In a disturbing incident at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), a woman narrowly escaped an abduction attempt after unknowingly boarding a fake Ola cab.
The victim, Nikita Malik, a doctor by profession, shared her traumatic experience on social media, highlighting how she was nearly tricked by a man pretending to be a legitimate cab driver.
It all started when Malik, who had booked a cab to return home after a late flight, was greeted by a man who introduced himself as Basavaraj. Malik, unaware that something was off, assumed the car was her ride.
However, there were several signs that should have alerted her to the danger. The car had a different number plate than expected, and the driver did not ask for the usual OTP confirmation. Instead, he suggested using Google Maps to mark her destination. When questioned about the missing OTP, he claimed the app was facing technical issues.
As the journey progressed, things became more suspicious. The driver demanded more money than the fare displayed at the time of booking. When Malik refused, he suggested switching to another car.
This raised red flags, and Malik began to fear for her safety. Realising that the cab was not the one assigned to her, she insisted that the driver take her back to the airport. However, the situation escalated when the driver ignored her requests and stopped at a petrol station, demanding an additional Rs 500 for fuel.
At this point, Malik quickly dialled the emergency helpline (112) and took a photo of the car and its number plate. She also called her family, who stayed on the phone with her, providing much-needed support and helping her stay calm during the tense situation. The Bengaluru police responded promptly, reaching the location, and arrested the fake driver, Basavaraj, before anything worse could happen.
Following her post on social media, several others shared their similar experiences, particularly related to Ola cabs in Bengaluru. One user, Anadee, recounted a similar incident where they had faced trouble while travelling with their parents.
Many others expressed their concern over the declining quality of service from cab services like Ola and Uber in the city. One user mentioned that drivers and cabs associated with these services had become unreliable, with many instances of exploitation and lack of accountability.
The incident has also raised alarms about safety measures when booking rides through online taxi services. In another related post, a woman shared a chilling story of her friend, who had booked an Ola cab in Mumbai's Thane area.
The friend received a call from someone claiming to be from the Ola call centre, but the caller seemed to know personal details like her location and phone number before the Ola app had connected her with a real driver.
These incidents point to a growing concern about the safety and security of passengers using online taxi services. The lack of proper verification and oversight by service providers has left many commuters vulnerable to such dangerous situations.
It is crucial for companies like Ola to enhance their security measures, ensuring that drivers are properly vetted and that passengers can have more confidence in their safety while using these services.
For now, the quick actions of Nikita Malik and the prompt police response saved her from a potentially life-threatening situation, but this event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of staying alert and vigilant when travelling, especially late at night or in unfamiliar situations.
Follow us
