Calangute: Calangute police registered offences against 520 touts during the 2025–26 tourist season for targeting male tourists with promises of providing women, and couples with discounted holiday packages.Police said 56 touts were detained in the last week alone, including 12 cases registered over the weekend. The operation was carried out under the supervision of Calangute PI Laxi Amonkar, with daily action against those allegedly involved.“A 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.“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,” Amonkar said.He said a tout is fined Rs 5,000 for the first offence, and Rs 10,000 for the second offence.Another official said touts follow a modus operandi in which they approach tourists on roadsides and take interested visitors to so-called dance bars, clubs, or massage parlours, where they are pressured to swipe debit or credit cards for large sums 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 victims were taken to hotel rooms or offices and made to pay large advances for “exotic holidays”. The membership was later cancelled on some pretext, refunds were denied, and complaints were met with threats.Other reported scams included directing tourists to guesthouses and small hotels with false promises of free food and drinks, then disappearing after payment. Police also flagged a tattoo parlour racket in which tourists were quoted a few hundred rupees for a design but were later forced to pay thousands more after being told an “extra special” design was done.
