More than four in five 25-34-year-olds say they’ve been swindled by scams
More than half of us say we’ve been conned by taxi fare scams abroad – with millennials more likely to be caught out than boomers. Six in 10 UK holidaymakers admit they’ve fallen victim to a taxi scam while on holiday and stumped up more cash.
More than four in five 25-34-year-olds say they’ve been swindled by scams, compared to just a third of those aged 65 and over. The most common money-spinner is being taken on a longer route to make the cost higher (31%), followed by so-called ‘fixed prices’ instead of relying on the meter (20%).
While some brazen drivers claim the meter is broken in order to charge a higher rate (14%). Research conducted by airport transfer experts at Hoppa revealed that younger passengers are more likely to fall victim to this type of fraud.
Of 2,000 UK adults quizzed, around four in five 18-24-year-olds (79%) and 83% of 25-34-year-olds admit they’ve been swindled in this way. Comparatively, a third of 65+ year-olds (35%), and two-fifths (41%) of 55-64-year-olds say they’ve never experienced common taxi scams abroad.
Some audacious drivers have been known to claim they don’t have change and pocket the difference as a tip, with one in seven (13%) Brits losing out in this way. Handing over counterfeit money or the wrong currency as change was another scam flagged.
Even though Brits were less likely to get caught out by this overall (7%), this figure was almost double the average among 25-34-year-olds (13%). The research highlighted many varieties of this scam, such as changing the meter tariff to the higher night tariff during the daytime, or inventing fake city taxes.
Taxi drivers may also try to charge you for extra luggage or claim that the final price is per person rather than per journey. While overall the proportion of Brits who fall for this was low (7%), younger passengers were more affected by this scam, as one in five 18–24-year-olds (20%) admit they encountered additional charges.
Managing Director at Hoppa, Matthew Hall, said: “While holidaymakers are excited to get away and explore this summer, a little bit of planning in advance can avoid a lot of problems and disappointments. Not all taxi drivers are looking to scam tourists but being in a foreign country where you don’t know the language or local customs can make you a potential target.
“Always do your research and only use licenced taxis wherever you go. It’s important to remain vigilant to reduce the risk of losing your travel money to common scams. Or you can avoid this hassle altogether by booking an airport transfer in advance and rest assured that your journey is already paid for, and the driver will be waiting to pick you up when you arrive.
“We partner with thousands of providers all over the world to ensure that our customers are covered on their next holiday. You can even upgrade your booking to claim back 100% of your transfer costs if you need to cancel.”
TOP SEVEN TIPS FOR AVOIDING COMMON TAXI SCAMS
- Research reputable taxi companies before travelling and take note of local licensing regulations.
- Before getting into any vehicle, record the number plate and taxi registration number so you can refer to the ride later if you need to make a complaint.
- Check average transfer prices for your return journey before you go on holiday. Ask the driver for a price estimate and see if this matches what you are expecting.
- Always insist on using the taximeter. If the driver refuses to use the meter, get out and use a different taxi.
- If the driver goes off route or wants to drop you off at an alternate location, tell them to pull over and let you out. Only pay the fare up until this point.
- Carry small change to avoid the ‘no change’ or ‘fake notes’ scams.
- If you don’t have the exact cash, clearly show the driver and announce the amount that you are giving. Always count your change before you leave the vehicle.
For more information visit https://www.hoppa.com/en
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