A Taxi driver in Delhi duped a US citizen as soon as he was landed in the Indian capital. The cabbie told the US Man that city is being shut down due to the festival and snatched over ₹90,000 from him.
George Vanmeter, the US citizen landed in Delhi on October 18th. He booked a cab from the airport to Paharganj where he had booked his stay in the hotel. On the way, the driver identified as Ram Preet tried to convinced Vanmeter that city is shut down due to the festival.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Eish Singhal said:
“He told the tourist that the roads are closed due to the festive season and took him to a fake tour agency in Connaught Place. The staff there told him that the city was closed and even connected him to a ‘representative’ of the hotel in Paharganj who told him that the property was closed.”
Unconvinced Vanmeter took an auto-rickshaw and asked him to drop the same location where he has booke a hotel. The driver said the same thing that the city is closed due to the festival and offered him help. The auto driver then took him to Gole Market to what he claimed was a travel agency.
At the fake travel agency, he had to rebook his entire tour package to Agra and Jaipur. He paid them the money and went to Agra.
The complete incident came in light after the tourist called up at Paharganj hotel and asked for the refund. The US Man then realized of being cheated. Vanmeter then filed a police complaint in Delhi against the cab driver and all involved.
Police have arrested the cab driver and filed a case of cheating against him while the others accused are absconding.
