A new online fraud targeting taxi drivers has been reported in Thiruvananthapuram, with scammers using fake ride bookings and fraudulent bank messages to convince drivers to return money they never received.
A taxi driver from Karikkakom has reported losing Rs 3,999 in the scam.
The fraudsters reportedly book a ride through a prominent ride-hailing app and claim they are arranging it for someone else. They then promise to pay the fare before the ride begins.
The driver receives a fake message designed to look like a bank notification. It falsely shows that a higher amount has been credited to the driver’s account.
However, no money is actually transferred. The scammers then ask the driver to return the supposed excess amount after deducting the driver’s fee. They send a QR code through WhatsApp and ask the driver to make the payment.
Once the driver transfers the money, the amount is moved to different bank accounts, making it harder to trace.
The scam came to the attention of authorities after the affected driver filed a complaint through the National Cybercrime Registration Portal (NCRP).
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