Saturday, November 17, 2018

Metrocard scammers at Sutphin


From PIX11:

A daily commuter who moves through the Sutphin Boulevard transit hub told PIX11 a troubling situation has been going on there for at least three years.

“Gangs control the front of the turnstiles,” the woman told us. “They don’t let tourists out of the station until they give up their MetroCards.”

The hustlers want the cards to “swipe through” other tourists arriving in the United States, who want to get into the subway system. A guy named Lavell said he’s seen the swipers in action and knows the fee.

“Two dollars, and they give you a transfer.”

When PIX11 decided to investigate on two recent weekdays, we saw several people—men and women—soliciting MetroCards from travelers who were leaving the subway system, pushing their luggage along, on their way to the AirTrain that would take them to JFK airport.

23 comments:

JQ LLC said...

Andy Byford claimed he was going to crackdown on "anti-social" behavior in the subway. Obviously not the case here. Byford was just a publicity hire by the incompetent Joe Lotha, who I think was the longest reigning part-time MTA commissioner in the state's history.

Joe Moretti said...

This shit has be going on for YEARS at that stop and we have all seen this, so again, an easy problem to fix, but yet no one is doing anything about, no MTA, NO NYPD, nothing. Behavior on the subway has gotten worse in the last 5 years and again, nothing done about that either. 12 arrests, really, that is all you have to show for that. AND of course not one word from any elected officials on this, not one, especially those dirty SE Democrats in the area, but then did you think any of them would make a statement.

Dindu Nuffin said...

Bruthas scammin' cracka tourists?

Ain't nothin' to see here! Move along!

Anonymous said...

Wow - I am shocked this is going on in the subways and our idiot mayor has no clue! Just shocked!

Anonymous said...

I an tired i the scammer who ask for a swipe.

The Q44 is the SBS bus withthe most fare beaters.

During the snow storm, the machine took my money and didn't give a ticket.

The reason they can't fix the old mechanical relay signals is they don't employ anyone who still knows what they are.

The whole system is a scam.

Anonymous said...

@Dindu Nuffin said...
"Bruthas scammin' cracka tourists?" Exactly !

Anonymous said...

add to that the yellow cab drivers, none of them speaks English, none of them knows how to use a GPS, nothing... except get money..

Anonymous said...

But then when the cops lock up the people doing this there's outrage against the "racist criminal justice system" for targeting people of color for non violent crimes.

The people of this city have overwhelmingly voted for this to go on, so there shouldn't be complaining about it anymore.

Rick D said...

Overall, I think behavior in the subway system is the same or slightly better than it's been in the last 20 years.

But obviously, anyone who is affected by scams such as highlighted in this story will feel differently.

Anonymous said...

This goes on in jackson heights & 103rd street station as well. What is the new president of subway & bus going to do about it?

Anonymous said...

They dont just scam tourists. I've seen them try to go after elderly people too.

Anonymous said...

THIS SHIT IS NOTHING NEW. ITS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THEY INTRODUCED THE METROCARD BACK IN 93'.

Anonymous said...

I visit that stop once a month and sometimes at night when coming back from Long Island and rarely see any cops on patrol. Shame on the MTA & NYPD !!

Anonymous said...

Mary Murphys got some balls !! We need more like her...

Anonymous said...

Scammers and gangs in Jamaica? NO IT CAN'T BE! Queens is vibrant and diverse, no bad things can ever happen with vibrancy and diversity.

Anonymous said...

“They don’t let tourists out of the station until they give up their MetroCards.”

Is this true? I see the kids, and get asked for my card all the time there (travelling at least twice a month, with luggage). Have never been bothered after telling them "Nope." It HAS been a few years since the last news-making session, I guess.

Gary W said...

Love the footage of that prick running away with the cane tucked under his arm. Another faker using it as a prop to get a seat on the subway.

JQ LLC said...

I see these assholes all the time trying to sell me swipes for years, this is only news because it's effecting tourists, which like our city officials the corporate local news predominantly caters to. Which is why I always fill my card at the end of the week instead of arriving at the station.

This wouldn't be a problem if there were more booth clerks than those stupid machines which they are going to phase out anyway to make way for cellphone scan payments, an even stupider method for paying and more riskier that cause it will lead to phone theft.

JQ LLC said...

Good eye Gary. I wrote about that goldbricking asshole on my blog (It's at the bottom of my 57th new bad days post)

https://impunitycity.wordpress.com/2018/11/15/new-bad-days-57-saudi-arabian-sisters-found-dead-by-the-hudson-rivers-taped-facing-each-other-crucifix-style-doesnt-warrant-further-investigation-or-local-or-international-news-intrigue-career-wom/

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Joe Moretti said...

Anonymous said...

“They don’t let tourists out of the station until they give up their MetroCards.”

Is this true? I see the kids, and get asked for my card all the time there (travelling at least twice a month, with luggage). Have never been bothered after telling them "Nope." It HAS been a few years since the last news-making session, I guess.

----------------------------

AH, IT IS FUCKING ILLEGAL, what don't you get about it. Besides the fact it is also fucking annoying.

Anonymous said...

Most of the scammers are the homeless shelter people, selling rides for $2 from their free metro cards that we tax payers pay for.

Anonymous said...

Where are the cops? I can't remember the last time I saw a cop on a train.

Anonymous said...

The scammers get metro cards when they go to the doctor or the methadone clinic/ That's Medicaid dollars They also get metro cards from community groups that are planning a protest and to go to the protest and come back. They get them if they have to go to welfare appointments.

That area is the most disgusting ghetto. In the past 20 years it has gotten worse. How any one could go there late at night I don't know. It's not safe.

I loved the Caribbean woman who loudly alleged she was only helping someone- she's scamming. She knows she's scamming and puts on the I'm a victim act. And I loved the threatening way she said BITCH at the end. Did she know she was going to be on TV?

The guy w/ the cane is using it for more than a subway seat. He's probably getting SSD.

Across the board, behavior in the subway and buses is atrocious. Really down right scary. So many mentally ill and addicts. At least on the buses there's surveillance cameras. Please, please, please, put them on the subway trains.
This morning, an elderly black women, was yelling on the subway. I was really afraid that she would turn violent. She clearly had mental health issues. I wish they would re open Creedmore for people like her.