Recently read about a petrol bunk fraud in one of my friend’s blog. I was reminded about how I had got duped at the exact same bunk a couple of weeks earlier in the same fashion. Taking a cue from it, I decided to post about one of the other frauds that I came across recently so that at least some of you can be prepared next time around.
I developed great respect for Mumbai when I lived there for a year. I was impressed with the efficiency of the train system and the honesty of the auto drivers which made travel at any time of the day such a comfort. So when I recently got duped at the Mumbai airport six months ago for the first time, I wasn’t even sure whether I had been duped in the first place. Me and my friend had landed at the airport and asked for a cab to Powai. Upon agreeing to the rate of Rs 200, the guy (lets say a Mr. X) who did the bargaining with us called for the cab and we get into it.
As soon as we sit inside, Mr. X smartly hands out three hundred rupee notes and politely asked my friend to give a 500 rupee note to settle the fare. My friend is slightly puzzled, but still takes the hundred rupee notes and pays the fare but Mr. X immediately returns it showing it’s actually a hundred rupee note we have given and asks for 500 Rs note. My friend thinks he has made a mistake, takes the 100 Rs note and pays him 500. Later, when he checks his purse, my friend remembers that he had no 100 rupee notes to begin with in the first place. So effectively we had been duped 400 Rs (since we got back a 100 Rs note for the first 500 Rs we gave).Upon enquiring with others, we find that this is a common occurrence at the airport.
So what is their modus operandi? They pick on unsuspecting passengers who as it is have no idea about the fares. Negotiations over, they take you a little outside the airport saying the taxi is parked there. There, the usual Mr. X is ready with the (500 – Agreed fare) amount. They wait for the passenger to sit inside the cab and immediately give him the money and ask for the 500 Rs note. And here is where the most important part of the operation is – As soon as u pay him the note, he switches it in a flash with a 100 Rs note, which no doubt he was having handy. If u weren’t paying enough attention you would not even notice his hand movement,go on to assume u made a mistake with the notes and end up losing 400 bucks more in the process.
I experienced the whole thing again when I went to Mumbai two months back. This time I was watching him closely and despite that I wasn’t able to spot when he actually made that switch. However, I at least knew he had definitely switched the note. I was angry and despite the broken Hindi I uttered, my tone helped that guy realize I was clearly not impressed by his behavior. He went off silently and the journey progressed smoothly. All of you might not be that lucky so I suggest one of the following precautionary measures:
1) Always try to take one of the taxis which are standing just in front of the airport lounge exit. In full public view with security personnel nearby, the Mr. Xs are virtually absent. Even better, take one of the prepaid taxis. The queue is long, but it’s always better than paying 400 bucks extra.
2) Never agree to go outside the airport to board a taxi unless it’s a prepaid taxi where you have already paid the fare.
3) Always insist on paying only after you reach your destination. Even if you are already inside the cab and they insist on payment before starting, do not hesitate to walk out.
4) Finally, if you know you are going to stay in a particular hotel, make use of the cab pickup service by calling them in advance and informing them of your arrival. The service usually comes free but even otherwise it makes a lot of sense.
As a parting note, I would like to mention a couple of things.
One of my friends recently had to go to the
Just beware of the Mumbai cabbies in the same way you would be of the Chennai auto- drivers. As in the latter case, the safest option would be to avoid them!
11 comments:
Me too.. was conned when i took the cab from the Mummbai domestic airport to international airport...
Thought of posting about it.. but forgot about it later.. To me, at first they gave me back a torn 500 hundred rupees and then said i only gave a 100 rupee note.. i found it some thing foul when they said it is 100 rupees.. and they do it at places where there is no light.. and immediately after that some other driver took the cab and the guilty party gets down.. Hmmm..
Jeez! I have no idea how many frauds are there.. Anywya, thhanks for the tip... guess we need to watch out better. Blogs are actually pretty useful. :)
@Robin - yes that is another common thing. The guy who cheats and the guy who drives are different people. That ways, even if something goes wrong, you can't put the blame on the driver later on. Clever tactics!
@Govar - :)
This is an interesting story, but what I cannot understand is why would all you guys bargin with taxis at the airport instead of taking one from the queue, where the numbers are noted by the police? At best you must ensure that the policeman actually notes the cab number and destination.
The government takes steps to offer protection, if you don't use it, you are asking for trouble.
Muggings and robberies take place all over the world -- the US is the worst of the lot. A friends daughter got mugged twice in a week in Chicago and has returned to India out of shock.
No alternative to being careful -- and sometimes even that is not good enough!
I have a question:
What is the procedure, after having bought a coupon for a prepaid cab at the Sahar international airport.
Any one could panic as soon as you exit the security area by looking at the touts.
A little detail would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
@anonyomous1 - I agreee with whatever u have said and infact if u read the post again, u will find that is one of my recommendations as well.
@anonymous2 - I haven't exactly gone to the international airport but Iam sure you can find it out from the same place where u bought the coupon. Alternatively, there will definitely be some cops standing at the exit who can help u.
very useful post. I would love to follow you on twitter.
To the Anonymous who posted on March 3,2008: You check the registration number of the cab on the slip given to you. Then you move toward the right side of the entrance. You'll be accosted by all sorts of middlemen who will take the slip from you, telling you they'll guide you to the right taxi and will proceed to move your trolley for you. AVOID them. They'll ask you money for your services and won't be satisfied with a Rs10 or Rs20 tip. They guessed I was from the Middle East, so they asked me for dinars! Even the child beggars, quote the rate! They've been trained to con, you see. And 1 Bahraini dinar equals Rs120, which is a lot of money. What I normally do is, I collect my prepaid cab slip, move to the right where there are queues of taxis. Ignoring these men, I look for the number plate mentioned in the slip and place the baggage in the cab myself (so that the cab driver doesn't fleece you for moving your stuff). Whatever you do, do not give any money to the children near the airport exit!
I cant believe this has already happened to so many people. The same thing happened with me today.I didnt take prepaid taxi coz there was lots of rush. There were few taxi drivers near the queue who were shouting so i just sat in one of them. There were 2 guys sitting in the car. The driver and other person who had a receipt book with him. He asked me for the fair but i said i'll pay only after we reach the destination. On which he replied its also a prepaid taxi so i have to pay first. I asked him the fair and he said its 900rs so he gave me receipt and 100rs note folded inside it. I took the receipt and 100rs note and then handed him the 1000rs note. After giving him the money i just tucked my wallet back in my pocket and saw this guy holding a 100rs note in his hand and he said sir you gave me just 100rs. I was confused for a moment and didnt understand anything. I felt it was my mistake and checked my wallet again... I didnt have money so i told him i'll take money from atm and give it to you. he said he wanted to fill his tank n needed the money. So he asked me to sit in another taxi. So i just picked up my bag and sat in the other taxi. It was then when i realised i was conned by those guys... i took mobile no. of the other taxi driver... but i dont think it might help...
@Siddheart - Really sad to hear ur story. Can't believe this racket is still going on. I guess best u can do right now is share ur story with as many of ur friends/family so that they can avoid a similar fate.
Twice this happened to me. First Time "Dilli se hoon thok doonga ek minute main paise de...." act very very sure. Gave him 20 bucks too for him not denying much. Guy was so scared he forgot to take his 100 also. Gave that back to him.
2nd Time haan bhai "yeh pehle bhi kar chuke hu, chashma pehna hai maine iska matlab nahin hai ki haath jeb se nahin nikal sakte"
POINT IS THE TOUT THE GUY WHO TAKES YOU IS NOT THE SCARED GUY BUT THE TAXIGUY IS, SO SCARE HIM BY MENTIONING COPS AND LICENSE PLATE.
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