A taxi driver has been arrested for allegedly duping a US national of USD1,294 (more than Rs 90,000), police said on Monday.
George Vanmeter landed at the IGI airport on October 18. The driver and his accomplice convinced the US national that there was a shutdown in the city due to festivals.
The 45-year-old driver Ram Preet, a resident of Geeta Colony, and his accomplices even took him to a fake travel agency where the made him re-book his tour plan.
Vanmeter in his complaint alleged that the taxi driver offered to take him to a hotel in Paharganj, where he had a booking, but later stopped near a road blocked by police barricades.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Eish Singhal said, “He told the tourist that the roads are closed due to the festive season and took him to a fake tour agency in Connaught Place. The staff there told him that the city was closed and even connected him to a ‘representative’ of the hotel in Paharganj who told him that the property was closed.”
Vanmeter then boarded an auto-rickshaw as he was not convinced by Ram Preet but the auto driver reiterated that there was a shutdown in the city.
“The accused then took the tourist to another fake tour agency where the staff helped the man book hotels in Jaipur and Agra. He paid them the money and went to Agra,” police said.
The fraud came to light after he reached Agra and called the hotel in Delhi to ask for a refund.
Police have arrested the taxi driver and filed a case of cheating against him.