I am writing to warn the tzibur about a disturbing Arab taxi scam that has been reported in Yerushalayim. It is a classic “sleight of hand” trick that can happen in a split second, and I want to help ensure that others do not fall victim to it.
The scam works as follows: When you reach your destination and hand the driver a $100 bill (or a 200 NIS note), the driver quickly drops the bill out of sight and substitutes it with a $50 bill (or 50 NIS note) that he already had prepared. He then looks at you and claims that you “made a mistake,” insisting that you only gave him a 50 and demanding additional payment.
Because this happens so quickly, many people—especially tourists or those distracted with luggage—become confused and end up paying twice.
To protect ourselves, it is wise to be extra cautious and, when possible, give our business to trusted Jewish drivers. This not only supports parnassah within our community, but also provides an added level of trust and accountability that can help prevent these situations.
If you must take a general taxi, please keep the following in mind:
State the amount clearly: As you hand over the money, look the driver in the eye and say, “I am giving you a one-hundred-dollar bill.”
Keep the bill visible: Do not release the bill until the driver clearly acknowledges the amount.
Use apps when possible: Using services like Gett creates a digital, recorded transaction that reduces the risk of disputes.
Please share this warning so that our community can remain vigilant and protect itself from this form of gezel.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Yid
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6 Responses
That’s why we need Uber or Lyft in Israel asap. This old school scam nonsense will be gone when we pay with traceable receipts via Uber / Lyft.
Get is a poor man’s version of Uber and the experience not as smooth.
Thank you for your important message.
I should share a disturbing experience I had with a cashier (a foreign national) at a Boro Park store. When giving me change for a $100 bill, she fanned the bills and announced the amount, which nearly prompted me not to recount the money. However, I did recount the money and found that I was shortchanged by $5. It was only after I loudly and firmly demanded the $5 that she gave it to me.
Note that the cashier actually counted the money twice, once when taking it out of the cash register and a second time when she held up the bills. This was definitely an “intentional” mistake.
It happens in other countries as well. And unfortunately, not all Jewish taxi drivers are supper honest either – being cheated by taxi drivers is an old problem.
If you feel that happened to you, don’t hesitate to report the driver to either misrad hatachburah or misrad hatayrut – knowing they can get a file with the police will make them think twice before doing it.
I never take Arab taxis. If somehow they show up i ask them if they out on tefillin on shabbos. If they day of course I know they are not Jewish. If they are not sure what to answer I assume they are not Jewish. With Jewish ones I talk Torah and to find out if they are lefties i ask them about supporting Ben gevir
Fyi Most Gett taxis ordered on Gett are arab drivers, who will often put a higher amount into the meter to charge yuor card via the Gett app, and hope you will not notice.
There are many reliable ‘Jewish drivers only’ services that vett all of their drivers and each car has clear markings that they are associated with that comnpany, including a company specific car number.
BAR ILAN TAXI 02-586-6666 is a very reliable taxi service in the greater charaidi areas (Har-nof, Givat Shaul, Bayit Vegan, Givat Mordichai, Romema, Knisa La’air, Sorortzkin, Ezrat Torah, Sanhedria, The Greater Ramat Eshkol Area, Geula, Mekor Baruch , Meah Shearim, Old City, Strauss/Yafo/Ben Yehuda Area, and Rechavia)
Also other very good jeiwsh taxi companies:
Taxi Rav Shefa (Romema): 02-500-2003
Taxi Romema: 02-538-5555
Taxi Kikar Hashabbos: 02-572-2222
Ramot Alon: 02-502-2222
Ben Gurion Airport Taxi 02-500-6070
Taxi Intercity 053-384-4923
someone once showed me half a 50sh note he’d been given by a taxi driver which he didn’t notice until it was too late. A good idea is to let the driver know early in the ride that you’re keeping his name or number on record so he’ll worry about being reported if he tries any trickery. Often riding in a taxi I get friendly with the driver and then ask him if he says Shema twice a day, morning and evening. Many of them have said that they put on talis and tefillin and daven in the morning but don’t realize how important it is to say it in the evening, so I say B’shachbecha u’v’kumecha, and they agree to start saying it in the evening as well. One very frei looking driver didn’t seem at all interested, but then as I was walking away after the ride he called me back and said that he’d recently been in a motorcycle accident from which he came out a lot better than he could have and he’d been looking for something to take on in gratitude and he recognized me as a shliach from Hashem.