Airport Hotel Taxi Scam Atlanta Sheraton

June 21, 2013.  This morning I witnessed the airport hotel taxi scam where they victimize weary travelers in the wee hours of the morning and take them for a ride.  It's 5:40 AM, a large group of people are waiting outside the Sheraton Gateway Hotel Atlanta waiting for the appointed hotel shuttle to pick them up at 5:45 and take them to the airport.  At 5:43 three minivan taxis come streaming into the front door and the driver jumps out and announces that the shuttle will be 40 minutes late and they were called to bring passengers at $2 each to the airport.

 

The cabbie runs inside to "talk" to the hotel and make it look official.  As the seconds tick, one by one the will power fails and the first car is loaded and on their way.  Realizing that they may be left behind, others pile into the second and then a couple in the third.  I think I counted 10 people who were taken for a "ride" and got bilked.  About a dozen remain resolute and stay to take their chances.  As the third cab not wanting to wait any longer rolls away, at 5:45 the airport shuttle arrives.  I think the cab has a spotter.  The couple who took the third cab jump out since they crossed paths with the shuttle.  Later they reported that the cabbie, once having them in their possession announced it would be $10 a person to get to the airport.  What a SCAM!  What's worse is that there were no hotel staff outside to protect the customers, which implies that the midnight shift might be in on the scam.