Cyber Crime
Bengaluru Man Exposes New Taxi Scam Using Fake Uber App to Overcharge Passengers
In a shocking revelation, a Bengaluru man has exposed a crafty new scam where taxi drivers use a fake app identical to Uber to dupe unsuspecting passengers. Mahesh Suthar, who shared his ordeal on social media platform X, described how he was almost swindled out of Rs 1,000 by a taxi driver at Bengaluru airport.
Mahesh recounted that the driver used an app called Blumeter, a near-perfect replica of Uber, to “start” the trip as soon as he boarded the vehicle. However, upon reaching his destination, Mahesh was stunned when the driver demanded an extra Rs 1,000, falsely claiming it was due to GST charges. When asked for a bill, the driver insisted that the bill would be emailed “next month,” refusing to provide any proof on the spot.
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Sharing a photo of the driver and screenshots of the app, Mahesh wrote: “This guy showed me what looked like the Uber app to start and end the trip, but with Rs 1,000 extra baked in. He said it was because of GST and when I asked for a bill, he told me I’d get it next month. So cute.”
Explaining the scam further, Mahesh revealed that the Blumeter app allows drivers to manipulate fares by adding their own surge pricing. The app mimics Uber’s interface to build credibility, but the inflated fares leave passengers with no legitimate bill.
Several users responded to Mahesh’s post, claiming they had encountered similar scams in other cities like Delhi and Mumbai. One user commented: “Literally the same thing happened to me today. The driver didn’t even ask for the Uber OTP and pretended to start the trip, showing me a screenshot with an inflated fare at the end.”
Others pointed out that official airport taxis in Bengaluru operate on fixed meters and not apps, raising questions about why passengers were being lured into such scams.
As incidents of app-based taxi fraud rise across Indian cities, this revelation serves as a warning to travelers. Passengers are advised to verify trip details, ensure drivers use official apps, and insist on legitimate receipts to avoid falling prey to such scams.
