Taxi scam in Bengaluru? How a Redditor's mother was conned into paying extra at airport

The Uber driver asked for a payment of Rs 75 extra in cash for dropping off at Bengaluru airport's T2. (Representational)

A Reddit user recounted a troubling incident where their mother was flying out of Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, Terminal 2, and had booked an Uber for the ride to the airport. The Uber driver claimed that the drop location was Terminal 1 (T1) and demanded an additional Rs 75 for dropping off at T2. The passenger ultimately paid the extra fee, suspecting it might be an honest mistake.

However, upon checking the Uber app, it was clear that the ride had been correctly booked for T2, and the extra charge appeared to be unjustified. She lodged a complaint with Uber and the difference was later refunded.

“For those of you who might be unaware, Uber shows you the list of different airlines while flying out of Bangalore and books your ride to either T1 or T2 based on the airlines you choose. On the way to the airport, the driver told my mother that the drop location is T1 and not T2. My mother knew that it wasn't T1 because firstly, her boarding pass said T2 and secondly, she had chosen the same airlines in the app as well (plus, she's travelled through T2 before so knows that the airlines operates from T2),” the user wrote explaining their mother’s ordeal.

They wondered if this was a scam or just a one off case.

“I don't know if this is a one off case or if other drivers are doing the same thing so be mindful while travelling to the airport,” they wrote in the post.

New Taxi Scam?
byu/the_jas10 inbangalore

The original post prompted other Reddit users to share their own experiences. One user mentioned booking an Ola ride to T2, and despite the app showing a lower fare, the driver insisted on cash payment or rebooking. After canceling and rebooking with cash, the final fare was still lower than initially demanded. This led to a dispute with the driver, who refused to accept the lower fare.

Another user reported facing a similar issue with Ola, where the driver took a longer route than estimated, resulting in overcharges. After follow-ups, Ola eventually refunded the difference to the passenger.

One user had a piece of advice for those cancelling app rides and going offline.

“Why cancel? That's a big mistake people make! Just book another if the driver insists on cash. There are several issues that could happen if people disregard the app,” they wrote.

One user clarified that this issue may stem from a recent change and may not be a scam after all. T2 has started operating as the international terminal since September 12th or 13th, but ride-hailing services like Uber and Ola are still relying on the older airline-based system for drop-offs.

Reddit commenters offered advice to fellow travelers. Some suggested avoiding cancellation and booking another ride if the driver insists on cash payments, as this could lead to disputes. Others recommended asking the driver to drop passengers at T1 and utilizing the free shuttle services between the terminals, subsequently filing a complaint with the ride-hailing service.

Another user had suggestions on how to handle similar situations.

“If it's feasible, ask the driver to drop you at T1 only. There are free shuttle services between the terminals, use it. Then raise a complaint to Uber/Ola that the driver dropped you at wrong location. I understand, it may not be possible for older people or people having a lot of luggage or if you are traveling with kids. But if you can do it, go ahead. They will stop the scam once they see it getting backfired,” the comment read.