Manali Jewellery/Gem Scam

Nick-H · Mar 30th, 2005, 00:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by crvlvr

Here is some advice, never go to anyone's "house". potentially you are risking your life when you do that.

What, never? Whereas I can see the point of your advise, especially for a lone woman (would she accept such an invitation in, say, London?), it seems a bit extreme.

How about adding "without having a good idea who they are" and maybe "alone" and maybe "without someone else knowing where you are going".

Sort of like all-over-the-world blind-date advice.

machadinha · Mar 30th, 2005, 00:31

I'd have to agree Nick. On too many occasions I didn't take up people's invitations because I was a solo traveller, only to regret it afterwards thinking it was all well-meant.

Think of all the cups of tea and the chats you will miss. I'm thinking of the time I met up with some youngsters on the train. We went through the rounds of where are you from, what do you earn, how much was your ticket etc. As so often I explained well the plane ticket was so much but then a bread back home is so many roops and the rent is like this, and so forth. And as so often they readily understood what I was on about and it ended with them inviting me to their homes and assuring me they could pay for my way seeing how I was a poor man! Quite humbling really, and I've often found people can readily relate to the fact that we're not all the rich people we're made out to be just for being able to fly over there. Anyway I declined, a combination of being on my way and not wanting to impose and being overly wary maybe.

I'm also thinking of meeting a man on the streets in Gujarat who wanted to take me up on me teaching him Dutch (of all things! something about his great-grandfather having a connection I think) and teaching me Gujarati or Hindi in return. Again and regretfully, I was really pressed for time at that time and not alone so not free to change my holiday plans all around.

Then again I'm also thinking of the many stories I've heard of people taking up a private invitation and being left with the man of the house doing his I'm-an-Indian-and-a-man-of-the-world-and-we-invented-everything-you-know-anyway kind of act for a couple of hours with the missus having cooked everything you're being served and the kids sitting meekly at the side, not everyone's idea of fun.

Or my being invited into a villager's hut on my way to Pushkar hill temple and thinking as a freshman well this looks authentic, only to be asked for money for the sick husband in a faraway town of course after a bit of this and that (including being fed cold chapatis and sabji with a cup of water after all the warnings about never taking any of those haha

). Sure enough that same moment some male walked in who got a decent scolding, unless he was the unliked brother-in-law I'm pretty sure that was the miraculously revived husband in question who showed up at the wrong moment.

Anyway never say never, but do beware of the scam artists and use your common sense please. Warnings of dire threats are unnecessary I think, I'm not saying bodily harm can't happen, just that it's unlikely. As a single woman think twice maybe but pretty much the same goes for a nubile young male.

Nick-H · Mar 30th, 2005, 10:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven_ber

... ... ...A bag of shiny gems for you......well, after a small deposit.

OK, shall I just post my credit card number here, along with that 3-digit 'security code' on the back?

But everyone else must promise not to look!

Dr Funkenstein · Mar 30th, 2005, 22:13

We'll need the PIN number as well, Nick.

nick_83 · Jan 10th, 2008, 21:09

wow, this just happend to me today in jaipur, i cant belive i really though i had met some honest hospital indians, that took me inot their home and taught me how to fly kytes, made me coffee and treats and offered to take me out this evening....

im getting very discouraged, all i want is to meet some cool, chilled out indians that dont want my money...is this possible...pls help

-frustrated.

Nick-H · Jan 10th, 2008, 21:37

It's the con man's skill, that you can't tell the difference.

That you met con men doesn't mean that there are not genuine, friendly, hospitable Indians --- just shows how good at it they are!

Mar 30th, 2005, 00:31	#17
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,132	I'd have to agree Nick. On too many occasions I didn't take up people's invitations because I was a solo traveller, only to regret it afterwards thinking it was all well-meant. Think of all the cups of tea and the chats you will miss. I'm thinking of the time I met up with some youngsters on the train. We went through the rounds of where are you from, what do you earn, how much was your ticket etc. As so often I explained well the plane ticket was so much but then a bread back home is so many roops and the rent is like this, and so forth. And as so often they readily understood what I was on about and it ended with them inviting me to their homes and assuring me they could pay for my way seeing how I was a poor man! Quite humbling really, and I've often found people can readily relate to the fact that we're not all the rich people we're made out to be just for being able to fly over there. Anyway I declined, a combination of being on my way and not wanting to impose and being overly wary maybe. I'm also thinking of meeting a man on the streets in Gujarat who wanted to take me up on me teaching him Dutch (of all things! something about his great-grandfather having a connection I think) and teaching me Gujarati or Hindi in return. Again and regretfully, I was really pressed for time at that time and not alone so not free to change my holiday plans all around. Then again I'm also thinking of the many stories I've heard of people taking up a private invitation and being left with the man of the house doing his I'm-an-Indian-and-a-man-of-the-world-and-we-invented-everything-you-know-anyway kind of act for a couple of hours with the missus having cooked everything you're being served and the kids sitting meekly at the side, not everyone's idea of fun. Or my being invited into a villager's hut on my way to Pushkar hill temple and thinking as a freshman well this looks authentic, only to be asked for money for the sick husband in a faraway town of course after a bit of this and that (including being fed cold chapatis and sabji with a cup of water after all the warnings about never taking any of those haha ). Sure enough that same moment some male walked in who got a decent scolding, unless he was the unliked brother-in-law I'm pretty sure that was the miraculously revived husband in question who showed up at the wrong moment. Anyway never say never, but do beware of the scam artists and use your common sense please. Warnings of dire threats are unnecessary I think, I'm not saying bodily harm can't happen, just that it's unlikely. As a single woman think twice maybe but pretty much the same goes for a nubile young male. __________________ 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 Last edited by machadinha : Apr 1st, 2005 at 16:50.

Mar 30th, 2005, 22:13	#19
Dr Funkenstein Joolay !!! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Manali, Himachal Pradesh Posts: 854	We'll need the PIN number as well, Nick. __________________ Out There Somewhere : My Travel Blog.

Jan 10th, 2008, 21:09	#20
nick_83 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 12	gemp scam wow, this just happend to me today in jaipur, i cant belive i really though i had met some honest hospital indians, that took me inot their home and taught me how to fly kytes, made me coffee and treats and offered to take me out this evening.... im getting very discouraged, all i want is to meet some cool, chilled out indians that dont want my money...is this possible...pls help -frustrated.

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Jan 10th, 2008, 21:37	#21
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,219	It's the con man's skill, that you can't tell the difference. That you met con men doesn't mean that there are not genuine, friendly, hospitable Indians --- just shows how good at it they are!

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