Warning: Bangalore airport scam

mary10

Anyone landing in Bangalore should pay careful attention to exchanging currency:

I've gone through Bangalore airport 4 times in the past year, and each time been scammed off money at the so called 'bank' within the airport facilities. I was short of time to report it (in India it becomes a long-drawn affair) with my usual last-minute rush, but anyone who gets scammed with wrong change, or a few hundred rupees simply missing from your exchange quota should take the effort to report it if you got the extra time.

One bank teller even had the nerve to tell me after I asked where the missing 1000rs was, "Ok, you take half and I keep half" as if he was entitled to the theft he had committed! No remorse whatsoever! Unbelievable..


Advice: If you get your exchange at the airport;
1) Find out what the total exchange rate is BEFORE you actually do it
2) Make sure they write the accurate exchange total in your receipt
3) COUNT the change in front of the teller... very important.
4) Raise hell if you are cheated. Don't stand like a spineless worm without saying anything! Make noise like you were an Italian!!!!

Nick-H

Airports are always swarming with police.

Shouldn't be hard to get someone interested.

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navinkurian2002

This is also some times a south Indian way of being sarcastic. Or joke about an issue and is usually taken literally by people who don't know about it. Note :- This is a generalization . I would have to look at the guy who made the statement to see what he was really implying.

Is the exchange rate at the airport different from other places?

Make noise like you were an Italian!!!!
Make noise like a banglorean too !! endeda !!

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barodian

Most of the time the exchange rate at the airport is lower than other places (in the city). The airport exchange make there money from people who don't have Rupees. This is usually typical of any country and any airports. I saw a difference of 50 paise per $1 transaction at the airport against the city rates.

mary10

I know, but it's not always easy to have rights in a country like this. Often they will congregate and protect each other; even police will protect an Indian if he can preferrably from a foreigner.

I do remember one incident that actually got immediate response:
I was coming on the bus from Mysore, and took a rikshaw at the "overhead" junction when mysore traffic enters Bangalore. The driver probably thought I had never been to Bangalore before and took me for a circling drive-around, more than twice the required time for my destination and we were not even half-way there! This cheating bit in India gets old and annoying. I had it with him and his sudden amnesia of forgetting all english that he spoke fairly allright when I first got into the rikshaw. By the city market and my trip getting longer and longer, I started raising hell. He was really arrogant and scornful. I then called a policeman by the roadside to assist me and explained my situation. Very calmly, the police said nothing but "wait" while the drivers jumped out of his vehicle in joy and was sneering at me and laughing, and trying to 'buddy' and wishper to the policeman seeming convinced he would take his side more than mine.
Well, turns out the police went to a car parked on the side of the road, with a senior officer hiding behind dark windows. Seems they were on some kind of sting operation!

Needless to say, the rikshaw driver got his share and was taken to the station. In India, gossip spread faster than wildfire and within seconds every rikshaw between city market and chamrajpet seem to know this 'firengi' had reported a cheating driver. They all laughed about it, and I was quite surprised that they were sympatizing with me rather than the driver. Does not happen often. Trust me!

haji

Hi Mary 10.
Oh yes, I'm italian as you can easily understand 'cause my poor enghish. But, generally, I don' make any noise... Well, I' ll be landing at B'LORE airport in few monthes. As I'll be going on directly to Vellore, without any stop in B'LORE down town, I 'd like changing a lot of currency at the airport, avoidin' any hassle in Vellore.
Could you tell me how much value did you get for your money ? I 've found Delhi airport rates quite good, but I don't have any experience about B'LORE.
Thank for your info and sorry for the noising italians.

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crvlvr

I have chaged money at the Bangalore airport many times and have never had a problem.

1. The currency rate is clearly posted.As all airports in the world, it is not the best rate you can get

2. the money changer calculates the INR amount using a calculator and shows it to you.

3. He will then proceed to write a receipt for the amount.

4. The money is counted out given to you like at any bank.

Tip: Don't leave the counter till you finsh counting the money that you have just received right in front of the money changer.

I have got "ripped off" at US banks too. But its usually human error.

machadinha

So at $100 that's a difference of 50 Rs. = $1.23.

Might be worth your trouble.

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barodian

The 50 paise difference was the lowest I ever saw. The most I saw was 1.5 rupees difference and that was back about 5 years ago.

Granted a rupee or two per $1 is not huge. But, when exchange large amount you will feel little your wallet being lighter. I usually don't get my exchange done at the airport, as I always carry back about thousand rupees back to the states for my next trip to India.

crvlvr

BTW, many taxi/auto drivers are new to Bangalore (due to the enormous growth) and don't really know the roads in Bangalore. Its best of you get directions ahead of time and make sure the driver follows them.

mary10

Hi! Italians are not necessary noisy in general, but they do know how to speak up loud and clear to make a point if needed which can be great in a country like India!
The exchange rate at the airport is fairly normal. But you need to calculate on the posted board what the rate is and exactly how much you are suppose to get so you dont get conned. Me and some fellow travelers lost about Rs 1000-1500 EACH on the airport scam by bank employees. If I return to Bangalore I will certainly take time to report them to the police so they know this is not acceptable.

As you arrive, you will probably need some rupees for your inital taxi, tips for the porter and so on. I'd suggest you exchange perhaps $100/or EU100. The rest you can take from the many ATM machines available in the city.

Tipping the porter for carrying your luggage is usually about Rs 10-20 per bag. If they help me with my luggage inside the airport all the way as I enter through security and to check-in, I usually give them about Rs 50 for two bags.


Another scam very common is when you leave India. Many passengers I spoke with told me this happened to them and I too went through this every time (in Bangalore airport): leaving India you have to pass through security. Often a body check is done on you behind a curtain alone with a "security" officer. Well, often on this check the security guard will demand or try to take money, or valuables from you or try to intimidate you. Don't get worried, panicked or threatened if they do this, but raise your voice and say you will report them if they dont stop. They'll back off.

eater

Quote:

Originally Posted by mary10 4) Raise hell if you are cheated. Don't stand like a spineless worm without saying anything! Make noise like you were an Italian!!!!

I love it......!!! and agree 100%.....any time (mostly rickshaw wallah in mumbai)....tries to take advantage of me as foreigner, exactly what I do.....

Let the "community" decide what to do with the "cheat"wallah ....

By the way, you can now note down the plate number of the "cheat" and send in your complaint on line in mumbai...the person can loose his licence, and get fine....the mumbai police have set up a website for this....

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mary10

Ha, ha! It's true though, the system is slowly getting better regarding rikshaws. The one where you write your name and get your address computerized in advance, seem to deter them and give no problems for a traveler.

Serena

I think this is not only "Bangalore ariport scam". You have to pay attention ALWAYS when you change money and use this tips.

For haji: have a nice and safe trip! Ciao!

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Barryjames

Learn a few basic phrases of the local language in whatever area or country you visit. Speak quickly and confidently. Short, sharp and to the point. It confuses them.

Secondly: get the price of the item, trip, fare or whatever before you accept, whatever you are told, shake head and offer one third of his suggestion, allow yourself to go up a few points.

If you get a negative. "Nahin" and walk away. You will get it at your price.

Bartering is not begging, it is an accepted way of life.

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