RIDEGURU
Driver offers to drive this couple from JFK into Manhattan, ends up being a scammer and somehow fleecing them for $470. An age-old story, but this is a particularly egregious telling...
According to Nickels, they got in the car of a man who stood in the airport entrance and offered them a cab to their hotel. Nickels, from Derby, assumed it would go on the meter and cost $50.
Instead, the pair was led to a private car park away from the taxi rank and into a minibus driven by a second man.
"He started explaining to us that there were new toll fees for going between borough and over bridges," recalled Craig. "He then told me to take me to Manhattan it was going to be $900. Me and the Mrs couldn't believe what we were hearing. I told him to pull over."
"We only had $900 total. I panicked. I had the engagement ring in the back in the bags," he said. "I knew it was supposed to be 50 or 60 dollars but I started to get scared. There were two guys and I had no idea what they were going to do.
Comments
Man... I'm sorry, but this guy really could have gotten out of this. Ok, so he was worried that they'd drive off with their bags, including an engagement ring. Why didn't he just say "Ok, I'll pay you. My wallet is in my bag in the trunk, one sec."? And then just run. I mean, what is the driver gonna do, chase them on foot?
I can totally sympathize with this couple. You're on vacation, in a foreign country, you don't really know how things work, and some nice seeming guys offers to sweep you off your feet and take care of your ride from the airport. You're tired from traveling, you have a weak moment. ANd the engagement ring being in the bag just adds to the problem.
I hate to admit it but I could see myself falling for this under the right circumstances.
Yeah. And maybe you even think you are getting a special deal. These con artists can be really charismatic sometimes and are experts at pulling one over like this.
Shoulda checked on RideGuru first :) Then they would have known those "tolls" were bogus and gotten out earlier.
Is it weird that the guy asked for $900, and they happened to have exactly $900?
I thought the same thing...
Yes... that is weird. I wonder how it really went down. Probably just coincidence tho.
Such an embarrassing representation of the US of A
There is always someone willing to buy the Brookllyn Bridge and they are a perfect match. Next story please...