Furious British tourists who called out a Moroccan taxi driver for ripping them off have exposed a national scandal in the country by sharing a video of the audacious con.
Two women who were travelling in the popular coastal city of Agadir filmed the moment the cabbie challenged them over how much they paid him after dropping them off at their hotel.
The man accuses the holidaymakers of not handing over the full fare for their trip, repeatedly counting and showing them the cash they gave him.
However footage shows how he has hidden a 200 dirham (£15) note beneath his vehicle, seemingly hoping the women wouldn’t notice.
He repeatedly demands the women give him more cash, getting more irate as they refuse and insist he has already charged them too much.
‘Do not come near me! Give me the money,’ one woman says as she demands he give back some of the cash.
‘We’re going to tell the police that you’re robbing us, you’re stealing money,’ the other then says repeatedly.
He starts trying to convince them to hand him another bank note, at which point the woman points out he has hidden some of their cash beneath the car.
Two women who were travelling in the popular coastal city of Agadir filmed the moment the cabbie challenged them over how much they paid him
The taxi driver has since been arrested on suspicion of fraud and a breach of trust, according to Moroccan media
‘F***ing weirdo,’ one of the disgusted women calls the man as he continues to berate them from the driver’s seat, pointing and yelling
The woman’s friend tries to give him a smaller note in exchange for some of their money back, but she warns her that he will drive off with all the cash if she does.
Grabbing the note off the floor, the driver then jumps into his car to drive away as the women continue to hurl insults at him.
‘F***ing weirdo,’ one of the disgusted women calls the man as he continues to berate them from the driver’s seat, pointing and yelling.
The taxi driver has since been arrested on suspicion of fraud and a breach of trust, according to Moroccan media.
Authorities in the country are said to have reviewed the video and taken complaints from the two women, who reportedly said he charged them more than the set fare.
The clip has made TV news headlines in Morocco, triggering a debate about the safety and regulation around private hire cabs.
It appeared after footage of a separate incident involving a taxi driver caused outrage in Agadir last week.
Video shared widely on social media shows the unnamed driver attacking two women in the street in the early hours of Friday morning.
Footage shows how he has hidden a 200 dirham (£15) note beneath his vehicle, seemingly hoping the women wouldn’t notice
Grabbing the note off the floor, the driver then jumps into his car to drive away as the women continue to hurl insults at him
The man, reported to be in his 40s, was arrested that evening as he attempted to flee the city.
Locals are reported to have reacted furiously to both videos, with many claiming that it damages Morocco’s image as a global tourist destination and demanding tighter regulation.
There have been calls in Morocco for more ride-hailing apps instead of private taxi firms to help reduce assaults and scams carried out by unscrupulous drivers.
It comes after two British tourists died last month when their vehicle overturned on a busy road in Agadir.
File photo shows the Marina harbour in Agadir, a major city on Morocco’s Atlantic coast
Two British tourists died last month when their vehicle overturned on a busy road in Agadir
The driver and two other British tourists with them were hurt during the incident in the port city of Agadir, sustaining injuries of ‘varying severity’, according to local media.
Emergency services, as well as security and civil defence personnel, arrived at the scene on Resistance Street to provide first aid.
The casualties were taken to a nearby hospital in the city on Sunday. Their condition was unclear this morning.
Security services have now launched a full investigation to understand what caused the car to roll onto its roof.
Agadir is a major city and popular tourist destination on the southern Atlantic coast, south west of Marrakech and Casablanca.
The former Portuguese trade hub today flourishes as a destination for tourists, welcoming visitors to its pristine beaches and local history. The 1934 film Le Grand Jeu was filmed there.
