Traveling always comes with risks, my trip in the US was not an exception. In fact, I met a scam the moment I finished my immigration clearance. There were several scams I ran into during my trip, and one of them was really dramatic.
When I arrived at JFK, it was already midnight. I was not a good sleeper on the plane, so I was extremely tired at the time. Under this certain situation, someone asked me if I needed a taxi, “Of course, I want to go to Queens”, I answered instinctively. He grabbed my suitcase and we left the airport behind. The cold wind hit my face, making my mind clearer. I instantly realized I screwed up. The man that held my suitcase was definitely a scammer. Still, I wanted to be nice.
Things happened as I worried. He refused to tell me how much I would pay in advance. When we arrived he asked me to pay $300 which was a $30 distance for a yellow cab. Although I refused to pay $300, I offered him $60. “$60 is already too much, but I know you have a living” I said. His attitude changed suddenly, and we started to quarrel. I threatened to call 911, and I actually did. He had no choice but to receive my $60 offer. We ended up yelling “motherfucker” at each other on the street at midnight.
If everything was over at this point, it would have been my great victory. Unfortunately, it was not. Because we were almost in a fight, I left his car in a hurry. A tragedy happened, I left my other iPhone in his car. I had just lost my iPhone months ago in Tokyo, and the same thing literally was happening all over again. I kept calm and started to call my lost phone. After several calls, the scammer eventually answered the phone. I sincerely showing my willing to pay him in order to get back my iPhone, he agreed to have a deal.
Half an hour later, he came back and took all my cash left, $140, after giving back the phone. “You win, so be happy, both of us.” I told him with a cold smile. We had some talks and shook hands friendly. I took back my iPhone, and he got his $200. It was not a bad ending.
