noun
dishonest taxi driver
Refers to a taxi driver who engages in dishonest practices such as overcharging, taking unnecessarily long routes, or other scams. The term is somewhat dated and may be encountered in older media or discussions of taxi industry problems.
昔は雲助運転手にぼったくられた旅行者も多かったらしい。
It seems that in the past, many travelers were ripped off by dishonest taxi drivers.
ぼったくり is a general term for overcharging or ripping off customers, while 雲助運転手 specifically refers to a taxi driver who engages in such practices.
Compound of 雲助 (くもすけ, originally a palanquin bearer known for dishonest practices) and 運転手 (うんてんしゅ, driver). The term extends the historical reputation of 雲助 to modern taxi drivers.