Beware of taxi scam in Bengaluru! “A replica of the Uber app” A man uncovers a new taxi scam at the airport

A Bengaluru resident shared a cautionary tale about a new scam targeting passengers at Kempegowda International Airport. The incident, which occurred on December 16, involved a fraudulent app designed to mimic Uber’s interface, resulting in unsuspecting travelers being charged significant overcharges.

In a social media post on X, user Mahesh narrated his experience with a taxi driver who used an app called Blumeter. This app is very similar to Uber, allowing the driver to start and end a trip while inflating the fare by over Rs 1,000, which the driver claimed was due to GST charges.

When Mahesh asked for a receipt, the driver stated that the billing system was “broken” and promised to email the invoice the following month. However, the driver did not collect Mahesh’s email or phone number, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the promise.

“What a new and innovative scam by BLRAirport Taxi today. This guy showed me a replica of the @Uber app when he started and ended the trip with an additional amount of Rs 1000. He said the extra amount is because of GST and when I asked for the bill he said I I will get it next month. Very cute. I am very impressed,” Mahesh wrote in his post.

He detailed the mechanics of the scam, explaining how he used the Blumeter app to build credibility by simulating Uber jobs. After starting a trip, drivers can end it on the app, offering a much higher fare. When drivers encounter a lack of a proper bill, they often claim that the system is faulty.

Mahesh’s post included a photo of the taxi driver, which sparked numerous responses from others who have been subjected to similar scams. “Literally, this exact thing happened to me just today,” one user shared. “The guy didn’t even want my Uber OTP at first, and when I asked him to enter it, I could clearly see he didn’t do anything with it.”

“New scams are emerging every day in India,” another commented, while a third user recounted being overcharged around Rs 800 for an official airport taxi without any explanation.

Mahesh’s experience serves as a reminder to commuters to remain vigilant and proactive when using taxi services in busy transport hubs.