Auto-Rickshaw Emotional Scam Surfaces In Bengaluru, Raises Concerns

Bengaluru, known for its bustling auto-rickshaw scene, now faces a new Auto-Rickshaw Scam challenge: emotional scams targeting passengers’.  Recently highlighted on the ‘Bangalore’ subreddit, this tactic has sparked discussions among locals who’ve encountered similar manipulative tactics.

In a poignant post titled “Beware: Emotional scam by auto drivers,” recounted multiple encounters where auto-rickshaw drivers feigned distressing personal situations. “Happened with me 4 times in the last 1 month,” they shared. “You board an auto and suddenly the auto-driver starts crying and saying things like ‘My wife is in the hospital and I don’t have money for treatment’, ‘My wife is having twins and we don’t have money to raise them’, ‘My mother is dying in hospital and I don’t have money to treat her’.”

Beware: Emotional scam by auto drivers
byu/smart_zombie2 inbangalore

At first, the user felt empathy and gave money the first time they encountered the situation. However, their trust was shaken when they experienced similar requests in subsequent rides. “I initially gave money, but when it happened again in another ride, I started to doubt,” they expressed, illustrating how these fraudulent schemes diminish trust in legitimate instances of hardship.

The Reddit post gained rapid traction as others shared their own experiences. “The sad part is that they are actually reducing people’s trust on folks who are genuinely in need,” noted one commenter. Another pointed out the lack of sophistication in these scams, humorously adding, “Wife having twins and sharing the photos is happening in HSR layout area since last year. And funny thing is they all share the same set of photos! They are not smart enough to even carry out a scam.”