Kolkata Cabbie Harasses American Vlogger: 'I Have Mafia Links, Will Break His Bones'

Harrowing experiences faced by foreign tourists can often tarnish a country's reputation for being tourist-friendly. Recently, an American travel vlogger named Dustin encountered a troubling incident upon his arrival in Kolkata, India. The episode, which he secretly recorded, highlights a scam involving a local taxi driver and his alleged accomplice.

Dustin shared the video on his YouTube channel under the title, "Taxi Driver in Kolkata Tried to Cheat and Threaten Me."

The Incident Unfolds

After landing in Kolkata on his first day, Dustin opted for a local taxi instead of using a ride-hailing app like Uber. He clearly informed the driver that he needed to go to Hotel Great Western on Park Street. However, instead of heading to the correct destination, the driver took him nearly 15 kilometres in the wrong direction—to a different hotel named The Western in Rajarhat.

(Disclaimer: Strong language. Viewers' discretion advised)

In the video, Dustin is heard confronting the driver: "I showed you the hotel first, we agreed to this, and then you took me to the wrong hotel." The initial fare was agreed at Rs 700, but after dropping him at the incorrect location, the driver not only refused to apologise but increased the fare. He then demanded Rs 900 to take Dustin to the correct hotel in Park Street.

Taxi driver threatens American tourist

Another man, wearing a red shirt, entered the vehicle and sat beside the original driver. While he initially seemed to mediate, he quickly escalated the situation. In Bengali, he was overheard threatening: “I have connections with the mafia. I’ll take him to a secluded place and break his bones.”

Despite the threats, Dustin stood his ground and insisted on paying only the originally agreed Rs 700. Eventually, the two men convinced him to switch to another taxi. But even then, they didn't let him go without extorting more money.

The second man demanded an additional Rs 100, citing “parking and petrol”—bringing the total Dustin was forced to pay to Rs 800. In Bengali, he was also overheard telling the new driver that he would receive only Rs 400 of that amount.

American tourist, Dustin records incident secretly

“I should’ve been at the hotel by now, but I’ll probably be stuck in this taxi for another hour and a half,” Dustin says in the video. In the caption, he warned others to avoid such situations, writing: “From now on, I’ll never take random taxis from the airport—only Uber. I hadn’t planned to film anything at the airport since I was already exhausted from travelling.”

Dustin also noted that Uber had quoted between Rs 500 and Rs 600 for the same trip. “I agreed to Rs 700 for the sake of convenience, but this is just too much,” he wrote, adding that he was unexpectedly charged a Rs 150 parking fee just five minutes into the ride.

Despite the unfortunate experience, Dustin emphasized that the taxi scam did not overshadow his overall experience in India. He concluded by saying that he otherwise had a wonderful time exploring the country and that this isolated incident wouldn't affect his view of India as a travel destination.

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