How to Avoid Taxi Scams While Traveling
A Focus on Taxi Drivers Scams
There are scams everywhere on Earth, mostly rotating heavily around tourist zones. Any half-wary and aware traveler can foils the majority of them without much effort. But taxi scams are, by far, the most common. The best way to avoid taxi scams by being forewarned of the methods they might use.
Since drivers are constantly surrounded by tourists, working low-paying jobs in the privacy of their vehicle, taxi drivers scams occur more often than any other. As a rule, I only use taxis as a last resort, since they have so much incentive to fleece tourists for money.
To be clear, there are lots of options besides taxis. Public transportations, such as buses or metros, are usually much better options. Ride shares like Uber have verification features which make them much safer, more reliable and direct. Any infringements can be immediately reported. Private cars, friends providing rides, simply walking to a hotel are all better options than relying on taxi drivers. However, if there are no other options, here are some tips to avoid taxi scams.
Affiliate Disclosure: Leftfade Trails contains affiliate links, so using services or products through these links supports the website, at no extra cost to the user. All links are to tested services and products designed to aid travelers on their journeys. Some links specifically connect to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate this website earns from qualifying purchases.
The Drive Away Taxi
These are terribly blunt taxi scams. When arriving at an airport, a taxi driver puts a person’s luggage in the trunk. Then, once the passenger is dropped off, the taxi driver roars away, stealing his passenger’s luggage.
Avoidance:
To avoid taxi scams in this scenario, always keep your luggage with you in the cab. Never be separated from your gear unless there is no other option. If you do need to put something in the trunk, have a companion stay seated in the taxi while you unload the trunk. Unload everything before paying the driver and finishing your trip. If you’re entirely alone with luggage in the trunk, leave the door open while you get your luggage and don’t pay until you’ve gotten all of your gear.
The Featherwheel Taxi
Featherwheel scams are taxi scams found in a lot of SE Asia. A taxi driver has a button connected to the meter. The meter jumps dramatically every time the button is pressed.
Avoidance:
To avoid this taxi scam, keep an eye on the meter. If it suddenly hops, be suspicious of this activity. Likewise, check if the driver’s left hand is on the wheel without moving but occasionally flexing. If you spot a button, ask to stop and get out of the taxi. Depending on the location you’ve exited, you may choose to pay the taxi driver a smaller amount, the amount on the overinflated meter, or not at all. Use your best judgment based on your personal safety.
The Generous Tipper Taxi
These taxi scams are brazen social engineering. The passenger hands a taxi driver a large bill and the taxi driver pockets the whole thing, stating the difference is his tip.
Avoidance:
A good way to avoid taxi scams in general is to pay exact amounts. When paying, always have small bills or exact change available. If you don’t have small bills or exact change to pay, pay with deliberation. Hold up the bill without passing it to the taxi driver. Clearly state what the bill is out loud and how much change you want back. It makes it much less likely that the taxi driver will bluff, but paying in exact change is always wiser.
The Wide Loop Taxi
This involves the taxi driver taking an exceptionally long loop to your destination, driving up the price of your fare.
Avoidance:
Have a route already mapped and keep an eye on it while driving. If you veer in the wrong direction for a long period of time, correct the driver. The driver will might claim there is some construction or traffic, but a person with a data connection can verify this online. Make sure the driver is aware you are watching the map and firmly ask to be taken on the normal road. Being firm always works, and if you hit some traffic, so be it. Some drivers will try to pass through a “toll road” and increase the fare to match this. In both cases, firmly ask the driver to stay on the correct route your phone has.
The Wrong Address Taxi
This scam involves a taxi driver going far off into the boonies or countryside to the wrong location which has a similar address name. For example, if I want to go to the Marriott Hotel, a taxi driver might drive me an extra twenty miles to a Mariotte Hotel, complain that I wasn’t clear enough and charge me for a ride back to the correct hotel. With no other taxis around the abandoned area, I’m forced to acquiesce.
Avoidance:
Be extremely explicit with your directions. Keep a close eye on the map and speak up if the driver is heading the wrong direction. If they continue, exit the taxi as soon as possible in a safe location. Do not ever pay a driver halfway through the journey, only once you’re safely at your targeted destination.
The Locked Taxi
This is essentially just mugging. A taxi driver locks the doors and refuses to let a person out unless they pay a much higher amount. Sometimes violence is threatened. As far as taxi scams go, this is rare since it’s such a high risk for all involved.
Avoidance:
If violence is threatened, hand over all your goods immediately and get yourself to safety as fast as possible. Your money and gear isn’t worth your life. If a taxi driver is simply being obstinate, you can use the “half-wallet” technique. This means slipping most of your money out of your wallet and only retaining a bit more than what the original taxi would have cost. When the driver demands more money, you simply hold up an empty wallet hopelessly.
The Note Switch Taxi
When a taxi is given a large bill, they tuck it away and return a much lower-than-expected amount of change. If a person argues, they insist they were handed a smaller bill. (“I gave you a twenty!” “No, you only gave me a ten!”)
Avoidance:
The best method to avoid taxi scams is by paying in exact change. If you cannot, hold up your bill, state clearly what it is and how much change you expect back. This is a form of social engineering which makes it harder for the driver to lie.
The Counterfeit Bill Taxi
Sometimes, a driver will either claim you gave them a fake bill or provide you change which is fake.
Avoidance:
To avoid getting fake change, simply pay the exact amount or use smaller bills, which aren’t counterfeited as frequently. The most important thing to do is check your money. You can easily check online what common counterfeit bills in a country look like and avoid accidentally using them. Coins especially are great since they are almost never counterfeit.
The Broken Meter Taxi
The taxi driver simply shuts their meter off and claims it’s not working.
Avoidance:
Never get in a taxi with a broken meter. If you have absolutely no choice, agree on a price before even getting in the taxi and require him to turn the meter on. Broken meters usually mean you’re getting in a car with someone who’s dishonest at best.
The Unofficial Taxi
This is a common scam in Thailand, South America and India. This is a normal car dressed up to look like a taxi, but they’re entirely independent. These aren’t usually dangerous, but they may vastly overcharge.
Avoidance:
Check up the signature features of verified taxi services when entering a country. Some taxis that are official have certain color features or stickers that identify them as legitimate.
The Overbooked Taxi
When you get in a taxi, you ask them to take you to your hotel or hostel. The taxi driver tells you this place is bad, dangerous or overbooked, offering to take you elsewhere.
Avoidance:
Be very firm that you’d like to go to your booked hotel anyway. If a taxi driver insists, consider getting out and hopping into a different taxi. To avoid taxi scams, be confident that you planned your trip properly.
The Wrong Place
A taxi driver is told to take you to a destination, perhaps a tourist destination. They drop you off at a market where trinkets are being sold, insisting this is the correct place. Taxi drivers do this when they have deals with store owners, earning a tidy commission whenever a foreigner buys some goods.
Avoidance:
Keep your map open to ensure you’re going to the correct place. Kindly but firmly correct your taxi driver if he is driving towards a market. Be explicit about the area you actually want to go.
The No Ride Taxi
This isn’t a scam, but a common occurrence for foreigners. You might wave at an available taxi who refuses to stop, since foreigners are difficult to get directions from or manage.
Avoidance:
Try flagging down taxis in areas where pickups are common or taxis are already parked. If a taxi driver doesn’t want to take you, simply move on to the next taxi.
Good Taxi Rider Habits
There are many, many taxi scams out there. Taxis are the most common con artists in the world, so riding in them requires extra precaution. The following tips can guarantee a much higher level of safety when riding in taxis.
- Attempt to find more trustworthy, alternate transportation, such as buses, trains, metros or ride shares.
- Always agree on a price prior to getting into the taxi
- Keep your luggage with you in the cab
- Avoid giving the driver any personal information
- If a driver asks where you’re from, select a country that isn’t stereotypically wealthy. An American might benefit from claiming to be from Poland in some cases. It’s best if the driver doesn’t think you’re rich, and therefore able to shoulder a greater cost if he decides to scam you.
- Keep a careful eye on the money you hand to the driver and the money you get back
- Always carry small bills and pay the exact amount
- Ask your hotel, hostel or host what the cost of a taxi ride should be prior to using one
- Take a photo of the Driver ID or Taxi Number (usually on the back of the seat or in the corner of the front window
- Never use a fake or unlicensed taxi
- Stay in the backseat, not the front.
Taxi scams are a worldwide hassle. Learn to avoid taxi scams to make a journey much smoother and less stressful. As always, stay aware and safe.
Best regards and excellent trails
Old Sean