NRI Businessman Scammed by Taxi Driver at Mumbai Airport
NRI Businessman Scammed by Taxi Driver at Mumbai Airport
An NRI businessman from Australia, D Vijay, was scammed by a taxi driver at Mumbai’s international airport on December 15. Vijay, visiting India after three years for a family gathering, was searching for a cab around midnight when a driver named Vinod Goswami approached him.
Instead of using the airport’s prepaid taxi counters, Vijay chose Goswami, as they had already spoken. During the short 10-minute ride to a hotel in Vile Parle, Goswami used a fake app to show an inflated fare of Rs 2,800. Unaware of the actual fare, Vijay paid the amount, fearing confrontation.
After reaching the hotel, Vijay discussed the fare with the manager and learned that the hotel’s pickup service cost only Rs 700. Realizing he had been scammed, Vijay filed an email complaint with the Sahar police after returning to Nagpur.
Quick Police Action
Based on the car details and phone number Goswami provided, the police arrested him within 12 hours. They also seized his vehicle. The police discovered that Goswami had asked Vijay to contact him for future rides, which helped confirm his identity.
Vijay shared his experience, warning that fake apps resembling Ola and Uber are being used to deceive passengers. He also suggested better signage and properly staffed help desks at Mumbai airport to assist travelers.
Other Similar Incidents
The police revealed that such scams are common, especially during late-night and early-morning hours. Two days after Vijay’s case, on December 17, a 19-year-old student from Sangli, Vishwajeet Patil, was robbed of Rs 3,500 by an autorickshaw driver named Ritesh Kadam. The police tracked Kadam using RTO records and arrested him, seizing his vehicle.
According to the police, many victims don’t report such incidents, encouraging drivers to continue these scams. Following these arrests, the Sahar police increased surveillance at the airport and took action against nine fraudulent drivers, seizing their vehicles.
Both Vijay and Patil’s cases highlight the need for better protections for travelers at the city’s airports.
