Re: [Debconf-discuss] More questions regarding what to bring for DebConf10 (and other stuff)
David Smith <sidicas2@gmail.com> writes:
> No, not really.. Though I'll admit my knowledge of NYC is limited, I
> have been tricked into giving people money in the streets before.. Some
> guy convinced me he was a Taxi driver on a smoke (pointed down the
> street to a Taxi waiting) and said I could buy a Metro Card off of him
> and take me wherever I needed to go... I had just came out of Penn
> Station with a backpack and pulling my luggage.. Plenty of people around
> and they didn't seem to pay any attention to him or me so it seemed
> pretty normal.. So yea, he took my money for a Metro card, walked over
> to where the Taxi was but then I saw he wasn't the driver.. He then
> hopped in and took the ride out of there himself and waved from the
> window.. Kind of funny in retrospect, but yea, I tend to be more
> cautious because things like that tend to find me pretty easily...
This kind of scam is common everywhere I've travelled, enough so that
airports often have announcements about it. In general: don't accept
transportation from someone who approaches you offering transportation.
Go to the dedicated taxi area if there is one to catch a taxi, or approach
a clearly labelled and licensed taxi (the license is generally in the
window) if you're on the street. (Or call the taxi company and request a
cab.) And taxi drivers will not ask to be paid in advance.
--
Russ Allbery (rra@debian.org) <http://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/>
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