If traveling by taxi is essential for you, then do not forget to keep your eyes wide open. A study conducted by the insurance company AllClear reveals where in the world taxi drivers are most likely to cheat their passengers, especially naive tourists. Analyzing over 450 publications and a staggering 30,000 comments about scams on the popular platform Reddit, the study indicates which countries have the highest concentration of “cunning taxi drivers“.
According to data from The Independent, Turkey categorically takes first place in the anti-rating with 4224 comments about scams. The top three are completed by India (2301 comments) and Thailand (2169 comments), which have long been infamous for their taxi adventures. Here is the entire list of the 15 countries with the most complaints, and the interesting thing is that Bulgaria is not in this Top 15.
1. Turkey
2. India
3. Thailand
4. Vietnam
5. Egypt
6. Australia
7. Mexico
8. Morocco
9. USA
10. Canada
11. France
12. Colombia
13. Philippines
14. Italy
15. Norway
Also surprising is the presence of countries with high standards such as Australia, the USA, Canada and Norway, which proves that fraud has no geographical boundaries, although its scale varies.
The airport is the epicenter of taxi scams
The study highlights a critical point: almost a third of all fraud reports are related to airports. This busy transport hub, where tourists are at their most vulnerable and confused, is proving to be a breeding ground for dishonest practices.
The most common schemes or four ways to get scammed. To protect yourself, you should be aware of the “working“ schemes that drivers use:
"The meter doesn't work": This is a classic! At late hours or in heavily touristy areas, drivers refuse to turn on the meter, insisting on an absurdly high fixed price. Tip: Always ask for a fixed price before getting in or explicitly insist on turning on the meter.
The long detour: The road to riches: Instead of taking the shortest and fastest route, “cunning“ drivers take long detours, skip convenient turns, or avoid highways to rack up more miles and, consequently, a higher bill. Tip: Track your route with a GPS (e.g. Google Maps) and politely ask the driver if you notice a deviation.
Luggage as leverage: Some drivers put your luggage in the trunk before you have agreed on a price. This is a psychological trick to speed up your decision and reduce the opportunity to haggle. Tip: Keep one hand out so you can hold your luggage while you negotiate a price or check the meter.
"Broken" card terminal: When it's time to pay, the driver tells you that the terminal is "broken", forcing you to pay in cash. This is to either round up the amount (leaving a tip) or to charge you more. Tip: Don't give in. An honest driver is bound to offer to stop at the nearest ATM. Always ask for a receipt, even if paying in cash.
Warning about airport parking lots
Be extremely careful at airports. Always look for official parking lots or check in advance to see if ride-sharing apps are allowed. Stay away from people who approach you directly with an offer to “skip the line” - they are almost certainly unofficial carriers with inflated prices.