Taxi Scam! Rockland Residents Warned to Beware of Unmarked Taxis

By M.C. Millman

A recent spate of unmarked taxis showing up on legitimate calls for taxi service is reportedly plaguing Monsey and Spring Valley. 

A Monsey resident spoke to Rockland Daily regarding the white car that showed up to pick up his daughter after she called a non-heimish taxi service. 

"We were suspicious immediately because usually taxies text to let you know they are here," the resident told Rockland Daily. "In this case, my daughter didn't get a text, and the name of the taxi service was not on the door of the car."

No one got in that car, and the "taxi" took off after being confronted. 

Another resident was not so lucky. After dropping off his fare, the driver of a white, unmarked car then went back to rob the house his passenger had just left. Similar incidents have also been reported by other passengers - a number of them involving a driver in a white car. 

Even the taxi drivers WhatsApp group is clamoring with reports of this nature. 

"We want to work with and take care of the community," said one such taxi driver from the taxi drivers Whatsapp group. "Those of us who drive legal taxis feel responsible and are concerned about what's going on. We don't want to see an increase in this kind of crime in areas like Monsey and Spring Valley."

When asked what a would-be passenger can do to ensure that they are riding in a legal taxi legitimately sent from the company they requested the ride from, the taxi driver suggested two things. 

"Make sure to request a legal taxi when you call base," he stresses. "The name of the company is on the outside of a legal taxi."

By getting in an unmarked taxi, a passenger is chancing that if anything happens, the taxi company will not take any responsibility for the incident. 

"In most cases," the driver shared, "the company will just say, 'We don't have a driver with that kind of unmarked car working for us. We only have legal taxis.'"

Having a confirmation text when your driver arrives is another way of assuring yourself that you have a ride from a legitimate taxi. 

Don't share any personal information with the driver either, especially if the house you left behind might become a target for theft. 

If you are at all concerned, don't get in the taxi. Another safer ride is just a phone call away.