Partygoers have been subject to a new taxi scam recently, with most reports coming from Lan Kwai Fong and Wan Chai. The victims have typically been foreigners who have been drinking in the popular clubbing districts, most likely targeted for their probable inebriation, deep pockets and language barrier.
The taxi drivers embroiled in the scam are exploiting a flaw in the design of the Hong Kong taxi cab – if the window is slightly rolled down when the door shuts, it hits the joint in the door and smashes. Normally, taxi drivers remind their passengers not to slam the door when the window is rolled down, specifically to avoid this from happening.
However, some drivers are using this loophole to their advantage by convincing passengers it is their fault for slamming the door too hard and demanding reimbursement for the repairs. While the repair of this should cost around only HKD $300 and take half an hour to fix, the drivers have apparently swindled up to HKD $2000 out of passengers, according to EJ Insight.
While this is an acknowledged scam, the passengers have typically been asked to cough up the cost of damage by police officers because there are often no witnesses present. A police officer said that the only thing they can do in such cases is to mediate and prevent any altercations.
Photo: Annette Chan
