Summary
The city of Guwahati, located in the state of Assam, India, has in recent years been subject to a variety of scams and deceptive practices, many of which target its approximately 45,000 street vendors and its tourist population. These scams have seen a range of approaches, from those involving fraudulent travel agents, counterfeit toll-free numbers, and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls, to large-scale investment scams that have caused significant financial distress.
While local authorities, including the Guwahati Police, have made strides in combatting these deceptive practices, including conducting raids and making numerous arrests, the problem persists. The implementation of protective measures, such as the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014 and the establishment of vending zones, are still underway in Guwahati.
Tourists and locals, particularly the elderly, are advised to exercise vigilance in order to avoid falling victim to these scams. Authorities emphasize the importance of verifying the authenticity of vendors and investment platforms, insisting on going to the nearest police station when approached by individuals claiming to be police officers, and always using licensed travel agencies or booking directly through trusted sources. Despite these challenges, Guwahati remains a significant cultural and tourist destination, ranking as the 65th safest place in India for solo female travelers.
The Street Vendors of Guwahati
The city of Guwahati hosts approximately 45,000 street vendors, according to the National Association of Street Vendors. The majority of these vendors are migrants and a significant percentage are women. These street vendors face numerous daily challenges, including frequent harassment, eviction, and confiscation of their merchandise, often forcing them to resort to illegal activities, such as bribery, to sustain their businesses. Moreover, they face insecurity, uncertainty and various forms of vulnerability in their work conditions.
Legal Protection and Implementation
The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014 serves to protect the rights of street vendors across India. However, the implementation of this Act in Guwahati is still in progress. In line with the Act and the National policy on urban street vendors 2009, the city has established vending zones at various locations to accommodate existing street vendors and to keep the roads and footpaths free from encroachment. Some of these zones include Guwahati Medical College Hospital, Bhangagarh & Sixmile. The city has also set up a Town Vending Committee, headed by the Commissioner, and six zonal vending committees under the Guwahati Municipal Corporation.
Common Scams and Deceptive Practices
Despite these protective measures, scams and deceptive practices persist among some street vendors in Guwahati. Travel agents and representatives of tourist agencies, for instance, have been known to offer discounted tickets or package tours and then disappear after receiving payment. Such vendors may also overcharge or provide substandard products or services. Some may pose as police officers in tourist areas and attempt to extort money by accusing people of fabricated offenses. To protect oneself from such scams, always use licensed travel agencies or book directly through trusted sources, and insist on going to the nearest police station to address any issues when approached by supposed police officers.
In addition to these, a recent multi-crore scam involving the use of counterfeit toll-free numbers and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls led to the Guwahati Police conducting raids at eight different locations in the city. Other scam variants involve vendors trying to divert tourists to alternative shops or attractions under the guise of their desired destination being “closed”. These ongoing issues have prompted local authorities to launch investigations.
Online Scams in Guwahati
Guwahati has witnessed a series of investment scams in recent years, one of which turned out to be one of the largest in its history. In this particular case, a cooperative society drew in investors with promises of high returns. When the society failed to deliver on these promises, investors became suspicious. An investigation later revealed that the society had misappropriated the funds. The total amount involved is speculated to be in the crores, but the exact figure is yet to be confirmed.
Guwahati Police Commissioner Diganta Borah revealed that certain scammer gangs were operating within the city. These gangs are involved in running call centers and defrauding both Indian and foreign nationals by impersonating technical support or customer service representatives. The scammers employed tactics such as using pop-up advertisements and counterfeit toll-free numbers to lure their victims.
Apart from investment scams, online scams also pose a significant threat in Guwahati. In one instance, a victim lost a sum of Rs 48,40,844 to fraudsters posing as law enforcement officials. However, Guwahati Police were able to recover a portion of the funds, a move seen as a significant step in combating such fraudulent activities.
Scammers in Guwahati have been known to target specific demographics, such as elderly persons who might be less adept at recognizing fraudulent communication. They also approach individuals online, establishing a barely-there acquaintance before pressuring them to send money.
Another common method involves scammers contacting people on messaging platforms like Whatsapp and Telegram, claiming to represent a company. They lure potential investors with promises of high returns and ask them to open an account and make initial deposits. To build trust, they show fake profits and even allow small withdrawals.
Guwahati authorities continue to urge citizens to exercise caution when engaging in online financial transactions and investment schemes, emphasizing the importance of verifying the authenticity of such platforms.
Scams Targeting Tourists in Guwahati
Tourists visiting Guwahati should be cautious as scammers often target unsuspecting foreigners. The scams can take on various forms, with fraudsters presenting themselves as travel agents, representatives of official tourist agencies, or even police officers.
Travel Agent Scams
Scammers pretending to be travel agents or representatives from official tourist agencies may approach you offering discounted tickets or package tours. However, these individuals often disappear once payment has been made, leaving the tourists stranded with no services. It is always advised to use licensed travel agencies or book directly through trusted sources to avoid such situations.
Police Officer Scams
Another common scam involves imposters posing as police officers, particularly in tourist areas. They may attempt to extort money by accusing tourists of fabricated offenses. If approached by such individuals, it’s advised to ask for identification and, if in doubt, insist on going to the nearest police station to address any issues.
Begging and Priest Scams
Begging-related scams are prevalent in many tourist towns and cities in India, including Guwahati. These scams often exploit the goodwill of tourists. In some instances, individuals posing as priests may threaten police action to intimidate tourists.
Fake Guides
Tourists may be tempted to hire local guides to provide context about the rich history and culture of Guwahati. However, tourists should exercise caution as fake guides are quite common in India, especially at the entrance of tourist sites. These fake guides may overcharge for their services, provide incomplete tours, or direct tourists to specific shops or restaurants where they receive a commission.
Closure Scams
Closure scams are another common deception tourists may encounter. Here, scammers will attempt to mislead tourists by claiming that certain shops or tourist attractions are closed, and then offering to take them to an alternative location.
Despite these potential threats, Guwahati is considered relatively safe for travelers. The city is currently ranked as the 65th safest place in India for solo female travelers, and many foreigners are seen exploring the city, even during late-night hours. However, remaining vigilant and aware of these common scams can enhance tourists’ experience and safety in Guwahati.
Scams in Guwahati Streets
In recent years, Guwahati, a city in the state of Assam, India, has seen a series of significant financial scams that have caused substantial distress to many people . Scammers in this area have been known to use a variety of deceptive tactics, such as posing as police officers and extorting money by accusing individuals of fabricated offenses, particularly in tourist-heavy areas .
One notable instance of fraud involved a cooperative society that has been accused of siphoning off crores of rupees from investors. This has been regarded as one of the largest investment scams in Guwahati, causing shockwaves throughout the financial sector. The society ceased operations after failing to payback promised returns to investors, leading to complaints and the discovery of fund misappropriation. Initial reports suggest the defrauded amount could be several crores, but the exact figure has not been confirmed. In response to this scandal, local authorities initiated an investigation .
Further examples of scams in Guwahati include a proliferation of fraudulent call centers. In 2023, joint operations by Delhi police and the FBI resulted in the bust of a call center in Delhi that defrauded US citizens of approximately USD 20 million. In the same year, Assam police raided eight scam call centers in Guwahati, leading to around 200 arrests. Despite these interventions, it is suggested that these operations merely scratch the surface of an expansive scam industry . These centers, often staffed by Indian youth, have been shown to employ tactics such as utilizing counterfeit toll-free numbers and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls, which are phone calls transmitted over the Internet .
Tourists in the area should also be wary of investment scams, commonly embodied in Ponzi or get-rich-quick schemes. In these scams, individuals are lured with promises of substantial returns on investments, which are typically funded by money from new investors. These schemes inevitably collapse when the scammer either runs out of new investors or absconds with the funds . Other scams targeting tourists exploit their goodwill through begging related rackets, common in towns or cities with a clear backpacker or travel area .
As these scams become more prevalent, it becomes increasingly important for individuals, especially tourists, to be vigilant and protect their investments . In the event of suspected foul play, it is advised to insist on going to the nearest police station to address any issues .
Legal System in Guwahati and Prosecution of Scammers
Guwahati has witnessed its share of criminal activities involving various scams. To combat this, the local police have implemented multiple strategies to take down these illegal operations. According to police officials, scammers in Guwahati have employed deceptive tactics like the use of counterfeit toll-free numbers and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls, which are phone calls transmitted over the internet. In response to this, the Crime Branch of Guwahati Police has actively conducted raids in different locations in the city to dismantle these fraudulent operations.
In recent years, significant strides have been made towards arresting and prosecuting scammers. In 2023, the Guwahati police, in a joint operation with Delhi police and the FBI, managed to bust a call center involved in defrauding US citizens of approximately USD 20 million. In September of the same year, Assam police conducted successful raids on eight similar scam call centers in Guwahati, leading to the arrest of about 200 individuals involved in these illegal activities.
Despite these significant strides, scammers continue to find new victims through their evolving tactics. This scamming method has even been extended to include the targeting of the elderly and others who may be less capable of spotting fraudulent emails or people.
The fight against scams in Guwahati continues, with the local law enforcement agencies working tirelessly to protect the citizens and tourists from these unscrupulous individuals and groups. Awareness and vigilance are recommended as primary defenses against becoming a victim of these scams.
