No matter where you are in India, if you are a traveller who is exploring a new place, you need to be careful about taking autorickshaws and cab rides. Because amongst honest drivers, there will always be a handful of cunning drivers who will try to cheat their way into making more money. Either their metre will be faulty or they’ll ask for double the amount for the ride.
Here is an example. A travel vlogger from Bangladesh was in Bengaluru with his girlfriend. They were on their way to Bangalore Palace via an autorickshaw. When it was time to pay the driver, the guy handed him a Rs 500 note. The driver quickly hid the note under his sleeve and swapped it with a Rs 100 note, making it seem like the vlogger only paid him Rs 100 instead of Rs 500.
The vlogger wasn’t paying much attention and when he saw the Rs 100 note on the driver’s hand, he thought he was the one who made a mistake. He took the Rs 100 note from him and gave him another Rs 500. Thanks to his camera, this entire incident was captured. He realised he was scammed when he was editing the video later.
A snippet from the video was uploaded by a user on social media who tagged Bengaluru Police and demanded action.
Bangladeshi blogger and his girlfriend were traveling – "Bengaluru Palace". A local auto driver cheated them. This is how we treat foreigners ?? please take action. https://t.co/mdhXwqRp9h @CPBlr @BlrCityPolice@DCPWestBCP #Bangalore #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/WIuf29KyqJ
— Mrityunjay Sardar (@VloggerCalcutta) September 5, 2023
Here is the original video the vlogger uploaded on YouTube.
Thankfully, the police took cognisance of this and the driver was arrested by Sadashivnagar Traffic Police Station.
ಆಟೋ ಚಾಲಕನನ್ನು ಮುಂದಿನ ಕ್ರಮಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಸದಾಶಿವನಗರ ಕಾನೂನು ಸುವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಠಾಣೆಗೆ ಒಪ್ಪಿಸಿರುತ್ತದೆ. pic.twitter.com/vPh6UkI3Iy
— ಸದಾಶಿವನಗರ ಸಂಚಾರ ಠಾಣೆ – SADASHIVANAGAR TRAFFIC PS (@ssnagartrfps) September 7, 2023
Incidents like this one have been happening for years and many, who have been victims of such scams, shared their experiences too. Have a look:
It happened with me also when I took auto from satellite bus stand Mysore road to RR nagar Bengaluru
— Kan (@Its_kt1) September 12, 2023
Happened with my parents in Bangalore near Belandur a couple of months ago. Very unsafe feeling!
— Sriram K R (@srirraja) September 13, 2023
And then they wonder why people don’t want to use auto
— Vyas_the_great (@PonnuriVyas) September 12, 2023
Police should suspend the license and get Hefty fine If he is doing this what else he might be up to to cheat #bangalorepolice
— psubbarao (@psubbarao) September 12, 2023
This a popular cheating trick by Bengaluru autos and cabbies.. had once gotten a cab driver caught on airport toll cctv with similar note exchange scam. Sadly police are well aware and will leave them with temporary action n they go back to looting next day.
— Vivek (@arightbrainer) September 12, 2023
Be careful people. There are cheats everywhere!