Taxi Scams
There is a LOT to unpack here, so bear with us!
These are the most common Taxi Scams we have encountered. Some are more applicable to certian regions of the world, so we have called these out where they are region specific.
As a rule, to avoid any of the below, we recommend using a fixed fare taxi service, such as Uber or Bolt. That way you see the end fare up front, as well as the app prescribed route that they should be taking.
Even if they take a slightly different route, at the end of the day, the fare will be the same one you agreed to upfront when you booked the journey. Plus, these journeys are paid for via the app, and avoids having to using cash and the occasional "Sorry, I have no change" trick.
[Tip: It's worth asking the reception staff in your hotel or hostel for the name of reputable local taxi companies, and a rough indication of what the fares should be to key locations (Eg: The Airport or City Centre)].
The Newbie in town
This one is a classic. It happens the world over, even here at home. Taxi Drivers hear a non-local accent/see a foreigner and take you on a much longer route than necessary to let the meter clock up.
In an age of Smartphones, you should use a route planning app like Google Maps to check out what the most efficient route is and say to the driver / Point to the map to get them back on track. [Tip: Download the Offline version of Google Maps for your destinations in advance - Your GPS still works even if you don't have a phone signal!] If they continue on the longer route, get them to stop and get out.
We normally only pay them the fare value to the point that they deviated from the normal route and started their magical mystery tour. Solo travellers may instead want to pay the fair up to the point you told them to stop.
Another take on this, is when your journey starts and the meter seems to be increasing too quickly, or at a different rate to what was there when you got in the car. Again, ask the driver to stop, pay what you "Owe" and get out. Wait until the they drive off, then wave down another taxi.
Unlicensed Taxis
You should NEVER take an unlicensed taxi, even if the rate/price is amazing.
Make sure that every taxi you get into has the relevant Licence / Driver ID / Badge/Medallion Number.
Note: Not all Uber/Bolt Drivers will have these, as the rules around drivers for these services varies from country to country - But you will have all of the Drivers & Car Details via the app. But you should check the local requirements for your destination before you travel.
Many cities/tourism boards have a facility to let you report bad taxi drivers, so make sure to always take a note of their ID number when you get in the cab. This is also really useful in the event that you forget/leave something in the car!
Your Hotel/Hostel is Closed
Yet another common one. The driver tells you that your Hotel or Hostel is overbooked or closed (has been for weeks/months etc), and offers to take you to an alternative.
It's obviously not - You booked it, and received a booking confirmation after all. Our recommendation is to ignore them and insist that they take you to your booked accommodation (In the deeply unlikely event that they Hostel/Hostel is overbooked - Thats on them to find you and alternative, and pay for your transportation there!).
If they keey trying to convince you, continue to insist that they take you to your Accommodation. In our experience they usually give up pretty quickly.
Pretending you didn't give them the right Money / Slight of Hand
Picture it: You arrive in a sleepy foreign town late at night, after a very long bus Journey. You wave down a taxi to take you to your accommodation. The journey there is fine, and you take out a bank note that will more than cover the fare on the meter i Then the driver turns around and waves a smaller value note than you handed over demanding more money... The driver is pretending you gave them a smaller denomination note than you actually did.
We recommend avoiding this situation by paying for the ride, when the driver is standing right in front of you - There are significantly fewer places to hide they money you handed over when you are both outside of the vehicle!
The Extra "0" Scam (South America & Southern Africa)
In some countries in Asia (Turkey), Africa (Zimbabwe & Sudan) and South America (particularly in Venezuela, Argentina) where hyperinflation is rampant, prices are hard to keep track of.
At the time of writing this blog (30 Dec 2024), 1000 Argentine pesos are worth £0.77 (€0.93 / US$0.97), meanning that meals and taxi rides can run into tens of thousands of pesos, so doing a quick conversion to your home currency on the fly can be difficult.
The extra "0" scam happens when someone adds an extra zero onto the amount entered into the card machine hoping you dont notice - The end result being that you end up paying ten times the actual price.
In Taxis - If planning to pay by card, Keep an eye on the meter price, and check that the number entered on the card machine matches the meter price before you enter/tap your card!
The Bus isn't coming... (South America)
In South America, a common one we have come across, escpecially in smaller and more rural towns, is people being told that the bus they are waiting for isn't coming - Usually by Taxi drivers - Resulting in a much more expensive journey for you! Stand your ground.
A word to the wise - even asking in the bus station, you will likely be told that the bus isnt coming - This is because they are also trying to sell you much more expensive bus tickets from their own company to the one you were planning to take/Booked on!