Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Woodman: THE WORLD'S GREATEST CITIES
ATTRACT VISITORS BY THE MILLIONS --
SOFT TARGETS FOR THE WAITING SCAMMERS.
I'M CONOR WOODMAN.
I'VE TRAVELED THE GLOBE WRITING ABOUT ALL KINDS OF TRADE,
AND NOW I'M INVESTIGATING THE TOURIST TRADE.
THE GUIDEBOOKS WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT TO SEE,
BUT THERE'S ONE THING THEY DON'T TELL YOU --
IT'S A CHAPTER THAT THIEVES DON'T WANT WRITTEN.
USING HIDDEN CAMERAS, I'LL UNCOVER THE SCAMS
THAT ARE EVERY TOURIST'S NIGHTMARE.
I WANT TO SEE WHAT SHE DOES,
AND I WANT TO SEE HOW SHE DOES IT.
SORRY.
THE GUY'S BLOCKING THE DOOR.
I'LL MEET THE SCAMMERS, BEFRIEND THEM,
AND LEARN THE TRICKS OF THE TRADE.
Woodman: YOU'VE GOT TO BE JOKING.
SIX TIMES WHAT YOU CHARGED ME TO GET OUT THERE.
I GET SCAMMED SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
DELHI IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT HISTORICAL CITIES,
STEEPED IN HISTORY AND SPIRITUAL TRADITION,
MAKING IT AN ATTRACTION
TO VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
IT'S A VIBRANT MELTING POT OF 17 MILLION,
BUT OF THESE,
SOME 60,000 SURVIVE BY BEGGING.
PRIMARY TARGETS INCLUDE TOURISTS,
SITTING DUCKS IN DELHI'S BUSY TRAFFIC.
THESE BEGGARS WILL TAKE
ANYTHING THEY CAN GET THEIR HANDS ON.
WITH THE HELP OF SECRET CAMERAS,
THE "SCAM CITY" CREW WILL FOLLOW MY EVERY MOVE
AS I UNCOVER THE ELABORATE TRICKS
MANY OF THEM USE.
WE'RE EVEN TURNING MY TAXI INTO
ONE GIANT, MOBILE, UNDERCOVER CAMERA.
MY MISSION BEGINS CRUISING AROUND
DELHI'S HOT SPOTS IN MY SPY TAXI,
LOOKING FOR BEGGARS.
IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG.
EVERY TIME WE STOP,
ANOTHER CHILD APPROACHES THE WINDOW.
BUT I'M YET TO SEE A SCAM.
ALL THAT SEEMS TO BE GOING ON
IS STREET SELLING AND OUTRIGHT BEGGING.
Boy: [ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]
HELLO!
HAVE YOU HURT YOUR ARM?
SEE YOUR BANDAGE?
OH, YOU HURT YOUR -- THAT'S NOT REAL BLOOD.
THAT'S NOT REAL BLOOD, IS IT?
HERE. WANT A BISCUIT?
LET ME SEE.
IS THAT REAL BLOOD?
THE KIDS HAVE PUT SOME SORT OF
RED, FELT-TIP PEN ON THEIR BANDAGES
AND MAKE IT LOOK LIKE BLOOD.
MADE THEM LOOK LIKE THEY'RE SERIOUSLY INJURED.
[ HORN HONKS ]
Man: SAY BYE-BYE.
BYE-BYE, BYE-BYE.
[ BOTH LAUGHING ]
CLEVER, CLEVER LITTLE KIDS.
THE KIDS AT THE ROUNDABOUT THERE HAVE GOT
AN INVENTIVE LITTLE SCAM GOING ON.
IT'S QUITE COMMON FOR KIDS TO BEG
AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND ROUNDABOUTS IN DELHI.
BUT THESE KIDS -- THEY'VE PUT BANDAGES
ON THEIR ARMS AND ON THEIR HEADS.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THEY'VE COLORED THEM IN
WITH RED, FELT-TIP PENS TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE BLOOD.
WHAT I NEED TO DO IS TO GIVE OUR FIXER A CALL,
GET HIM DOWN HERE, 'CAUSE I WANT TO GO BACK,
AND I WANT TO TALK TO THEM.
[ HORNS HONKING ]
Woodman: YOU CAN SEE THEM IN THE STREET.
GEORGE, MY FIXER, ARRIVES,
AND WE DISCREETLY OBSERVE THE LITTLE SCAMMERS AT WORK.
SOME OF THEM ARE SELLING FLOWERS.
George: YEAH.
SOME OF THEM ARE JUST ASKING FOR MONEY.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A DUAL BUSINESS, I THINK.
IT DEPENDS WHETHER THEY'RE ALL TOGETHER.
IT'S HARD TO TELL.
YEAH.
AND YOU SEE THE PEOPLE IN THE PARK HERE
ARE PREPARING FLOWERS.
YEAH.
WHICH MUST BE THE FLOWERS THAT ARE
MAKING THEIR WAY OUT THERE, ONTO THE STREET.
THESE KIDS ARE CLEARLY WELL-TRAINED.
THEY WAIT FOR THE LIGHTS TO TURN RED.
THEN THEY APPROACH THE CARS IN PACKS,
USING EVERY EMOTIONAL TRICK IN THE BOOK.
THEY'RE INCREDIBLY PERSISTENT.
IT SEEMS TO WORK, ESPECIALLY WITH TOURISTS.
IT'S PRETTY ORGANIZED.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY'RE RUNNING IT BY THEMSELVES.
OKAY, WELL, GEORGE AND I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THEM
FROM JUST ACROSS THE STREET HERE,
AND THERE'S AN OLDER GUY -- MIGHT BE A FATHER OR AN UNCLE --
WHO'S SELLING FLOWERS
WHO'S STAYING REALLY CLOSE TO THEM.
AND I'D SAY HE'S PROBABLY THE FAGIN CHARACTER.
SO IF WE'RE GONNA APPROACH THEM,
I IMAGINE HE'S THE PERSON WHO'S GONNA GET INVOLVED.
SO WHAT I SUGGEST WE DO IS THAT WE GO IN TOGETHER.
GEORGE WILL TRANSLATE.
MIKAYLA, YOU FOLLOW CLOSE BY.
STEVE, YOU MAYBE HANG BACK FOR NOW
UNTIL WE MAKE FIRST CONTACT,
AND THEN WE'LL SEE IF THEY'RE HAPPY TO TALK.
WE'RE IMMEDIATELY CONFRONTED BY THE GANG LEADER,
WHO'S CALLED KAILASH.
HEY, HOW YOU DOING?
WE EXPLAIN WHO WE ARE AND OUR INTENTIONS.
KAILASH SEEMS INTRIGUED
AND LEADS US TO THEIR MAKESHIFT HOME
TO MEET THE REST OF HIS CREW.
THEY'RE AS WARY OF US AS WE ARE OF THEM.
WHEREABOUTS IN INDIA ARE YOU FROM?
BUT SLOWLY, THEY OPEN UP.
RAJASTHAN.
RAJASTHAN. OKAY.
WHAT DO YOU DO BACK IN RAJASTHAN?
SO FOR HALF THE YEAR, YOU CAN BE
FARMING IN RAJASTHAN,
AND THEN HALF THE YEAR HERE IN DELHI.
RIGHT. OKAY.
SO, WHOSE IDEA WAS THE INJURIES?
AND YOU MAKE MORE MONEY WITH THE INJURY THAN WITHOUT?
YEAH.
YEAH.
ALONGSIDE THE FAKE-BANDAGE SCAM,
THE GANG SELL ALMOST-DEAD FLOWERS.
THEY PEEL OFF THE WILTED TOP PETALS
SO THAT THE BUDS APPEAR FRESH.
THE WOMEN BUY THE FLOWERS FROM A MARKET SEVERAL MILES AWAY
FOR AROUND 10 RUPEES A BUNCH,
HAUL THEM BACK TO THE PARK,
AND SELL THEM ON FOR A HUNDRED RUPEES.
THAT'S ABOUT $1.80 --
A WHOPPING 900% PROFIT.
THE STORE THE FLOWERS IN A BROKEN WATER DRAIN.
IF THEY'RE NOT SOLD WITHIN TWO DAYS,
ALL THE PROFITS ARE LOST.
WHO ARE YOUR BEST CUSTOMERS?
ARE THEY INDIAN PEOPLE OR TOURISTS?
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, IF IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH YOU,
IS COME BACK IN THE MORNING
AND SEE YOU GETTING READY AND THE KIDS GETTING READY
AND THEN WATCH YOU GOING OUT WITH THE KIDS
AND SEEING HOW THEY WORK ON THE STREET OUT HERE.
SO MEET HERE AFTER YOU BUY THE FLOWERS
TOMORROW MORNING?
YEAH. WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.
SEE YOU TOMORROW? OKAY.
BEFORE I MEET UP WITH THEM AGAIN,
I WANT TO GET THE LOW-DOWN FROM SOMEONE WITH
A BIT MORE INSIGHT INTO DELHI'S BEGGARS.
KUNWAR SINGH IS ONE OF
THE CITY'S FOREMOST INVESTIGATORS.
KUNWAR WASN'T JOKING WHEN HE SAID
THE FIGURES WERE MIND-BOGGLING.
A 2008 STUDY REPORTED THAT
INDIA'S BEGGING INDUSTRY WAS WORTH $45 MILLION A YEAR.
I GUESS I'LL SEE TOMORROW HOW MUCH
THE TRAFFIC-LIGHT GANG ARE POCKETING FROM TOURISTS.
BUT RIGHT NOW, I HAVE SOMETHING MUCH MORE PRESSING TO DEAL WITH.
Woodman: NOT ONLY IS DELHI FAMOUS FOR ITS STREET BEGGARS,
BUT, ALSO, FOR THE DREADED DELHI BELLY.
A LOT OF TOURISTS GET THIS, AND I'M NO EXCEPTION.
I NEED A DOCTOR FAST, SO I GO TO THE NEAREST CLINIC.
YEAH.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
NOT PILLS?
YEAH, NOT PILLS.
I GUESS INDIAN PROBLEM, INDIAN MEDICINE.
Man: YEAH.
[ LAUGHS ]
ANYTHING?
CANCER.
CAN CURE CANCER?
JUST WITH THIS STUFF?
AMAZING.
SORRY. START AGAIN. I TAKE...
THE DOCTOR ASK FOR 150 RUPEES -- ABOUT $3 --
FOR A CONCOCTION OF WEIRD-LOOKING HERBAL MEDICINES.
IN THIS STATE, I'LL GIVE ANYTHING A GO.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR ME TO HIT THE SACK
AND SEE IF I CAN'T SLEEP THIS OFF.
AFTER A NIGHT SPENT SITTING ON THE TOILET,
I'M STILL FEELING A BIT ROUGH.
AS WELL AS TASTING AWFUL,
THE HERBAL MEDICINE I WAS PRESCRIBED HASN'T WORKED.
I NEED A SECOND OPINION.
PAHAR GANJ, THE HEART OF DELHI'S BACKPACKING AREA --
A MECCA FOR YOUNG TOURISTS TRAVELING ON A SHOESTRING,
WITH ITS CHEAP HOTELS,
CHEAP SHOPPING,
AND CHEAP FOOD.
THIS IS SURELY THE BEST PLACE TO SORT OUT MY ROTTING GUTS,
AND LUCKILY, EVERYWHERE I LOOK,
THERE SEEMS TO BE A DOCTOR'S SIGN.
ANOTHER PHARMACIST THERE.
ALL UP THIS STREET, THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF
DOCTORS AND DENTISTS AND PHARMACISTS.
I MEAN, EVERYONE'S HEARD OF DELHI BELLY,
BUT IT'S LIKE SICKNESS IS THE NUMBER-ONE INDUSTRY HERE.
I'M SPOILED FOR CHOICE, BUT I SETTLE FOR ONE
THAT CLAIMS TO BE QUALIFIED FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING I'VE EATEN,
BUT SINCE THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
I'VE HAD STOMACH CRAMPS,
DIARRHEA ALL MORNING,
AND HEADACHE SINCE LAST NIGHT, AS WELL.
I'VE TAKEN TWO PARACETAMOL, BUT IT HASN'T --
OKAY, OKAY.
JUST LAY DOWN, LET ME CHECK.
LIE DOWN HERE?
HE'S LOOKING QUITE SICK RIGHT NOW.
OKAY?
OKAY.
DON'T WORRY. YOU WILL BE OKAY, MAN.
THE DOCTOR SEEMS TO BE THROWING EVERYTHING AT THIS.
SURELY, THERE'S AN EASIER WAY TO CURE A BOUT OF DELHI BELLY.
1,643.
YES.
$32 -- THAT'S TWICE
WHAT THE AVERAGE INDIAN EARNS IN A WEEK,
WAY MORE THAN I WAS EXPECTING TO PAY.
I THINK I MAY HAVE JUST BEEN RIPPED OFF.
BUT I CAN'T DO MUCH ABOUT THIS NOW.
I'VE GOT A DATE WITH THE TRAFFIC-LIGHT BEGGARS.
MY PLAN IS TO SEE THEIR OPERATION UP CLOSE
BY BECOMING PART OF THE CREW.
THE QUESTION IS, WILL IT WORK?
WHEN I ARRIVE, THE KIDS ARE ALREADY
PREPARING FOR THEIR DAY'S ASSAULT,
GETTING INTO COSTUME,
GETTING INTO CHARACTER.
LET'S SEE IF THE KIDS WILL REVEAL SOME OF THEIR TECHNIQUES.
WHEN YOU'RE AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS,
PRETENDING TO BE HURT,
DO YOU NOTICE THE TOURISTS?
DO YOU NOTICE THE FOREIGN PEOPLE?
LET ME SEE THE PAIN.
[ SCREAMS ]
EXACTLY. THAT'S GOOD.
[ GASPS ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
Woodman: THESE KIDS SEEM OBLIVIOUS
TO THE DANGERS OF THIS BUSINESS,
BUT THEIR PARENTS ARE ALL TOO AWARE.
I CAME HERE TO INVESTIGATE A SCAM,
BUT LALI'S STORY MAKES FOR DIFFICULT LISTENING.
THE REALITY IS THAT DANCING BETWEEN CARS
IS A LIFE-AND-DEATH BUSINESS.
BEFORE I TAKE MY TURN TO RUN THE TRAFFIC GAUNTLET,
THEY LAY DOWN SOME GROUND RULES.
HOW MUCH FOR EACH ONE, HMM?
ONE DOLLAR.
50 RUPEES, THIS ONE.
[ SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
OKAY.
George: NOTHING LESS THAN 50.
NOTHING LESS THAN 50.
AND YOU THINK I'LL BE OKAY?
YOU THINK I'LL SELL ANY?
[ SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
I'M SELLING THESE?
YOU'VE GOT YOUR INJURED ARM. SEE WHO MAKES MORE MONEY.
[ HORN HONKS ]
LET'S GO, LET'S GO, LET'S GO, LET'S GO, LET'S GO.
EVERYBODY, LOOK LEFT, LOOK RIGHT.
LET'S TRY AND BE LUCKY.
[ SIREN WAILING ]
IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE NERVE-RACKING, BEING OUT HERE.
THIS IS DELHI IN RUSH HOUR.
IF MY STOMACH WASN'T ALREADY CHURNING,
IT WOULD BE NOW.
[ HORNS HONKING ]
CAN I INTEREST YOU IN SOME ROSES?
HEY. [ SNIFFS ] SMELL VERY GOOD.
NO, SIR?
[ HORN HONKS ]
FLOWERS TODAY, CHAPS?
REDS, WHITES?
ONLY A HUNDRED RUPEES. BARGAIN.
NO.
NO FLOWERS.
OH, WELL. MAYBE NEXT TIME.
BYE.
WE'RE DOING OUR BEST.
FLOWERS? [ CHUCKLES ]
THIS STREET-SELLING BUSINESS IS NOT AS EASY AS IT LOOKS,
BUT THE KIDS WORK THE PASSING TRAFFIC LIKE OLD PROS
AND DON'T COME BACK EMPTY-HANDED.
I NEED TO UP MY GAME IF I'M GOING TO COMPETE WITH THEM.
JUST 100 RUPEES FOR A BUNCH OF FLOWERS.
THEY SMELL BEAUTIFUL.
ONLY 100 RUPEES.
Woman: YOU'LL SELL IT FOR 25.
OH, OKAY. I'LL GIVE YOU TWO BUNCHES. TWO BUNCHES.
I KNOW IT, I KNOW IT.
YOU'RE BARGAINING WITH ME.
YES, I AM!
YOU'RE BARGAINING WITH ME.
I CAN DO TWO BUNCHES FOR A HUNDRED.
I WAS TOLD TO GO NO LOWER THAN 50.
OKAY.
ONE RED, ONE WHITE.
HOW'S THAT?
ENJOY THE FLOWERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BYE-BYE.
[ HORNS HONKING ]
AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, I CALL IT A DAY.
I'M KNACKERED.
LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE GROUP,
I HAND OVER MY EARNINGS TO KAILASH,
THE KEEPER OF THE MONEY.
PHEW! IT'S HARD WORK.
[ SIGHS ]
IT'S HARD WORK.
I THINK I DID OKAY.
I THINK I DID OKAY. HOW DID I DO?
DID I DO OKAY?
I MADE $2.50 FROM...
FOUR --
WHAT DID I SELL? FOUR, FIVE BUNCHES?
[ LAUGHS ]
[ SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
Woman: VERY GOOD.
SO I COME BACK AGAIN TOMORROW?
Lali: [ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
OKAY.
Woodman: BYE, BYE, BYE, BYE, BYE, BYE.
SEE YOU LATER. BYE, BYE, BYE, BYE.
I ONLY EARNED AROUND $5 -- A SMALL RETURN.
BUT IF EVERY BEGGAR IN DELHI EARNED
THE SAME AS ME THIS MORNING,
THAT'S OVER A QUARTER OF A MILLION
IN JUST A FEW HOURS.
Woodman: THIS MORNING, I WENT TO SEE A DOCTOR
WHO OVERPRESCRIBED ME A BUNCH OF ANTIBIOTICS
AND CHARGED ME THROUGH THE ROOF FOR THEM.
WITH SO MANY DOCTORS IN THE BACKPACKER AREA OF PAHAR GANJ,
ARE OTHER TOURISTS BEING RIPPED OFF, TOO?
THE BEST PLACE TO START LOOKING
IS PROBABLY THE DELHI MEDICAL COUNCIL.
THE NAME THAT KEEPS COMING UP IS A DR. BANSAL.
HE AGREES TO MEET ME,
BUT AS I MAKE MY WAY TO HIS CLINIC,
I'M SLIGHTLY UNEASY.
I'M ONLY WORKING ON A HUNCH HERE
AND MIGHT BE BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE.
IN A CITY OF 17 MILLION,
HOW MANY DOCTORS ARE THERE IN DELHI?
[ LAUGHS ] SO THERE'S THE SAME NUMBER OF REAL DOCTORS
AS FAKE DOCTORS?
YES.
SO IT'S 50/50.
IF YOU GO AND SEE A DOCTOR ON THE STREET,
YOU HAVE A GREATER THAN EVEN CHANCE
THAT THEY'VE NEVER EVEN BEEN TO UNIVERSITY.
YES.
NOT ONLY ARE SOME OF THESE DOCTORS
RIPPING TOURISTS OFF BY OVERPRESCRIBING,
BUT THEY MIGHT NOT EVEN BE REAL.
IS IT ALL ACROSS THE BOARD?
DOES IT AFFECT TOURISTS, TRAVELERS,
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN DELHI, EVERYBODY?
LET'S SAY I WANTED TO BE A QUACK IN THE MORNING.
WHAT WOULD I NEED TO SET MYSELF UP?
THIS IS VERY STRANGE.
THIS IS EXTREMELY WORRYING.
VERY STRANGE.
I GUESS TOURISTS ARE PROBABLY A TARGET
BECAUSE WE COME HERE WITH
SO MUCH IN HEALTH INSURANCE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE A BOTTOMLESS PIT OF MONEY,
AREN'T WE?
IT SOUNDS LIKE A DANGEROUS PLACE TO GET SICK.
YES.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I NOW SEE WHY THERE ARE SO MANY DOCTORS IN DELHI.
WITH OVER 2 MILLION VISITORS TO THIS CITY,
THIS OVERPRESCRIBING SCAM COULD BE WORTH A FORTUNE.
BUT WHAT'S TRULY TERRIFYING IS TO THINK YOU COULD GET SICK HERE
AND END UP BEING TREATED BY SOMEONE
WHO'S AN OUT-AND-OUT QUACK.
OTHER WAY AROUND, SO IT FACES UPWARDS.
IT'S TIME TO GO UNDERCOVER
TO SEE IF I CAN FIND ONE OF THESE FAKE DOCTORS.
I VISIT SEVERAL STREETSIDE CLINICS.
THEY ALL LOOK PRETTY RUN-DOWN TO ME
AND CERTAINLY WOULDN'T BE MY FIRST CHOICE.
BUT IF YOU'RE TRAVELING ON A BACKPACKERS' BUDGET,
THIS COULD BE WHERE YOU END UP.
SO FAR, ALL APPEAR TO HAVE CERTIFICATES
AND CONDUCT WHAT SEEM TO BE THOROUGH MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS.
I'M DRAWING A BLANK, EVEN THOUGH I COME OUT WITH
ENOUGH MEDICINE TO OPEN MY OWN PHARMACY.
BUT I DON'T HAVE TO LOOK TOO HARD OR TOO LONG.
ARE YOU THE DOCTOR?
ARE YOU THE DOCTOR?
HUH?
DOCTOR?
YES.
I LOOK AROUND, BUT CAN'T SEE ANY CERTIFICATE.
OH.
PAIN?
YEAH.
YES.
I MANAGE TO AVOID THE DREADED NEEDLE,
BUT HE THEN DISHES OUT A SMALL BOTTLE
CONTAINING A BROWN LIQUID OF WHO KNOWS WHAT.
NOW THE ALARM BELLS ARE REALLY RINGING.
WITH WATER?
HE THEN PASSES ME
A MYSTERIOUS ASSORTMENT OF PILLS.
OKAY.
OKAY, OKAY. THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
HOW MUCH IS THAT?
250.
THAT'S ABOUT $5.
I WOULD HAVE TO BE --
I'D HAVE TO BE DEAD
BEFORE I'D LET THAT GUY GIVE ME AN INJECTION.
[ Laughing ] THERE'S JUST ABSOLUTELY NO WAY.
WELL, I'VE BEEN TO MY DOCTOR WITH A GYPPY TUMMY BEFORE,
BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN PRESCRIBED ANYTHING LIKE THIS --
A BAG OF MULTICOLORED PILLS
AND A BOTTLE OF BROWN SLUDGE.
I GIVE THE NAMES AND DETAILS OF ALL THE DOCTORS I VISITED
TO KUNWAR SINGH, THE PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR I MET.
HE CONFIRMS THAT EVERYONE IS REGISTERED,
EXCEPT FOR THE SO-CALLED DOCTOR
WHO WANTED TO STICK A NEEDLE IN ME.
HIS RECORDS WERE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND,
JUST LIKE HIS MEDICAL CERTIFICATES.
[ HORNS HONKING ]
Woodman: THE FOLLOWING MORNING,
MY INVESTIGATION INTO FAKE DOCTORS
IS BLOWN WIDE OPEN.
THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE STORY IN TODAY'S NEWSPAPER
ABOUT A 90-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO HAS SPENT TIME IN PRISON
FOR PRODUCING FAKE DOCTOR CERTIFICATES
HERE IN DELHI.
APPARENTLY, HE'S PRODUCED
OVER 50,000 IN THE LAST 15 YEARS,
WHICH MEANS IF THOSE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY PRACTICING,
THAT'S A LOT OF FAKE DOCTORS OUT THERE.
I'M ON MY WAY TO MEET THE MAN WHO DID A FOUR-YEAR STRETCH
FOR FLOODING DELHI WITH UNQUALIFIED DOCTORS.
THEY TRAINED AT HIS FAKE MEDICAL COLLEGE.
BALWANT RAI ARORA EXPLAINS
HOW HE SET UP HIS UNOFFICIAL COLLEGE
PROVIDING WHAT HE CALLS "GUIDANCE" TO PEOPLE,
HELPING THEM OBTAIN MEDICAL CERTIFICATES.
HE'S KEEN TO POINT OUT, HOWEVER,
THAT THEY BECAME UNQUALIFIED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS
RATHER THAN DOCTORS.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT STRANGE WHERE I COME FROM
TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT
AN UNQUALIFIED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.
WHAT IS AN UNQUALIFIED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL?
HOW ON EARTH DOES SOMEONE PRACTICE
AS AN UNQUALIFIED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL?
THIS IS COMPLETE MADNESS.
HOW MANY UNQUALIFIED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS
DO YOU THINK YOU GAVE GUIDANCE TO?
MORE THAN 45,000 YOU GAVE GUIDANCE TO.
THAT'S A LOT.
BUT HAVE YOU HELPED PEOPLE
OBTAIN CERTIFICATES IN THE PAST?
BUT IF YOU HAVE PROVIDED A CERTIFICATE
TO AN UNQUALIFIED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
AND I GO TO SEE THAT PERSON
AND I LOOK ON THE WALL AND THERE'S A CERTIFICATE,
HOW DO I KNOW THAT IT'S YOUR CERTIFICATE
AND NOT A GENUINE MEDICAL-SCHOOL CERTIFICATE?
THAT GUY MIGHT LOOK LIKE SOMEONE'S GRANDDAD,
BUT HE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOCKING OUT
45,000 QUACK DOCTORS HERE IN DELHI.
AND THAT, BY ANYONE'S STANDARDS,
IS A PRETTY MAJOR SCAM.
I CAME TO DELHI TO INVESTIGATE BEGGARS
THAT SCAM TOURISTS OUT OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
I DIDN'T EXPECT TO COME ACROSS A MEDICAL RACKET
RUN BY CROOKED DOCTORS.
BUT SOMETHING TELLS ME THIS GOES MUCH DEEPER
THAN JUST HIKED-UP PRESCRIPTION BILLS AND QUACKS.
AFTER DIGGING AROUND, IT SEEMS THAT
IT'S NOT JUST THE DOCTORS WHO ARE SCAMMING,
BUT TOURISTS ARE ALSO GETTING IN ON THE ACT.
IN COLLUSION WITH REAL DOCTORS, THEY FILE
BOGUS MEDICAL CLAIMS AGAINST THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES
FOR SOMETIMES SERIOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY.
THESE DOCTORS ARE NOT JUST THE STREETSIDE RIP-OFF ARTISTS
I'VE COME ACROSS SO FAR.
THEY'RE CONNECTED TO DELHI'S CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD.
LET'S SEE IF I CAN BUST ONE.
NOW, THE DOCTORS ARE CLEVER.
THEY DON'T APPROACH THE TOURISTS THEMSELVES.
THEY USE TOUTS WHO WORK IN THE TOURIST AREAS.
SO IF I'M GONNA FIND A DODGY DOCTOR --
A REALLY DODGY DOCTOR --
I'VE GOT TO FIND A DODGY TOUT.
I RETURN TO PAHAR GANJ WITH MY FIXERS.
OUR PLAN IS TO GET A DODGY DOCTOR
TO ILLEGALLY SIGN ME OFF SICK WITH A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
SO THAT I CAN'T FLY HOME.
WE SEPARATE TO GET THE WORD OUT ON THE STREET.
AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, WE RECONVENE.
I'VE COME UP EMPTY-HANDED,
BUT ONE OF MY FIXERS HAS A LEAD.
WE'VE HEARD OF ONE TOUT WHO'S PARTICULARLY ACTIVE,
AND HE OPERATES FROM A HOTEL --
SMALL HOTEL -- JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
AND THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT KIND OF DEPENDS ON
THE DOCTOR ACTUALLY BEING A GENUINE DOCTOR,
'CAUSE THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE NOBODY'S FOOLS.
WE CAN'T DO THIS WITH A QUACK DOCTOR, CAN WE?
WE NEED THE REAL DEAL.
YEAH, CORRECT.
SO AS SOON AS I GOT THE BIT OF PAPER,
HE AND I ARE
PARTNERS IN CRIME.
OKAY.
GAME ON.
SO, THE GUYS HAVE GONE OFF TO SEE IF
THE TOUT THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT IS THE REAL DEAL,
AND IF HE IS, THEN I'LL MEET HIM LATER
AND NEGOTIATE WHAT I HAVE TO PAY HIM
TO GET ACCESS TO A DODGY DOCTOR.
THE WAITING IS NERVE-RACKING.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M GOING TO
TRY AND SCAM THE SCAMMERS.
THE WARNING FROM THE TOUT IS PRETTY CLEAR.
WE'RE NOT TO CROSS HIM.
ONCE I STEP OVER THE LINE INTO DELHI'S CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD,
THERE'LL BE NO TURNING BACK.
IN A FEW HOURS, I COULD BE JOINING THEIR RANKS.
[ HORNS HONKING ]
LATER THAT EVENING, I GET WORD THE DEAL IS ON.
I HEAD TOWARDS THE MEETING POINT AND JOIN UP WITH MY FIXERS.
I HAND OVER 3,300 RUPEES AND ALL MY INFORMATION.
WE'RE TOLD TO WAIT OUTSIDE
WHILE A SECOND TOUT CONTACTS THE DOCTOR.
HALF AN HOUR PASSES.
NOTHING'S HAPPENING.
THIS GUY'S SILENCE
IS ALL A BIT UNNERVING.
[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
WITHOUT WARNING, THE TOUT SUDDENLY LEADS US THROUGH
A NARROW MAZE OF DELHI'S BACK STREETS.
WE'RE NOT TOLD WHERE WE'RE GOING.
I JUST HOPE THIS ISN'T A TRAP.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE FINALLY HERE.
Man: HELLO.
Woodman: HELLO.
HI.
YEAH.
OKAY.
FINE. THAT'S GREAT.
THIS DOCTOR WANTS US OUT OF HERE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE,
BUT I NEED HIM TO INCRIMINATE HIMSELF ON CAMERA
BEFORE WE LEAVE.
IF I USE THIS FOR INSURANCE AND THEY CONTACT YOU,
YOU'LL SAY THE SAME THING?
OKAY.
Man: AND YOU'VE DONE THIS BEFORE,
SO YOU KNOW THIS WILL WORK.
BUT YOU KNOW THAT FROM EXPERIENCE?
YES, YES, YES. CERTAINLY.
OKAY.
OKAY.
EASY. EASY-PEASY.
[ LAUGHS ]
THANK YOU.
PLEASE.
OKAY.
OKEYDOKE. THANK YOU.
HOPEFULLY, I'LL BE FEELING BETTER BEFORE TOO LONG.
[ LAUGHS ] YES.
VERY GOOD. OKAY, BYE.
WELL, I'VE BEEN SIGNED OFF WITH ACUTE BRONCHITIS
FOR THE NEXT NINE DAYS
BY A DOCTOR THAT NEVER EVEN EXAMINED ME.
I MEAN, IF I DID HAVE A FLIGHT THAT I WANTED TO MOVE,
THERE YOU GO -- THAT'S ALL I NEED
TO PUT IN AN INSURANCE CLAIM
AND GET THE MONEY FOR THE FLIGHT BACK,
WHICH MEANS I CAN GO HOME WHENEVER I LIKE.
IT'S AMAZING TO ME THAT HE WOULD
DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR ONLY $80,
BUT THAT REALLY GIVES YOU SOME INSIGHT
INTO JUST HOW RIFE THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR IS HERE,
AND IT MAKES YOU WONDER,
IS THERE ANY PIECE OF PAPER THAT YOU COULDN'T GET SIGNED?
Woodman: LAST NIGHT WAS ALL A BIT HEAVY.
I CAME FACE-TO-FACE WITH SOME PRETTY DODGY SCAMMERS --
FRAUDSTERS WHO USE THEIR STATUS
TO HELP RIP OFF INSURANCE COMPANIES.
BUT THEY'RE SMALL-FRY COMPARED TO WHERE I'M ABOUT TO GO.
CAN I PULL OFF THE ULTIMATE INSURANCE SCAM,
WHICH CARRIES WITH IT THE ULTIMATE PRICE --
THE COST OF MY LIFE?
BUT I NEED TO TEST THE WATER ONE MORE TIME.
YESTERDAY, I SCORED A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
THAT LETS ME EXTEND MY TRIP HERE WITH MY FLIGHT PAID FOR.
NOW I WANT TO SEE IF I CAN GET SOME SPENDING MONEY
TO GO WITH IT.
AND I THINK I KNOW JUST THE DOCTOR --
THE CROOK THAT FLEECED ME OF MY CASH
BY PRESCRIBING ME A PHARMACY WORTH OF PILLS
FOR MY DELHI BELLY.
HELLO, DOCTOR. I'M FEELING MUCH BETTER.
THANK YOU.
YEAH. YOU DID THE TRICK.
EVIDENCE-BASED. GOOD.
[ CHUCKLES ]
COOL. I NEED TO PICK UP THE RECEIPT.
ARE YOU SURE THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE THAT WE COULD...
Man: WELL, MOSTLY, JUST FINISH OFF THE ANTIBIOTICS
AND THAT'S ALL.
THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY TO TREAT ANYTHING ELSE IN THERE?
WE SEEM TO BE DANCING AROUND THE ISSUE.
I NEED TO CUT TO THE CHASE.
THIS IS QUITE A LOW CLAIM FOR MY INSURANCE.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY WAY OF MAKING IT
A LITTLE BIT MORE WORTH MY WHILE.
HOW MUCH MORE?
WHAT COULD YOU DO?
SO, I MEAN, COULD WE MAKE IT 50,000?
THAT'S PUSHING IT?
WHY DON'T WE GO 25,000,
AND THEN IT'S WORTH MY WHILE PUTTING IN A CLAIM.
I'VE JUST SUCCEEDED IN UPPING MY MEDICAL-INSURANCE BILL
FROM 2,600 TO 25,000 RUPEES.
I'M ON THE EDGE OF COMMITTING A MAJOR FRAUD CLAIM,
AND I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW EASY HE'S MADE IT.
SO ALL THIS COMES LIKE THIS.
WILL YOU JUST GIVE ME THE PAPERWORK?
"OVERHEADS." OKAY.
IT'S SHOCKING TO THINK
THAT IF I WAS TO GO THROUGH WITH THIS,
I COULD RIP OFF MY INSURANCE COMPANY
FOR CLOSE TO $500.
THIS IS ONE OF THE EASIEST SCAMS I'VE EVER PULLED OFF,
BUT WITH SOME OF THE HIGHEST RETURNS.
NOW I HAVE TO PREPARE TO TAKE THIS TO THE VERY END.
MY FIXERS HAVE GIVEN ME THE NAME AND NUMBER OF A MAN
WHO HAS FAR-REACHING CONTACTS INTO THE CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD.
[ Telephone ringing ]
MAN: Hello?
Woodman: HELLO. IS THAT MR. SINGH?
Yes. Who are you? I don't recognize this number.
What do you want?
WELL, I BELIEVE YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME
ACQUIRE A FORGED DOCUMENT.
What document do you want?
A DEATH CERTIFICATE.
You want death certificate?
YEAH. I DO.
Why do you want death certificate?
FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES.
You want to make claim
against insurance company you're dead.
MY DEATH. YEAH, EXACTLY.
HE'LL CALL ME BACK WITH THE DETAILS OF ANOTHER CONTACT.
I'M ON DANGEROUS GROUND.
ALL I'M DOING IS HIGHLY ILLEGAL,
AND I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE CONVINCED HIM ENOUGH
TO TRUST ME.
ALL I CAN DO IS WAIT.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO. MR. SINGH?
Yeah. Check this number.
Check this number first thing.
This I give you now is procedure.
My man -- His name is Bobby.
OKAY.
SO FAR, SO GOOD.
I'VE ARRANGED TO MEET HIM LATER TONIGHT
IN THE BACK STREETS IN ONE OF DELHI'S SUBURBS.
Woodman: THIS PLAN MAKES ME FEEL UNEASY.
IT INVOLVES A LOT OF PLAYERS,
FROM FRONT-LINE TOUTS TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
WHO HAVE A LOT TO LOSE.
BUT IT'S HIS TOWN AND I GUESS HIS RULES.
AS I SET OUT TO MEET BOBBY,
IT OCCURS TO ME THAT I'M A FEW MINUTES AWAY
FROM WHAT COULD BE ONE OF THE WEIRDEST EXPERIENCES
OF MY LIFE.
Man: HI.
HEY.
[ CAR DOOR SHUTS ]
HEY. I'M BOBBY.
YOU'RE A FRIEND OF MR. SINGH'S?
YEAH.
YEAH.
HE TELLS ME YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME
WITH A BIT OF PAPERWORK THAT I'M AFTER.
WHAT KIND OF PAPERWORK ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
WELL, I BELIEVE IT MAY BE POSSIBLE
TO, SAY, FAKE MY OWN DEATH IN INDIA.
YOU NEED A DEATH CERTIFICATE?
EXACTLY.
THAT CAN BE ARRANGED.
SO, IT'LL BE A GENUINE DEATH CERTIFICATE.
IT'S GONNA BE A GENUINE DEATH CERTIFICATE.
ALL RIGHT. AND THAT'S... SOMETHING THAT I COULD USE
FOR AN INSURANCE CLAIM?
IF YOU WANTED.
RIGHT. OKAY.
AND HOW MUCH IS THAT GONNA COST ME?
25,000.
RUPEES?
YEAH, IN RUPEES.
SO, I COULD TAKE THE 25,000 RUPEES
I SCAMMED FROM THE FAKE MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
AND USE THAT TO PAY FOR MY DEATH,
AND THAT MEANS, IN THE END,
I COULD NET HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS,
IF NOT A COOL MILLION OR SO,
AND THAT'S BIG BUSINESS.
WE ARRANGED TO MEET IN A FEW HOURS.
AS I KILL TIME,
I GET TO THINKING HOW MANY OTHER TOURISTS
BOBBY HAS KILLED OFF
AND HOW MUCH THEY'VE SCAMMED FROM INSURANCE COMPANIES.
IT'S POSSIBLE BOBBY'S FRIENDLY DEMEANOR IS A MASK.
I MUST REMEMBER THIS GUY OPERATES
IN A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR FRAUD INDUSTRY
RUN BY SERIOUS CRIMINALS.
HOW ON EARTH DID I GET HERE?
Woodman: YOU'RE EARLY. OR AM I LATE?
NO. YOU'RE ON TIME.
OKAY. GOOD MAN.
YEAH. THIS IS WHAT YOU ASKED FOR.
IT'S ALL DONE?
YEAH. IT'S ALL DONE.
OH, MY GOD.
IT LOOKS OFFICIAL.
IT'S ALL COUNTERSIGNED BY THE BIRTH AND DEATH REGISTRAR.
YEAH.
SO THAT'S IT.
YEAH.
I'M DEAD.
OFFICIALLY, YOU ARE.
YOU KILLED ME.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY STAGGERING.
I'M SLIGHTLY TAKEN ABACK THAT I'VE DIED.
I'VE DIED ON THE 27th OF JANUARY, AND YET HERE I AM.
OH. I'M GETTING SCARED, MATE.
I'M TALKING TO A DEAD MAN.
SO, IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
I'M OFFICIALLY A DEAD MAN,
BUT POTENTIALLY A VERY RICH DEAD MAN.
DELHI IS A CITY ATTRACTING TRAVELERS
FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE GLOBE.
DRAWN TO ITS HISTORY AND CULTURE,
MANY COME HERE WITH THE HOPE
OF FINDING SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT.
I, HOWEVER, WILL LEAVE
HAVING UNCOVERED A MORE MATERIALISTIC SIDE.
DURING MY TIME HERE IN DELHI,
I'VE DISCOVERED THAT THIS CITY IS FULL OF SCAMMERS.
MANY OF THEM ARE SCAMMING JUST TO SURVIVE.
BUT THERE'S LOTS OF OTHERS MAKING SOME SERIOUS CASH.
I'M LEAVING WITH MY EYES OPENED
TO JUST HOW EASY IT'S BEEN TO PULL OFF MY OWN MEDICAL SCAM.
IF YOU LOOKED AT MY RECORDS,
YOU'D SEE I'VE BEEN HOSPITALIZED WITH A CRITICAL ILLNESS
AND NOW I'VE EVEN BEEN PRONOUNCED DEAD.
WHICH IS FUNNY, 'CAUSE I FEEL ABSOLUTELY FINE.