Bengaluru: Taxi drivers in Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) are using fake apps that mimic ride-hailing platforms and generate inflated fares, passengers claim.
A passenger traveling from the airport to Malleswaram earlier this month paid Rs 400 more than the fee shown on the application.
“I clearly remember booking the cab for around Rs 720 on Rapido. The driver’s phone showed Rs 1,110,” said 38-year-old Prateek N.
“He claimed that it was due to the increased parking fee at the airport and traffic on the way that the total fare had increased. As I was in a hurry, I did not argue with the driver and paid the amount. But later, when I checked the app, it showed the original amount.”
While BIAL, the airport operator, encourages passengers to opt for one of its eight authorized taxi partners (OLA, Uber, Uber Black, Namma Yatri, Quick Ride, WTI Cabs, Airport Taxi and Blr Airport Taxi), drivers have also pointed out similar concerns with some of these platforms.
Another passenger traveling from the airport to Electronics City last month booked an Uber cab for Rs 1,330, but the driver claimed the total fare was over Rs 2,000.
The passenger claimed fraud after noticing inconsistencies on the driver’s phone screen.
While the scam was first reported last year, it has resurfaced since April. Users shared similar cases on X.
“There are several drivers who are pushing this scam,” said G Narayanaswamy, president, Karnataka Chalakara Okkuta.
“How it works is that they will book a ride on any regular app, start it with the OTP and simultaneously, they will also start the ride on a second app which shows double fares.
“These fake apps look almost identical to Uber and Rapido. Some also use screenshots that show high fares.”
He said the issue had come to the union’s attention in recent weeks and had warned drivers not to use such platforms.
It’s not just limited to the airport: Rapido
A spokesman for Rapido said the company had received complaints about similar situations and that the problem was not limited to the airport.
“When it came to our attention, we investigated the matter, refunded the extra amount to the customer and also took strict action against the driver,” the spokesperson said, asking passengers to go by what the Rapido app shows on their phone.
While Uber did not say whether it had received similar complaints, a spokesperson said riders can call for 24×7 helpline support and get a response in less than 30 seconds for any fare discrepancy at the end of the ride.
