Bengaluru Airport Travellers Beware: New Scam Targets Passengers Taking Cabs To KIA

A tech professional in Bengaluru has recently uncovered a new scam orchestrated by certain cab drivers who frequently transport passengers to the airport.

He cautioned travellers, especially women, to stay vigilant when using airport cabs, as drivers may demand additional money through a devious scheme.

Photo Credit: PTI

How the Scam Operates

The techie, Shivam Sourav Jha, shared his experience on X, writing: "So folks, here is a new scam going on in Bengaluru by our beloved cab drivers when going to the airport (with girls, especially). They stop vehicles midway citing no fuel and ask you to pay at the petrol pump, saying 1100 is shown, but I would need only 1000."

He added that the driver refused to continue the journey to the airport unless he paid at the petrol station.

"If you refuse to pay, they would say I won't move, it's midway your flight will be missed, so you pay. They take the shortcut from the inner road from that point avoiding the toll," he further explained.

By taking this alternative route, the cab drivers avoid paying the airport toll fee but still extract an equivalent amount from passengers by making them pay at petrol stations.

Shivam mentioned, "if you refuse to pay, they would say I won't move, it's midway your flight will be missed, so you pay. They take the shortcut from the inner road from that point avoiding the toll."

He noted that his experience was with a Rapido ride and tagged various cab aggregators, urging them to be aware of this new scam.

Several users responded, sharing similar encounters with cab drivers in Bengaluru. One user commented, "It happened to me also. But I highly recommend using the airport bus. Just book a cab till the nearest bus stand. But yes, this issue needs to be addressed."

Another user wrote, "Just on Saturday I took a cab, and he took the inner road even though I asked repeatedly to take the toll one. And that road is completely isolated and not even proper street lights are there. Completely was on alert for that whole road till reaching the airport."