The smartphone credit-card app called Square allows crooked pedicab drivers to overcharge unsuspecting tourists and pedal away scot free, several hacks told The Post yesterday.
The pedicabbies often tack on fees through the app without alerting the customers, who don’t know how much they’ve been charged until they see their credit-card statements and it’s too late, the drivers said.
“Some say it costs extra for a transaction fee or there are taxes involved so that they can easily overcharge,” said Selcuk Aydogu. “I don’t like it.”
Others said late-night drunks are frequent targets of the scheme.
Laramie Flick, acting president of the NYC Pedicab Owners Association, said the Square mobile card-readers invite fraud and give honest rickshaws a bad name.
“Square just lets you charge people whatever you want,” he said. “They are helping these guys tremendously by doing this. It’s super easy to get an account and super hard for people who get cheated to find you again. Why is that?”
The Post reported yesterday that a rogue pedicabby fleeced a Japanese couple for $720 using the Square app — and tried to charge them another $616, but the credit-card company rejected the second attempt.
The city Department of Consumer Affairs is trying to have Square subpoenaed to turn over the name of the driver, who appeared on the receipt as SQ Pedicabs Inc.
Aaron Zamot, spokesman for the tech company, said victims’ banks can contact Square to obtain details of any questionable transactions — except for contact info for suspected fraudsters.
That requires legal action, Zamot said.
“We work with cardholders, credit-card companies and, when necessary, the authorities to identify fraud, resolve disputes and protect consumers from bad actors,” he said. “We have and will continue to shut down any accounts that attempt to engage in fraud.”