Bengaluru man exposes fake app scam used by cab drivers to inflate fares
A Bengaluru resident claims to have uncovered a new scam where cab drivers use fake ride-hailing apps to inflate fares. The passenger discovered a driver using a counterfeit app called "TownRide" that mimicked Rapido's interface but allowed manual...
By ET Online | Updated:
AI-generated illustration for representational purposes only.
A Bengaluru resident has claimed to have uncovered a new scam involving cab drivers allegedly using fake ride-hailing apps to inflate fares. The revelation came through a viral Reddit post, where the passenger shared his experience and cautioned others to remain alert.
According to the post, the man booked a Rapido ride from Kempegowda International Airport’s Terminal 2 to Jakkur. The app displayed an estimated fare of ₹598, and the ride began normally after he verified the driver and shared the OTP. However, by the end of the trip, the driver showed a billing screen reflecting ₹758 — about ₹160 more than the estimated fare.
“The screen looked like the Rapido UI, but I felt something was off. I checked my Rapido app, and the ride was still showing as not finished,” the passenger wrote. Upon further insistence, he discovered that the driver was using a counterfeit app called “TownRide,” designed to mimic Rapido’s interface but allowing users to manually alter fares.
Screenshot of the Reddit post.
Driver confronted, accepts actual fare
“The rider was hesitant to show me his phone and upon a little push I found out that he was actually using a fake app called TownRide. It looks exactly like the Rapido interface, but the fare amount can be manually changed,” the post said.
After confronting the driver, the passenger refused to pay the inflated fare. “I raised my voice, my tone got firm, and he immediately understood he was on the wrong side. He quickly agreed to accept the actual amount that showed up on the official Rapido app, took the payment, and sped off,” he wrote.
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Online reactions to the incident
The post prompted several Reddit users to share similar experiences. One user commented, “Happened with me today but for an Uber ride. For a quick second he showed me the inflated fare and closed it. I was firm and offered to pay only what my account was showing.” Another user added, “Same thing happened with me. ₹67 became 76 on his app.”
Disclaimer: This report is based on a post shared on social media platform Reddit. The information and claims mentioned have not been independently verified by ET.
