Traveler exposes sneaky new scam at Kalar Kahar rest area

If you are planning a road trip on the M2 Motorway anytime soon, you might want to double-check your change. A viral video is making the rounds showing a quick-witted customer exposing a calculated "sleight of hand" scam at a shop in the Kalar Kahar rest area.

The footage shows a shopkeeper who, despite being caught in the act, refuses to turn around and show his face to the camera.

The scam is particularly clever because it starts with an act of "honesty." The traveler explained that after he bought a simple cup of tea, the shopkeeper initially gave him the full change for Rs5000. However, seconds later, the seller claimed he had made a mistake and underpaid the customer by Rs50. He asked for the money back to "correct" the amount, appearing like a helpful, honest person.

The trap was sprung during that second exchange. While pretending to fix the change, the shopkeeper used a sleight-of-hand trick to pull a whopping Rs2,000 out of the pile. Fortunately, the customer was paying close attention and realized the "honest" correction was actually a high-stakes heist.

In the video, the traveler confronts the man, demanding he show his face, but the shopkeeper stays turned away, clearly aware that he’s been caught red-handed. The incident has struck a chord with regular M2 travelers who are already fed up with being "looted" by the exorbitant overcharging at motorway service stations.

Protect Yourself on the Road

This isn't the first time a motorway shops has been in the news for shady business. The National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) have previously fined several shops in areas like Kalar Kahar, Bhera, and Sial Mor for overcharging and illegal practices.

How to stay safe:

• Count it twice: Never hand money back to a shopkeeper for a "re-count" after you’ve already held it.

• Small bills only: Avoid using Rs5,000 or Rs1,000 notes for small purchases like tea.

• Report it: If you feel you're being scammed or overcharged, call the Motorway Police Helpline at 130 immediately.

While the motorway is meant to be a convenient route, it seems the rest areas are becoming a playground for scammers. Don't let a "friendly" shopkeeper turn your quick pit stop into a Rs2,000 loss.