Taxi driver recounts festive-season bilking scam involving bogus parcel and betting-shop stop
- Perry Richardson
- 58 minutes ago
- 2 min read
A London cab driver has described how a seemingly routine fare near Oxford Street escalated into a textbook bilking incident, using a heavy-looking cardboard box and a betting-shop diversion to avoid paying the fare. The account has prompted fresh reminders to drivers to maintain vigilance as the festive season approaches.
The incident, recalled by cabbie and Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) Senior Executive Paul Kirby while working a Saturday shift at the Marble Arch end of Oxford Street, began when he was flagged down by a well-spoken man carrying a large box.
The destination was Dalston and the journey initially appeared uneventful. The passenger was talkative and knowledgeable about the trade, speaking confidently about his supposed family links to taxi drivers. The driver said this familiarity lowered his guard.
As the cab neared the destination, the passenger asked for a quick stop at a nearby bookmakers so he could collect winnings. The shop sat on a corner with two entrances, and the passenger asked the cabbie to wait while he ran inside. Before exiting the cab, he asked the driver not to drive off with his “expensive new purchase”, pointing to the sizeable box he had left on the back seat.
Driver’s account highlights renewed concerns over distraction tactics used by opportunistic fare dodgers
After around fifteen minutes with no sign of the man returning, Kirby entered the shop only to find no trace of him. Given the two-door layout of the premises, it became clear the passenger had exited through the opposite side. When the driver returned to the cab and checked the box, he discovered it was empty apart from fresh air. The weighty thud he had heard earlier was part of the deception, intended to convince him that the parcel contained something valuable.
The cabbie said the scam mirrored another incident from years earlier at a location close to a former electronics store, suggesting the offender may have been rehearsed in the technique. The combination of confident conversation, credible knowledge of the trade and a realistic-looking prop was enough to make the scam convincing.
The account comes at a time when drivers traditionally experience an uptick in bilking attempts, often linked to higher seasonal footfall, late-night travel and opportunistic behaviour. Several taxi groups have warned members to remain alert to passengers requesting brief stops, particularly where parcels, shopping bags or supposed high-value items are involved.
Despite the financial loss, Kirby said the experience served as a reminder of how easily distraction techniques can be deployed. He added that the scammer’s confidence suggested this was unlikely to have been his first attempt.
