MEL taxi scam

[Happy Dude]

So how do they get paid?

It appears by bank transfer, for an amount well in excess of what the paxs' app said, after the drivers claim that the app/PIN isn't working. It's more a variation on the touts in the terminal to touts now in the pickup area and pretending to be rideshare drivers and convincing pax to cancel legit fares.

 

[NoName]

So what happens when the PAX protests and takes a few photos as evidence of what’s going on? If it weren’t for the inconvenience factor I would actually love to be picked up by one of these scumbags to see what they try on.

 

[VPS]

The Uber racket at Melbourne Airport scamming travellers

Within minutes of getting into the stranger’s car and heading towards her home, Jo Case says she knew in her bones that something was wrong.

www.theage.com.au

So just checking that you aren't given the number plate of the car just the pin code.

 

[Austman]

The Uber racket at Melbourne Airport scamming travellers

Within minutes of getting into the stranger’s car and heading towards her home, Jo Case says she knew in her bones that something was wrong.

www.theage.com.au

So just checking that you aren't given the number plate of the car just the pin code.

You only get the PIN. Then you take the next car the Uber Marshal tells you to.

 

[Happy Dude]

You only get the PIN. Then you take the next car the Uber Marshal tells you to.

There's the chink in the system that creates the opportunity for the scammers. No marshalls are needed at Canberra, for example. You identify your ride by the number plate and give the driver the PIN.

I haven't used Uber at MEL, only Didi in November, and we identified our ride by the number plate. No marshall or prepaid ticket.

 

[Brissy1]

Who would ever get into a "uber" where its number plate doesn't match the booking, unbelievable.

 

[VPS]

Who would ever get into a "uber" where its number plate doesn't match the booking, unbelievable.

but the issue at Melbourne airport as above is you are not given the number plate only the PIN but you should check the PIN before you get in the car

 

[Brissy1]

but the issue at Melbourne airport as above is you are not given the number plate only the PIN but you should check the PIN before you get in the car

Yes sorry I wasn't up to date, maybe pin only was a backward step.

 

[nancypants]

Isn’t it less checking the pin and more giving the next uber cab in the rank your pin and then they get your route etc. There’s no choice really involved either for rider or driver

The issue which was reportedly several months ago is drivers either not being legit uber drivers at all, or claiming the pin isn’t working having already driven off, and riders being extorted for cash or similar

 

[Aeryn]

When you give the pin they confirm your name and destination, dont let them start driving until this is confirmed.

 

[dajop]

Yes sorry I wasn't up to date, maybe pin only was a backward step.

It is there for efficiency, uber operates my like a cab now. Previously it was terribly inefficient, people waiting for specific vehicles to turn up from the holding area to collect them .. 10-15min waits and a complete mess (which it is with DiDi).

But it could be easily solved by having a number plate validation, you type in or submit an image of number plate before you get in to validate that the vehicle is live and active on the uber platform.

 

[SeaWolf]

The other solution was the one I saw at Denpasar airport with GoJek. They have a parking area and the drivers get out of their cars and wait at that GoJek lounge. When you arrive the staff summon the next driver, check that the PIN has paired you up successfully and then the driver helps you with your luggage and you walk over to the parked car.

The layout at Melbourne might mean that wouldn't work, but I think the Uber marshals that are there could be a lot more proactive about helping riders and checking that everything is working properly and that passengers and drivers are getting paired successfully. Just a bit more effort could mean that a few of the scammers start getting spotted quickly and that's likely to scare off others.

As a few others have mentioned though, you can also pick any other ride type (including Uber Green, which costs the same) or use Didi and it'll do the traditional system of assigning you a car with a number plate.

 

[MikeG]

Typical. And why not instead just get rid of the touts?

For what it’s worth, I managed to get from MEL to Fitzroy for $41 the other day with Didi, Friday night even. Really don’t understand why anyone would bother with those stupid cabs but each to their own.

Do DiDi pickup from the curb or do you need to exit the airport precinct?

 

[Rich]

Do DiDi pickup from the curb or do you need to exit the airport precinct?

They go to pick up areas but I find it works best to head to the T4 pick up area up the escalators.

 

[MikeG]

Last time I was at MEL the only rideshare you could use was Uber Black, otherwise you had to walk down to extremities of the airport precinct and order a normal Uber.

 

[dajop]

Last time I was at MEL the only rideshare you could use was Uber Black, otherwise you had to walk down to extremities of the airport precinct and order a normal Uber.

When was that?

 

[Q Class Plebeian]

When was that?

Late late last night T4 on JQ, as usual heard the PA broadcast don't accept rides etc, picked up the luggage and there he was inside the terminal"Taxi Sir".
My understanding is most of the touts either have a taxi or uber job and are moonlighting or are working for the owner of the taxi or uber service to generate extra revenue.
Clearly, the Victorian state government who has the responsibility for enforcement has neither the funding nor the interest to stop it ( there are no votes in it). Its managed the same way as the trams , occasional patrols, occasional blitz and ignored most of the time..

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Why stop, when the "touts" are on "fed gov land" tho leased to APAC, not to mention, security on that is supposed to be the AFP, who probably park their vans out the front and go and do patrols inside, but dont touch the touts/taxi wallah...
I have confronted the specacled South Asian (Ind88an) man, but he didnt bat an eyelid.
Its very most likely, his smartphone he holds will call the real driver to come along, as he would need to stand there to try and net as many as possible.
There is also probably a 2nd person, to "guide" the gullible, if that wallah has to stand there, and the taxi driver cant leave his taxi.
If those guys are not spoken to by someone in authority, (and those in authority probably know who the offenders are), they will keep doing it.
Wouldnt be surprised if some of them hold the names of real pax...
Off T: Pity about the Sunshine, Eastern and Peninsula Express tho, how long will that one last, have tried both, and have to say, yes, they are expensive, half the fare of the taxis, but still, avoids the riff raff.
How long will it run before the new owner of Skybus pull the plug.On T.

 

[Q Class Plebeian]

Why stop, when the "touts" are on "fed gov land" tho leased to APAC, not to mention, security on that is supposed to be the AFP, who probably park their vans out the front and go and do patrols inside, but dont touch the touts/taxi wallah...
I have confronted the specacled South Asian (Ind88an) man, but he didnt bat an eyelid.
Its very most likely, his smartphone he holds will call the real driver to come along, as he would need to stand there to try and net as many as possible.
There is also probably a 2nd person, to "guide" the gullible, if that wallah has to stand there, and the taxi driver cant leave his taxi.
If those guys are not spoken to by someone in authority, (and those in authority probably know who the offenders are), they will keep doing it.
Wouldnt be surprised if some of them hold the names of real pax...
Off T: Pity about the Sunshine, Eastern and Peninsula Express tho, how long will that one last, have tried both, and have to say, yes, they are expensive, half the fare of the taxis, but still, avoids the riff raff.
How long will it run before the new owner of Skybus pull the plug.On T.

The CPVI Act (Victoria) 2019 was introduced in response to increased levels of unsociable behaviour and allegations of harassment by touters, mainly at Melbourne Airport. There are periodic warning announcements on the airport PA and the odd crackdown by the Victorian Commercial Passenger Vehicles Enforcement officers. The AFP has other things to worry about and to my knowledge there is no Commonwealth law on touts.The way our federation operates is small and rather annoying stuff like this is a State issue
Effectively its matter of jurisdiction for the Victorian State Government.The State government here is struggling with the overall crime rate and their reaction to the touts is a slow knee jerk at best..They use undercover enforcement officers at times , who like the uncover enforcement officers on the trams stand out like sore thumbs.The touts are better funded and more organised.
I cant comment on the Skybus as I only use it for getting to the city.It is a cheaper and fairly efficient alternative.

 

[SeaWolf]

Safe Transport Victoria (which absorbed VCPV) has had crackdowns in the past:

Tackling Touting At Melbourne Airport | Safe Transport Victoria

Fines of up to $2,181 handed out to touts at Melbourne Airport show how serious CPVV is about tackling touting.

safetransport.vic.gov.au

But they seem to be sporadic. They have a blitz for a while and then stop. What they really should be doing is selecting a few days at random each month to hit the airport and rotating the people doing it, perhaps even getting in labour hire people or borrowing people from other departments for the day.