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MoreQuiet 12d · day 13

US-based couple alleges passport scanning scam at Delhi airport duty-free

Family says staff scanned passports of non-purchasing relatives, including infants, without clear consent or explanation.

newest coverage 12d agosummary written 12d ago11 pieces NewswiresGoogle News

What to know

  • A US-based Indian couple alleged that duty-free staff at Delhi Airport's Terminal 3 scanned passports of non-purchasing family members, including infants, without clear justification.
  • Staff explained the scans were for checking promotional offers, but the family questioned whether personal data was being collected without proper consent or stored in an unauthorized database.
  • Other travelers reported similar passport and personal information collection practices at airports and on flights, suggesting a wider pattern.
  • Delhi Airport and Delhi Duty Free have requested additional details to investigate the allegations.

The dispute Whether the practice represents an intentional data harvesting scheme versus standard (but poorly explained) promotional procedure remains unresolved.

most voices

Passport scanning practice is part of a larger data collection scheme without proper consent or explanation.

  • “This is happening from many weeks not just at duty free sometimes on plane they just give you a form and force to fill details and when we ask them about the purpose of form they don't tell anything”

    Instagram commenter · Instagram (quoted in Indian Express) ↗
many voices

The stated reason (promotional offers) does not justify scanning passports of non-purchasers, including infants.

  • “After checking the offers, they said if you buy one chocolate, you will get 10% off on the second chocolate. What is this nonsense?”

    Pooja Tomarr Sikarwar's husband · Indian Express ↗

“Dear Pooja, We regret for the inconveniences faced by you. Request you to share the order details so that we can intervene and get back to you at earliest.”

Delhi Duty Free, Duty-free retailer · Indian Express ↗

Pooja Tomarr Sikarwar US-based Indian travelerDelhi Airport Airport operatorDelhi Duty Free Duty-free retailer

US-based couple alleges passport scanning scam at Delhi airport duty-free
Indian Express

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articles

Peak 9 pieces in 3h at Sep 11, 3 AM; 11 pieces over 13 days (11 articles) Sep 11, 3 AM — 9 pieces · 9 articles — Google News 8, Newswires 1Sep 11, 6 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 11, 9 AM — quietSep 11, 12 PM — quietSep 11, 3 PM — quietSep 11, 6 PM — quietSep 11, 9 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 12, 12 AM — quietSep 12, 3 AM — quietSep 12, 6 AM — quietSep 12, 9 AM — quietSep 12, 12 PM — quietSep 12, 3 PM — quietSep 12, 6 PM — quietSep 12, 9 PM — quietSep 13, 12 AM — quietSep 13, 3 AM — quietSep 13, 6 AM — quietSep 13, 9 AM — quietSep 13, 12 PM — quietSep 13, 3 PM — quietSep 13, 6 PM — quietSep 13, 9 PM — quietSep 14, 12 AM — quietSep 14, 3 AM — quietSep 14, 6 AM — quietSep 14, 9 AM — quietSep 14, 12 PM — quietSep 14, 3 PM — quietSep 14, 6 PM — quietSep 14, 9 PM — quietSep 15, 12 AM — quietSep 15, 3 AM — quietSep 15, 6 AM — quietSep 15, 9 AM — quietSep 15, 12 PM — quietSep 15, 3 PM — quietSep 15, 6 PM — quietSep 15, 9 PM — quietSep 16, 12 AM — quietSep 16, 3 AM — quietSep 16, 6 AM — quietSep 16, 9 AM — quietSep 16, 12 PM — quietSep 16, 3 PM — quietSep 16, 6 PM — quietSep 16, 9 PM — quietSep 17, 12 AM — quietSep 17, 3 AM — quietSep 17, 6 AM — quietSep 17, 9 AM — quietSep 17, 12 PM — quietSep 17, 3 PM — quietSep 17, 6 PM — quietSep 17, 9 PM — quietSep 18, 12 AM — quietSep 18, 3 AM — quietSep 18, 6 AM — quietSep 18, 9 AM — quietSep 18, 12 PM — quietSep 18, 3 PM — quietSep 18, 6 PM — quietSep 18, 9 PM — quietSep 19, 12 AM — quietSep 19, 3 AM — quietSep 19, 6 AM — quietSep 19, 9 AM — quietSep 19, 12 PM — quietSep 19, 3 PM — quietSep 19, 6 PM — quietSep 19, 9 PM — quietSep 20, 12 AM — quietSep 20, 3 AM — quietSep 20, 6 AM — quietSep 20, 9 AM — quietSep 20, 12 PM — quietSep 20, 3 PM — quietSep 20, 6 PM — quietSep 20, 9 PM — quietSep 21, 12 AM — quietSep 21, 3 AM — quietSep 21, 6 AM — quietSep 21, 9 AM — quietSep 21, 12 PM — quietSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quiet 1–2
Sep 12Sep 13Sep 14Sep 15Sep 16Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22now · 7:48 AM ET
  1. 2

    Sikarwar shares video alleging duty-free 'scam' on Instagram

    Pooja Tomarr Sikarwar posts a video on Instagram claiming staff scanned her family's passports without clear justification. When her husband questioned the practice, employees said scans were to check for "offers" and offered a 10% discount on chocolate—prompting him to question whether a larger data collection or smuggling scheme was underway.

    “Is there some kind of scam going on at IGI where you scan everyone else's [passports] and smuggle items outside under the names of people who haven't even bought anything from duty-free?”
    — Pooja Tomarr Sikarwar's husband
    1. 3 outlets ‘Is there a scam going on?’: US-based Indian couple alleges ‘duty-free fraud’ at Delhi airport

      first by Indian Express, 12d ago · also India Today, The Indian Express

      1 more headline
  2. background

    Delhi Airport and Delhi Duty Free request details for investigation — Delhi Airport's official Instagram account and Delhi Duty Free respond to the allegation, asking Sikarwar to provide more information through official channels so the matter can be investigated.

  3. 1

    Other travelers report similar passport scanning requests

    Instagram commenters claim they encountered similar requests for personal information at airports and on flights. One user reports staff forcibly collecting passport details from passengers without explaining the purpose; another notes the practice targets vulnerable populations.

    “This is happening from many weeks not just at duty free sometimes on plane they just give you a form and force to fill details and when we ask them about the purpose of form they don't tell anything…”
    — Instagram user
  4. background

    US-based couple encounters passport scanning at Delhi airport duty-free — Pooja Tomarr Sikarwar and her family arrive at IGI Airport Terminal 3 from the US. While purchasing liquor at a duty-free outlet, staff scan the passports of her 9-month-old baby, toddler, and other non-purchasing family members.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 3 outlets 'You scan everyone else's passports': US-based couple raises ‘scam’ concern at Delhi airport duty-free...

    first by Moneycontrol.com, 13d ago · also Hindustan Times, The Times of India

    3 more headlines

What people are saying 0 voices from 0 sites · verbatim

Still unanswered
  • What is the actual purpose and policy behind passport scanning at duty-free outlets?
  • Is traveler personal information being stored in a database and if so, for how long and with what safeguards?
  • How widespread is this practice and what are the official guidelines for staff conducting such scans?