Bengaluru taxi scam: Woman pays ₹3,000 for ₹450 ride

In a disturbing incident highlighting the perils of taxi scams in Bengaluru, a woman was coerced into paying ₹3,000 for a ride that was initially quoted at ₹450. After landing at Bengaluru airport around 10:30 pm, she was approached by a seemingly friendly man offering a direct ride to her PG for ₹450, an offer she reluctantly accepted despite initial skepticism.

Also read: Government issues notices to Ola, Uber over alleged pricing disparities

The ordeal began when another man arrived in a car, and the journey took a sinister turn as they deviated from main routes, demanded payment for tolls and fuel, and even forced her to pay for petrol. The situation escalated with the men smoking and playing loud music, creating an intimidating environment.

At a deserted location, they introduced a third man, claiming he would complete the journey, and demanded an OTP for a supposed cab app bill amounting to ₹3,000. When she protested, her phone was snatched, and the original contact details were deleted.

A new Uber cab eventually arrived, and though still far from her destination, the driver seemed trustworthy and safely transported her to her PG. This harrowing experience was shared by the woman on Reddit, serving as a cautionary tale for others in Bengaluru.