When you board a taxi, always be sure to pay close attention to the meter reading. If the amount displayed before you start your trip seems excessive, your driver may be using a night time or holiday fare. Alternatively, you may notice your fare price jumps substantially at one point in your journey. In this case, the meter may be rigged. Deceitful drivers may also claim their meter is broken, or conceal it, and then ask for an excessive fare.
How to avoid taxi meter scams
An easy way to deter would-be meter scammers is to make it obvious you're paying close attention. When you enter the taxi, jot down the driver's registration details, which will usually be displayed next to the rear view mirror, and also take note of the starting fare. If anything seems out of place with the meter, or it isn't operating, raise this with your driver before indicating where you'd like to go.
If your driver has been dishonest with the fare, they will often stop a few buildings back from your hotel. Scamming drivers don't want to be seen and exposed by hotel staff, so always request they stop out the front, and raise any concerns with hotel staff.
Route rip offs
Drivers taking an unnecessarily long route to get the maximum fare is a common taxi scam around the world. Most of the time this scam is designed to have you sit in traffic, or clock up a few extra kilometres so you pay a higher fare. However, sometimes taking a scenic route can leave you in more danger. Taxis and tuk tuks in Southeast Asia have been known to stop in secluded locations and demand valuables, leaving passengers in a dangerous and vulnerable position.
How to avoid route rip offs
Again, the best way to deter opportunistic taxi drivers is to make it clear that you are paying close attention. Displaying a map on your phone while driving is a perfect way to do this. Even if it's a map from another country, your driver will think that you're paying attention to the route they take and see that you're not an easy target.
Luggage losses
Losing your luggage overseas has to be one of the most frustrating and upsetting things to happen while travelling.
At every moment of travelling, it's so important that you treat your luggage like you would treat your wallet or your phone. So ask yourself, would you place your wallet in the boot of a taxi while you stand on the sidewalk?
Luggage scams are another common way taxi drivers can deceive unwary travellers. This can be as simple as driving away while you load your bags into the boot. More calculated plans include having an accomplice steal your bags while the driver distracts you. When you notice your bags have vanished, the driver offers their insincere condolences.
How to avoid luggage losses
Always keep as much luggage with you in the back of the taxi as you can. While larger bags will need to go in the boot, request that your driver loads them in for you and keep your door open to deter a getaway. Always keep an eye on your bags, and never leave them on the street and out of view while boarding the taxi. Also be sure to keep your most important possessions, like passports, in a day pack that stays securely locked and with you at all times.
Opportunistic taxi drivers are an unfortunate reality of travelling overseas, but with these precautions you can ensure you avoid falling victim to common scams, says Southern Cross.
Also remember that it's not always worth arguing over a small sum of money, it's better to lose some money and keep yourself and your fellow travellers safe. So if you find yourself in confrontation with a taxi driver over a few dollars, it's probably easiest to walk away.
General advice on scams:
There are several easy ways that travellers can ensure they don't fall victim to taxi scams. The first and most important thing to look out for when hailing a taxi is to always check whether it is licensed. Licensed taxis will be marked with the city's taxi company name.
If you're outside the airport, licensed taxis can always be found at the taxi rank. If a driver beckons you into his car which isn't marked as an official taxi, ignore them and move along.
Also, if a driver beckons you to a marked taxi, then walks to an unmarked car and opens the door, move along. If you enter an unmarked taxi by mistake, and notice that the driver doesn't have a license on display, apologise and exit the taxi before directing them to your destination.
Other precautions to take include writing down the driver's details, keeping your luggage in the car with you, rather than in the boot, and locking doors while sitting in traffic.
