business scams in Delhi/Kashmir

thedog234 · Feb 18th, 2007, 00:27

Hello, My son is in India and I need some feed back about some people approaching him. In downtown Delhi he was approached by a man wanting to do business with him. He wants my son to front $2000 to set up a store front in Delhi, to sell this mans wares. He invited him to Kashmir, where he is now and has spent about $650 touring Kashmir. Now he is finding no flights out of Kashmir to get back to Delhi.
I see a lot of red flags about all of this and wondered if anyone out there can give us some input. Some specific details of similar situations would help him to see that there are some scams happening.

Thanks for any help.

PeakXV · Feb 18th, 2007, 00:45

Sound like he ran into "da boys" at Connaught Place. Short answer is your not going to make any money dealing with Kashmiris .... and have a very good chance of getting fleeced. Sounds like he has given enough to their "charity" for the Kashmir trip budget alone - time for him to cut his loses and leave the Happy Valley - now.

Nick-H · Feb 18th, 2007, 00:47

What can we say? It's obvious to you that he should be out there fast, and I think it is going to be obvious to most people here too.

Of course, we haven't heard your son's side of the story, but the first big, big, why has to be why your son? Why a foreigner at all? Why a stranger at all? $2,000 is hardly a lot of money where business propositions are concerned, even in India (although it must be a big chunk out of a young person's travel budget). If it was legit he'd raise it through normal channels, and probably channels within his own community. I've got nothing against Kashmiris and their shops, but you soon discover that a street full of them will be a street full of brothers, uncles, cousins: so why your son?

You might like to take a look at these two threads. It is almost beyond belief that they both happened to the same guy on the same trip, but heck, we have no reason to say they are not true, and they are typical stories of the kind of deals that, wherever in the world they happen, are best walked away from fast.

I've been asked to send 15,000 pounds (sterling) of diamonds to London!

Setting up a business partnership in Kerala

.

edwardseco · Feb 18th, 2007, 02:36

I have known wonderful Kashmiris. However, that was through family (marriage) links that dated far back. I couldn't reiterate more Nick's concerns..

machadinha · Feb 18th, 2007, 07:57

I don't know how long he's been there, but spending $650 touring Kashmir is a small feat in itself, frugal backpackers can get by months on that. I'm not making fun of this, I've ran into people who were taken for a ride along the same lines, and I've certainly had the con artists having a go at me, enticingly so too.

Like the others have said, tell him to get the hell out of there and to enjoy his holiday without getting involved in dodgy business transactions. They are almost invariably a scam (scrap the "almost" here).

If he can't get hold of a bus or train or something, which would surprise me, for a small fraction of that kind of money he can surely get a taxi. I'm not kidding. Get out! btw The scenario of having some friendly Kashmiris kindly inviting you to their houseboat or something then not letting go of you is textbook material. Did I say: Get out! ?

noflylist · Feb 18th, 2007, 08:05

Not to scare too much but there was an european woman held on a houseboat (on the pretext that terrorism do not allow to travel right now) untill her money ran out! Get out yesterday!

capt_mahajan · Feb 18th, 2007, 09:28

My short advice... (besides read the other threads nick has linked).... No.

unclelach · Feb 18th, 2007, 16:32

For several years I have noticed that Kashmiri salesmen are routinely criticised by tourists in travel sites like IM.

Like anybody who wanders in tourist strips in India I have endured the hard sell from Kashmiris among others. Kashmiris are often fluent in particularly English and can be very charming. I recall a non-Kashmiri Hotel manager in Delhi really bagging (to me) the Kashmiri friend of a young westerner I knew.
It was a case of mistaken identity though it seems that Kashmiri teenagers had been really hassling foreign girls around Connaught Place.

I remember reading that Marwaris, having moved to Bengal and South India, outcompeted the local traders in the 19C. Maybe Kashmiris are today's Marwaris.

Nick-H · Feb 18th, 2007, 17:12

...that's not at all the point. Kashmiri shops are great (apart from the hard sell) and I have nothing against Kashmiris.

I even got talking to one guy (whose shop I have purchased from a number of times) about a possible business opportunity. That would have been my shop and my money, though --- an entirely different proposition. I never then or since doubted the guy's motives.

We are not talking about Kashmiris here --- we are talking about one Kashmiri, who, from the small amount of information that we have appears to be taking Dog's son for a ride.

I would say that, generally speaking, people who say 'give me your money so I can do what I want' are to be doubted.

theDog' ... I imagine that your son is coming over with the surety of youth and, from his inexperience, is certain he is on to a good thing. Hope we've given you some ammunition here to point out that, whilst he may be, the odds are not favourable.

capt_mahajan · Feb 18th, 2007, 17:53

uncleach, at least my post had nothing to do with the Kashmiri thing. A similar opinion to a Kerala (was it Kerala?) 'enterprise' had a similar response.

Maybe worthwhile mentioning that I am a quarter Kashmiri myself :-)

Sometimes a possible scam sounds like a scam regardless of ethnicity.

Kashmiri salesmen have been around in other Delhi varying numbers for 35 years that I know of. This is nothing new.

PeakXV · Feb 18th, 2007, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclelach

For several years I have noticed that Kashmiri salesmen are routinely criticised by tourists in travel sites like IM.

Okay let's clarify this!

Kashmiris are overall very nice people - Kashmiri salesmen are, for the most part, very nice until you higgle them down to too low a price and then they want you to leave - quickly

- through the window

, Kashmiri touts at a certain area in Connaught Place are disgrace to India.

Nick-H · Feb 18th, 2007, 18:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

uncleach, at least my post had nothing to do with the Kashmiri thing. A similar opinion to a Kerala (was it Kerala?) 'enterprise' had a similar response.

I meant to mention that point too

Far from having against malus, I have been very close to a couple of them

ranjan154 · Feb 18th, 2007, 20:04

Quote:

Hello, My son is in India and I need some feed back about some people approaching him. In downtown Delhi he was approached by a man wanting to do business with him. He wants my son to front $2000 to set up a store front in Delhi, to sell this mans wares. He invited him to Kashmir, where he is now and has spent about $650 touring Kashmir. Now he is finding no flights out of Kashmir to get back to Delhi.

Any for information about him where is he exactly in Kashmir ?

thedog234 · Feb 21st, 2007, 16:32

I am happy to say that my son found a flight out of Kashmir a few days later. He is in Delhi now. He still wants to do business with this man. Thanks to all that posted and gave me thoughts about his situation.

Feb 18th, 2007, 00:27	#1
thedog234 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: iowa Posts: 2	business scams in Delhi/Kashmir Hello, My son is in India and I need some feed back about some people approaching him. In downtown Delhi he was approached by a man wanting to do business with him. He wants my son to front $2000 to set up a store front in Delhi, to sell this mans wares. He invited him to Kashmir, where he is now and has spent about $650 touring Kashmir. Now he is finding no flights out of Kashmir to get back to Delhi. I see a lot of red flags about all of this and wondered if anyone out there can give us some input. Some specific details of similar situations would help him to see that there are some scams happening. Thanks for any help.

Feb 18th, 2007, 00:45	#2
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 4,196	Sound like he ran into "da boys" at Connaught Place. Short answer is your not going to make any money dealing with Kashmiris .... and have a very good chance of getting fleeced. Sounds like he has given enough to their "charity" for the Kashmir trip budget alone - time for him to cut his loses and leave the Happy Valley - now. __________________ We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time. T.S. Eliot Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Feb 18th, 2007, 00:47	#3
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,873	What can we say? It's obvious to you that he should be out there fast, and I think it is going to be obvious to most people here too. Of course, we haven't heard your son's side of the story, but the first big, big, why has to be why your son? Why a foreigner at all? Why a stranger at all? $2,000 is hardly a lot of money where business propositions are concerned, even in India (although it must be a big chunk out of a young person's travel budget). If it was legit he'd raise it through normal channels, and probably channels within his own community. I've got nothing against Kashmiris and their shops, but you soon discover that a street full of them will be a street full of brothers, uncles, cousins: so why your son? You might like to take a look at these two threads. It is almost beyond belief that they both happened to the same guy on the same trip, but heck, we have no reason to say they are not true, and they are typical stories of the kind of deals that, wherever in the world they happen, are best walked away from fast. I've been asked to send 15,000 pounds (sterling) of diamonds to London! Setting up a business partnership in Kerala . __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Feb 18th, 2007, 07:57	#5
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,574	I don't know how long he's been there, but spending $650 touring Kashmir is a small feat in itself, frugal backpackers can get by months on that. I'm not making fun of this, I've ran into people who were taken for a ride along the same lines, and I've certainly had the con artists having a go at me, enticingly so too. Like the others have said, tell him to get the hell out of there and to enjoy his holiday without getting involved in dodgy business transactions. They are almost invariably a scam (scrap the "almost" here). If he can't get hold of a bus or train or something, which would surprise me, for a small fraction of that kind of money he can surely get a taxi. I'm not kidding. Get out! btw The scenario of having some friendly Kashmiris kindly inviting you to their houseboat or something then not letting go of you is textbook material. Did I say: Get out! ? __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Feb 18th, 2007, 16:32	#8
unclelach Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: melbourne, australia Posts: 206	Are Kashmiris Too Successful ? For several years I have noticed that Kashmiri salesmen are routinely criticised by tourists in travel sites like IM. Like anybody who wanders in tourist strips in India I have endured the hard sell from Kashmiris among others. Kashmiris are often fluent in particularly English and can be very charming. I recall a non-Kashmiri Hotel manager in Delhi really bagging (to me) the Kashmiri friend of a young westerner I knew. It was a case of mistaken identity though it seems that Kashmiri teenagers had been really hassling foreign girls around Connaught Place. I remember reading that Marwaris, having moved to Bengal and South India, outcompeted the local traders in the 19C. Maybe Kashmiris are today's Marwaris.

Feb 18th, 2007, 02:36	#4
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,931	I have known wonderful Kashmiris. However, that was through family (marriage) links that dated far back. I couldn't reiterate more Nick's concerns..

Feb 18th, 2007, 08:05	#6
noflylist Account Closed on User's Request Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston Posts: 840	Not to scare too much but there was an european woman held on a houseboat (on the pretext that terrorism do not allow to travel right now) untill her money ran out! Get out yesterday!

Feb 18th, 2007, 09:28	#7
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	My short advice... (besides read the other threads nick has linked).... No.

Feb 18th, 2007, 17:12	#9
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,873	...that's not at all the point. Kashmiri shops are great (apart from the hard sell) and I have nothing against Kashmiris. I even got talking to one guy (whose shop I have purchased from a number of times) about a possible business opportunity. That would have been my shop and my money, though --- an entirely different proposition. I never then or since doubted the guy's motives. We are not talking about Kashmiris here --- we are talking about one Kashmiri, who, from the small amount of information that we have appears to be taking Dog's son for a ride. I would say that, generally speaking, people who say 'give me your money so I can do what I want' are to be doubted. theDog' ... I imagine that your son is coming over with the surety of youth and, from his inexperience, is certain he is on to a good thing. Hope we've given you some ammunition here to point out that, whilst he may be, the odds are not favourable.

Feb 18th, 2007, 17:53	#10
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	uncleach, at least my post had nothing to do with the Kashmiri thing. A similar opinion to a Kerala (was it Kerala?) 'enterprise' had a similar response. Maybe worthwhile mentioning that I am a quarter Kashmiri myself :-) Sometimes a possible scam sounds like a scam regardless of ethnicity. Kashmiri salesmen have been around in other Delhi varying numbers for 35 years that I know of. This is nothing new.

Feb 21st, 2007, 16:32	#14
thedog234 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: iowa Posts: 2	I am happy to say that my son found a flight out of Kashmir a few days later. He is in Delhi now. He still wants to do business with this man. Thanks to all that posted and gave me thoughts about his situation.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Business Visa Letter from Indian Business partner.	Candyji	India Expat Area	15	May 7th, 2008 18:25
Sponsors--Business Visa--Starting export business with indian business partner	davsea	India Expat Area	11	Feb 7th, 2006 01:34
In Kolkata/Calcutta and Delhi for business in June - What can I see?	ambyent	India Travel Itinerary Advice	1	Jun 8th, 2005 00:44
What kind of business can one do from New Delhi?	rohan5577	Delhi	1	Apr 14th, 2005 12:11
SCAMS - big time	volga_volga	Scams and Annoyances in India	1	Jun 28th, 2004 18:11

User Name		Remember Me?
Password