Common scam patterns — India
Last updated:
Editorial notice
Patterns documented from public scam reports and provider feedback. New patterns emerge; report new ones to us via /contact.
- Voluntourism schools and orphanages that exist primarily to extract foreign volunteer fees — India has a documented pattern; verify the receiving partner exists independently.
- 'Medical shadowing' programs that quietly include hands-on clinical work — refuse on arrival if scope expands beyond what's licensed.
- Tour-style 'volunteer trips' to slum communities — uneven on consent, often performative.
- Pre-payment in full before arrival with limited refund policy.