Mumbai Airport Scam: Cabbie overcharges NRI Rs 2,800 for 10-minute cab ride
Mumbai Airport Scam: Cabbie overcharges NRI Rs 2,800 for 10-minute cab ride
The news comes as a rude shock that an NRI who arrived at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport was overcharged a whopping Rs 2,800 for a short 10-minute cab ride to Vile Parle.
This exposed yet another instance of travel scams targeting unsuspecting passengers. The incident occurred on December 15 and led to the swift arrest of the taxi driver involved.
The victim, D Vijay, a native of Nagpur and a resident of Australia landed at CSMT International Airport around midnight.
As he made his exit from the terminal, taxi driver Vinod Goswami approached him and convinced him to use his service. Goswami reportedly used a fake app to display an inflated fare, duping Vijay into agreeing to the exorbitant ride cost.
Regardless passing by the airport’ pre-paid cab counter, Vijay chose to go with Goswami. Upon reaching his hotel, he grew suspicious after learning from the staff that their pick-up service costs only
Rs 700.
Realizing he had been scammed, Vijay emailed the Sahar Police Station, providing details of the transaction and the driver’s mobile number.
Acting swiftly, tracked Goswami within 12 hours of the complaint.
They arrested him and seized his vehicle as evidence.
Goswami had even given Vijay his contact number, suggesting he could be reached for future rides—likely an attempt to build trust and avoid immediate suspicion.
This isn’t the first time such an incident has been reported at Mumbai’s international airport. Earlier in December, the Mumbai Police arrested an auto-rickshaw driver for overcharging a 19-year-old passenger from Sangli, who had just returned from the United States. These cases highlight the recurring issue of overcharging travellers, particularly those arriving from international destinations.
The Sahar Police have urged passengers to remain vigilant and use official channels like pre-paid counters or trusted ride-hailing apps to avoid falling victim to scams. They have also reiterated the importance of reporting such incidents to ensure swift action.
The swift resolution of this case underscores the Mumbai Police’s commitment to addressing traveller grievances, but it also calls for increased measures to prevent such scams in the first place.
Tips for Travelers
Use Pre-Paid Cab Services: Always opt for the pre-paid counters at airports for fixed and reasonable fares.
Verify Apps and Drivers: Ensure the apps and drivers you use are legitimate and affiliated with recognized platforms.
News Edit KV Raman
