BEWARE: New taxi modus targets tourists at NAIA 3

Netizen Andy Maluche posted what appears to be a new taxi “rip off” scheme he experienced at the Ninoy Aquino National Airport Terminal (NAIA) 3.

There are yellow taxis at NAIA known more commonly as “airport taxis.” Maluche discovered why not all yellow taxis fall in line to get passengers. There are some which are parked opposite of the line and its drivers pretending to fix something with the vehicle. As it turned out, these are the taxis with rigged meters targeted to victimize tourists.

Maluche was waiting in line and when he reached the front, he was directed where to ride. When he got into the taxi with plate number TXS-429, the driver was surprised Maluche could speak Tagalog (since Maluche looked like a foreigner). Maluche immediately noticed the driver stuck his ID into a slit in the aircon vent so Maluche couldn’t read it. After driving for just few minutes, the meter had already reached P200. Maluche was surprised as they weren’t even on EDSA yet.

Maluche once again spoke to the driver in Tagalog and pointed out the P200 they were running on at the moment would actually be the cost of the whole trip. The driver didn’t even argue and said Maluche could just pay the P200 and switched off the meter.

Maluche could tell the driver was nervous, perhaps knowing that Maluche was on to his scheme. But to spare other commuters from this scam, Maluche posted the driver’s details as best as he could remember. It also became apparent that the guy directing the taxi queue at the airport was in kahoots with the drivers since he was the one who told Maluche to take the “special” cab.