New Delhi — Imagine landing in India with a Lonely Planet in hand, dreaming of a solo soul-searching trip, and within thirty minutes, you’re nearly scammed, misled, and left shaken outside one of the country’s busiest transit hubs. That’s exactly what happened to a Canadian traveller at New Delhi Railway Station — and it’s sparked a fiery conversation online and off.
Tricked Before Track 1: What We Know About the Scam Attempt
The Canadian traveller, who blogs under the name @thetarzanatraveller on Instagram, shared a nightmare-worthy experience that allegedly took place mere steps from platform number one. After arriving in India solo, she was trying to board a train from New Delhi Railway Station when she says she was approached by a man posing as an RPF (Railway Protection Force) officer. Giving him the benefit of the doubt — as most foreigners likely would — she followed him into a nearby building just across the street from the Paharganj gate. There, she was told her reserved train was cancelled and she now had to rebook for a fee… in cash.
Fortunately, the traveller got suspicious in time, questioned the legitimacy of the “office” she was led into — which had no signage, no counters, and definitely no IRCTC staff — and made a swift exit. But not before the now-viral Instagram Reel she posted showed how aggressive and rehearsed these scams actually are. The video even captions “This got my blood boiling,” summarising her rage and frustration.
Why Your Cousin from Canada is Scared to Visit Now
Let’s be real: incidents like these aren’t just embarrassing for locals, they mess up Delhi’s image globally — especially if you have a cousin flying in next month who’s already watched Delhi Crime on Netflix. For every seasoned Karol Bagh resident who knows how to dodge touts outside Ajmeri Gate, there’s a first-time tourist getting hustled. It’s even worse for solo women travellers who are specifically targeted near transit hubs — New Delhi Station, ISBT Kashmere Gate, even the airport’s T3 arrival taxi counter has its share of shady tactics.
From a daily life angle? If scams like this continue unchecked, expect even more restricted access zones, randomly increased “security protocols,” and confusing signage near transport hubs. The honest traveller — including locals — will suffer while touts just move 10 steps further down the street. Think of every South Campus student trying to board a train home for Diwali with a weekender bag. Now, imagine them navigating through 3 layers of fake “help desks” before they even reach the inquiry counter.
From Lonely Planet Warnings to Ground Reality in Paharganj
None of this is exactly new. Delhi has long struggled with tout-led scams outside transport hubs. Back in the 90s, Connaught Place had a reputation for fake travel agencies that would rebook your tickets — and your life savings — through “authorised agents.” Even Lonely Planet guides dating back to 2005 have entire warning boxes about “fake train ticket offices near New Delhi Station,” often featuring similar descriptions: small buildings with one desk, a printer, and someone who speaks excellent English.
What makes this case different? First, the visual documentation. The reel was sharp, specific, and impossible to dismiss. Second: the timing. With the G20 and VVIP movements increasing foot traffic and foreign attention, Delhi had promised every bit of it was ready for global visitors. Clearly, we’ve still got potholes in the plan — metaphorical, and literal ones near the R.K. Ashram metro exit.
📍 Spot Check: This incident allegedly took place right around the Paharganj gate of New Delhi Railway Station. Nearby landmarks include Ajmeri Gate entrance, R.K. Ashram Marg Metro Station (Blue Line), and the backpacker hubs of Arakashan Road. The “office” shown in videos is likely located in the warren of buildings beside the Shiela Cinema lane.
The Final Word
Let’s stop calling this “part of the local charm.” Tourists shouldn’t need to pass a Delhi Street Smartness Test the minute they arrive. If we want tourism to boost the economy — and it desperately needs to — then basic protections like zone patrols, clear signage, and real enforcement are the bare minimum. Until then, someone’s momo lunch plan at Bangla Sahib is going to get ruined trying to help an unsuspecting traveller get back her passport from a fake office.
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