Arrests over NY taxi scam

THOUSANDS of tourists and residents who took New York City’s yellow taxis were quietly ripped off by drivers who frequently manipulated their meters to double the fare rate, and 59 drivers were arrested.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office said six drivers reeled in more than $10,000 (nearly €7,500) apiece by bumping their meters up to a higher suburban rate when they actually were in the city.

One driver overcharged more than 5,100 times between November 2008 and June 2010, according to prosecutors.