Beware of conmen, taxi drivers told
SIBU: Taxi operators here are urged to take precautions when picking up passengers to avoid falling prey to conmen.
Taxi associations here gave this advice following disclosure in the recent media report of a taxi driver cheated of RM100 and taxi fare.
According to the report, the suspect had told the victim surnamed Law, to take him to a bank at Central Road where he was told to wait inside the taxi, while waiting for him (suspect) to do his business there.
Moments later, the suspect emerged from the bank and told the victim that he could not withdraw money from the bank’s ATM because he left his wallet in his hotel room, and asked the victim to lend him RM100 with the promise to return the amount together with the taxi fare if he drove him back to the hotel to get his wallet.
But he failed to return so the taxi driver lodged a police report on Monday.
Persatuan Pemilik Teksi Bumiputera Sibu chairman Collin Tinting urged taxi drivers to refuse any such request from suspicious characters.
He also heard that several of his friends had nearly fallen victims to this individual.
“They related to me how this individual requested them to drive to a bank and requested to borrow some money and would return the sum after withdrawing from the bank.
“Fortunately, my friends were alert and did not fall for the trick,” Collin said.
He believed the con job was carried out by the same person as the modus operandi was the same.
Sibu Taxi Owners’ Association secretary Robert Angkah advised cabbies to always be on alert and not pick up passengers they do not feel comfortable with or are suspicious of.
“Do not be too hasty in picking up passengers at the expense of letting your guard down,” he said.
Robert also suggested that taxi drivers install close- circuit televisions (CCTVs) inside their cars.
“In fact, some drivers had already installed the device,” he said, adding that the association has 160 members.