E-Paper
‘ ₹4,000 for 14 km’: Back in India after 3 years, woman alleges cab scam in Bengaluru
The woman said she was returning to Bengaluru after almost 10 years. (Representational image).
Prefer HTon Google
A UK-based content creator alleged that she was scammed by an airport taxi driver. Returning to India after three years and unfamiliar with local transit options in Bengaluru, she boarded a cab after the driver promised to use the meter. However, after a short ride, the driver produced a fraudulent bill. Realising later that she had been cheated, the traveller urged fellow visitors to verify fares in advance.
“I was scammed at Bangalore airport. I was coming back to India after 3 years, and Bangalore was basically an unknown city to me. I might have visited it once, maybe 10 years ago,” content creator Abeeshna N wrote on LinkedIn.
Also Read: 'Biggest Bangalore rent scam': Woman's X post on hefty security deposits sparks discussion
She shared, “So I had no idea what the right taxi fare was, what options I had, or what I should actually be paying. Before getting into the taxi, I asked the driver about the fare.” The UK-based woman said that the driver said that he would take “Meter charge.”
Trusting the driver, she boarded the cab, and, after covering 14 km, he produced a receipt for ₹4,000. Later, she found out that it was fake.
Expressing how she felt, the exec continued, “Honestly, I didn't even know I was being scammed at that moment. I just assumed this was how airport taxis worked in Bangalore. Coming back after 3 years, being in an unfamiliar city, and not knowing the local system made me an easy target.”
She expressed, “The ₹4,000 hurts, of course. But what stayed with me more was how easily someone can take advantage of you when you're unfamiliar with a place. Lesson learned: always check the fare and your options before getting into an airport taxi, especially when you don't know the city.”
Also Read: 'Bangalore, you did me dirty': Parul Gulati says 2 store employees scammed her of ₹8 lakh plus
The founder of the company where she works part-time reacted to her post. He wrote, “Bangalore airport taxis are the worst, overcharging and inflating bills have been going on for years, and no one seems to care.”
