Ever Been Counterfeited?
by Brian Diedrick
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As we’ve all learned by now, this city is full of people trying to pull a fast one: city councilpeople, real estate tycoons, crooked cops, corporate lawyers, PR flacks, gossip columnists, the Mayor… But through it all, you can’t forget about the little people, the ones who try to pay their cab fare with counterfeit bills.
AGRIM
Where I hailed him: Union Square
Where he hails from: India
Years as a cabbie: 7
Previous profession: Waiter
I’ve heard stories — so far it hasn’t happened to me — at least I don’t think it has [laughs].
ANJAR
Where I hailed him: Midtown East
Where he hails from: India
Years as a cabbie: 12
Previous profession: Parking lot attendant
Twice that’s happened to me. One time this guy gets in and asks to go all the way up to the Bronx. I take him and he hands me forty dollars and I give him his change. I didn’t notice until later that it wasn’t real money. The other time, I picked up these three women at a hotel. I took them out to Brooklyn. They gave me 20 dollars for the fare, but it was fake. I told them, this is not real money. Then they got out of the car and ran.
FELIX
Where I hailed him: Murray Hill
Where he hails from: Haiti
Years as a cabbie: 25
Previous profession: Musician
Oh, one time. I picked up a woman and gave her a ride — it probably cost about 15 dollars. And she gives me a twenty and tells me I can keep the change. But it is not a real bill. And I tell her. But she insists that it is. I tell her it isn’t — it obviously isn’t — it looks like real money, but not exactly. But she keeps insisting that it is. So, eventually I just let her go. What can I do? Call the police, waste two hours of my time? It’s not worth it.
SAYED
Where I hailed him: LES
Where he hails from: Egypt
Years as a cabbie: 5
Previous profession: Student
It has never happened to me, but it is definitely something that happens to drivers. Whenever I take money from someone I make sure I get a good look at it in the light before I give them back their change.
EVERTON
Where I hailed him: Greenpoint
Where he hails from: Caribbean
Years as a cabbie: 10
Previous profession: “Oh, lots of things”
I think every driver has gotten fake money — it’s happened to me more than once. The last time it happened to me was about a year ago. I’ve caught it before and sometimes I haven’t caught it — sometimes it looks better than other times. When you don’t catch it they get a free ride and then they make money when you give them back their change.
ARHAM
Where I hailed him: East Village
Where he hails from: Bangladesh
Years as a cabbie: 3
Previous profession: Store clerk
Oh yeah, sometimes that will happen. I don’t take hundred dollar bills anymore because of that reason. It hasn’t happened to me, but it has happened to some of my friends. Drivers talk about it with each other all the time.
AGRIM
Where I hailed him: Union Square
Where he hails from: India
Years as a cabbie: 7
Previous profession: Waiter
I’ve heard stories — so far it hasn’t happened to me — at least I don’t think it has [laughs].
ANJAR
Where I hailed him: Midtown East
Where he hails from: India
Years as a cabbie: 12
Previous profession: Parking lot attendant
Twice that’s happened to me. One time this guy gets in and asks to go all the way up to the Bronx. I take him and he hands me forty dollars and I give him his change. I didn’t notice until later that it wasn’t real money. The other time, I picked up these three women at a hotel. I took them out to Brooklyn. They gave me 20 dollars for the fare, but it was fake. I told them, this is not real money. Then they got out of the car and ran.
FELIX
Where I hailed him: Murray Hill
Where he hails from: Haiti
Years as a cabbie: 25
Previous profession: Musician
Oh, one time. I picked up a woman and gave her a ride — it probably cost about 15 dollars. And she gives me a twenty and tells me I can keep the change. But it is not a real bill. And I tell her. But she insists that it is. I tell her it isn’t — it obviously isn’t — it looks like real money, but not exactly. But she keeps insisting that it is. So, eventually I just let her go. What can I do? Call the police, waste two hours of my time? It’s not worth it.
SAYED
Where I hailed him: LES
Where he hails from: Egypt
Years as a cabbie: 5
Previous profession: Student
It has never happened to me, but it is definitely something that happens to drivers. Whenever I take money from someone I make sure I get a good look at it in the light before I give them back their change.
EVERTON
Where I hailed him: Greenpoint
Where he hails from: Caribbean
Years as a cabbie: 10
Previous profession: “Oh, lots of things”
I think every driver has gotten fake money — it’s happened to me more than once. The last time it happened to me was about a year ago. I’ve caught it before and sometimes I haven’t caught it — sometimes it looks better than other times. When you don’t catch it they get a free ride and then they make money when you give them back their change.
ARHAM
Where I hailed him: East Village
Where he hails from: Bangladesh
Years as a cabbie: 3
Previous profession: Store clerk
Oh yeah, sometimes that will happen. I don’t take hundred dollar bills anymore because of that reason. It hasn’t happened to me, but it has happened to some of my friends. Drivers talk about it with each other all the time.
