Flag donation scam

labrol · Nov 26th, 2008, 17:24

I have noticed this at the India Gate and the Old fort. Women approaching foreigners to paste a small national flag sticker on their shirt and seeking donation for some welfare. I saw them coaxing a hundred rupees or more from each victim unwilling to refuse something in the name of the national flag of the host country. Firmly refuse and move away. A couple of European friends also told me about having been similarly scammed.

shashank.aggarwal · Nov 26th, 2008, 18:45

There is no way that one can be sure of such things. It can be a scam and it can be genuine as well.

steven_ber · Nov 26th, 2008, 19:10

I was apprached by 2 women at the entrance to Paharganj, they both had small flags and were closing in fast, I backed of so quickly they almost bumped into each other.

I didn't find out what they may be up to, I just thought of the Gypsies in London who pin a flower to you then demand money, a refusal often ends up with some very flowery language, too much for an innocent like me.

zoltan · Nov 26th, 2008, 21:07

I had a similar situation 8-years ago at Ghandi's cremation site. I can only figure it's (I don't want to use the word scam, in case it's 1% legitimate), a way to part money from an unwitting person visiting the city.

Cheers
Zoltan

chad · Nov 27th, 2008, 03:16

Ha Ha. Same thing happened to me in front of New Delhi Railway Station last year. I told her I did not want the paper flag. I said no repeatedly. She put the flag on my shirt anyway. Then she asked for money. I told her I did not want the flag in the first place and walked off with the flag still pinned to my shirt collar

She should have listened better. I didn't feel too guilty about it since those little flags probably cost her all of 1 rupee for a stack of 1000 of them!

vireya · Nov 27th, 2008, 03:30

Yes, I met the flag ladies at India Gate. The story was that the two women were teachers, and they wanted donations for their school. They were very unhappy when we refused to give them anything. I thought that if they were really teachers, they might not have been so angry about not getting a donation.

Nov 26th, 2008, 17:24	#1
labrol Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gurgaon, India Posts: 305	Flag donation scam I have noticed this at the India Gate and the Old fort. Women approaching foreigners to paste a small national flag sticker on their shirt and seeking donation for some welfare. I saw them coaxing a hundred rupees or more from each victim unwilling to refuse something in the name of the national flag of the host country. Firmly refuse and move away. A couple of European friends also told me about having been similarly scammed. __________________ Alone I walked. Strangers joined in. We became a caravan.

Nov 26th, 2008, 18:45	#2
shashank.aggarwal The Fortunate One Join Date: May 2007 Location: Road Posts: 6,823	There is no way that one can be sure of such things. It can be a scam and it can be genuine as well. __________________ Spineless Travelogue - Around India

Nov 26th, 2008, 19:10	#3
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,573	I was apprached by 2 women at the entrance to Paharganj, they both had small flags and were closing in fast, I backed of so quickly they almost bumped into each other. I didn't find out what they may be up to, I just thought of the Gypsies in London who pin a flower to you then demand money, a refusal often ends up with some very flowery language, too much for an innocent like me. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information. RAC & Waitlists explained.

Nov 26th, 2008, 21:07	#4
zoltan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 899	I had a similar situation 8-years ago at Ghandi's cremation site. I can only figure it's (I don't want to use the word scam, in case it's 1% legitimate), a way to part money from an unwitting person visiting the city. Cheers Zoltan __________________ India (and other) photos click here

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Nov 27th, 2008, 03:16	#5
chad Alive and Well Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas, USA Posts: 79	Ha Ha. Same thing happened to me in front of New Delhi Railway Station last year. I told her I did not want the paper flag. I said no repeatedly. She put the flag on my shirt anyway. Then she asked for money. I told her I did not want the flag in the first place and walked off with the flag still pinned to my shirt collar She should have listened better. I didn't feel too guilty about it since those little flags probably cost her all of 1 rupee for a stack of 1000 of them!

Nov 27th, 2008, 03:30	#6
vireya Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 425	Yes, I met the flag ladies at India Gate. The story was that the two women were teachers, and they wanted donations for their school. They were very unhappy when we refused to give them anything. I thought that if they were really teachers, they might not have been so angry about not getting a donation.

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