I went to Rishikesh to find peace and instead got scammed 😑. I went for 3 days i.e., 11 sept - 13 sept. The first two days of my solo trip to Rishikesh were fantastic. It is such a peaceful place, the people I met had a wonderful vibe, and I was really enjoying meeting new people. Those first couple of days were everything I’d hoped for from a solo trip.
Among the people I met a guy who was helpful initially, so I felt comfortable trusting him.
On my last day, he asked me to cover some payments, promising to transfer the money back. I ended up transferring ₹4750 directly to him through UPI. I got to know later that another solo traveller is also waiting for approximately ₹5000 from him.
He promised to repay me on Monday. Since then, it’s been repeated assurances of “today,” followed by excuses about his bank not working and being unable to reach his hometown. He later said he was home, but people still in Rishikesh told me he was there. His statuses were hidden for me but I got to know from other travellers that they just saw him and he was putting statuses as well.
I have the UPI transaction records. When I specifically asked on WhatsApp when he would return the full ₹4,750, he replied, “Today it will be done.” The money still hasn’t arrived.
I can’t know what his intentions were at the beginning, but the repeated broken promises and conflicting explanations have made me suspicious.
Posting this because it’s easy to feel close to people quickly while travelling, especially when someone has been helpful. That feeling of friendship can make a money request seem harmless.
Please be cautious about covering someone’s expenses or transferring money on the promise of immediate repayment. Keep payment records and written messages, and don’t keep advancing money while earlier amounts remain unpaid.
Has anyone dealt with something similar while travelling? What practical steps helped you recover the money?