses fear of curses or bad karma to pressure you into paying
- They operate alone outside an ashram rather than within an established spiritual institution
- The requested donation is far above what ashrams charge for legitimate pujas — typically 100 to 500 rupees
How to Avoid
- Never accept unsolicited spiritual services from strangers on the street or at ghats
- If you want a puja ceremony, visit an established ashram like Parmarth Niketan where donations are voluntary
- A genuine spiritual teacher will never threaten you with curses for not paying
- Legitimate ghat ceremonies during Ganga Aarti are free to attend and donations are voluntary at 50 to 200 rupees
- Simply say 'no thank you' and walk away — do not engage in conversation
You are walking near Laxman Jhula after dinner when two men approach and start a friendly conversation.
They claim to be yoga teachers or spiritual guides and invite you to visit their ashram or shop. If you follow, you end up in a high-pressure sales situation for expensive yoga courses, gemstones, or healing sessions. A Reddit user posted a warning about Rishikesh on r/TravelInIndia describing two men who approached after dinner near Tapovan with exactly this approach. They are commission agents who earn a percentage of whatever you spend at the establishments they bring you to. The friendliness is calculated -- they target solo travelers and couples who appear new to India.
Red Flags
- Strangers approach you on the street and initiate conversation about yoga, spirituality, or your travel plans
- They claim to be yoga teachers but cannot name the specific ashram or school they teach at
- They suggest visiting a specific shop, ashram, or healer that they personally recommend
- The conversation quickly shifts from friendly chat to specific commercial suggestions
- They become persistent or follow you when you try to end the conversation
How to Avoid
- Do not engage with strangers who approach you on the street with unsolicited recommendations
- Research and book yoga courses and ashrams independently through established platforms before arriving
- If interested in yoga, choose ashrams registered with Yoga Alliance and verified through multiple review platforms
- Walk with purpose and do not stop for unsolicited conversations, especially after dark
- If someone follows you persistently, walk into a restaurant or shop and ask staff for help
🆘 What to Do If You Get Scammed
📋 File a Police Report
Go to the nearest Indian Police station. Call 100 (Police) or 112 (Emergency). Get an official crime report — you'll need this for insurance claims. You can also report online at citizenservices.gov.in.
💳 Cancel Your Cards
Call your bank immediately. Most have 24/7 numbers on the back of the card (keep a photo saved separately). Block any suspicious transactions before the thieves use your details.
🛂 Lost Passport?
Contact your nearest embassy or consulate. The US Embassy in New Delhi is at Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021. For emergencies: +91 11-2419-8000.
📱 Track Your Device
If your phone was stolen, use Find My (iPhone) or Find My Device (Android) from another device. Don't confront thieves yourself — share the location with police instead.
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