Daijiworld Media Network - Calangute
Calangute, Aug 25: Calangute police registered offences against 520 touts during the 2025-26 tourist season for allegedly targeting male tourists with promises of women and luring couples with discounted holiday packages.
Police said 56 touts were detained in the last week alone, including 12 cases registered over the weekend. The action was carried out under the supervision of Calangute PI Laxi Amonkar, with police conducting daily operations against those allegedly involved in the racket.
"Single male tourists are commonly targeted with promises of women in dance bars or massage parlours, while couples are lured with claims of steeply discounted holiday packages and surprise gifts," Amonkar said.
"Action against touts is going on daily. We arrest five-six touts and produce them before the tourism department, and as per the Tourist Trade Act, they are fined," he said.
A tout is fined Rs 5,000 for the first offence and Rs 10,000 for the second offence, Amonkar said.
According to another official, touts typically approach tourists along roadsides and take interested visitors to purported dance bars, clubs or massage parlours. Tourists are allegedly pressured into swiping their debit or credit cards for large amounts, sometimes under threats of assault.
"After payment, victims are allegedly thrown out, and those who protest are assaulted," the officer said.
In cases involving couples, police said tourists were taken to hotel rooms or offices and persuaded to pay large advances for "exotic holidays". Their memberships were later cancelled on various pretexts, refunds were denied and those who complained were allegedly threatened.
Police also reported other forms of alleged tourist fraud. In some cases, visitors were directed to guesthouses and small hotels with promises of free food and drinks before the touts allegedly disappeared after receiving payment.
Authorities also flagged a tattoo parlour racket in which tourists were initially quoted a few hundred rupees for a tattoo design but were later allegedly forced to pay thousands of rupees after being told that an "extra special" design had been created.