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Goa Scams: 520 Touts Busted Targeting Tourists
24 Aug
Summary
- Over 520 touts were booked during the 2025-26 tourist season in Calangute.
- Touts targeted male tourists with fake promises of women and couples with discounted packages.
- Scammers pressured tourists into large card payments with threats of assault or denied refunds.
During the 2025-26 tourist season, Calangute police in Goa took action against 520 touts who were targeting visitors. These individuals approached tourists on roadsides, luring them with various deceptive schemes.
Male tourists were frequently approached with promises of women at dance bars or massage parlours. Couples were enticed with claims of significantly discounted holiday packages and surprise gifts. In many instances, tourists were pressured to swipe debit or credit cards for large sums under threat of assault.
Other scams included directing tourists to guesthouses with false promises of free food and drinks, only for the touts to disappear after payment. A tattoo parlour racket was also reported, where initial low prices escalated significantly after the service was rendered.
