NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Some cab drivers they've noticed a trend of random drivers posing as taxis or rideshares, and then ripping off riders.
"It's more prevalent than you could ever believe," Jim Burroh said. Burroh used to own a taxi company, and now works as an advocate for cab drivers.
He and other drivers said the scammers will use mobile payment apps, like Square or Venmo, or will request cash. Many times the fare will be much higher than average, since the rate is not displayed in an app or on a meter.
"They'll tell em it's $50 to go five miles, when it should be like $15," Burroh said. "A tourist from out of town, they don't know the cost. A tourist doesn't know they just got ripped off."
But Burroh said it isn't just a money issue, it's a safety issue too.
"It's very dangerous," he said. "It's very unsafe for somebody to get in a car with somebody who has not had a fingerprint background check, or no checks by anybody."
Drivers for taxi or rideshare companies are vetted before they get behind the wheel.
But Burroh says since the cars aren't licensed, it's difficult for the city to reign them in.
"Right now, nobody has authority," Burroh said. "The only person who can do it is Metro Police, and they're way to busy to figure that all out."
