# The 10 worst airport taxi scams travellers are still falling for in 2026 > From rigged meters in Rome to fake "official" desks in Bangkok, here are the airport taxi scams travellers keep reporting — and exactly how to avoid each one. - Published: 2026-06-23 - Updated: 2026-06-25 - Author: Airport Exit - Canonical URL: https://www.airportexit.com/blog/worst-airport-taxi-scams-2026 --- Every week, the same airport taxi scams appear on Reddit's r/travel, on TripAdvisor forums, and in our inbox. The names of the airports change. The script almost never does. Below are the ten we hear about most in 2026, with the exact line the driver uses and the move that gets you out of it. ## 1. The "meter is broken" line Reported constantly at [Rome Fiumicino (FCO)](/airports/rome-fiumicino-airport), Cairo, and Athens. The driver waves the meter away the moment you sit down and quotes a flat "tourist price" that's two to four times the legal fare. Rome to the city centre is a fixed €55 from FCO — printed on signs at the rank — but unmarked drivers routinely ask €90–€120. **What to do:** Step out before they pull away. Walk to the official white taxi rank, photograph the rate sign, and ask the dispatcher for the fixed fare in writing. ## 2. The fake "official taxi" desk in arrivals A polished man in a lanyard intercepts you after baggage claim and offers an "official airport taxi." Common at [Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK)](/airports/bangkok-suvarnabhumi-airport), Delhi, and Marrakesh. The desk is real — the price is three times the metered rate. They sell you a voucher, you can't argue with the driver later. **What to do:** Ignore anyone who approaches you. Walk to the signposted public taxi queue outside. ## 3. "Your hotel is closed / burned down / overbooked" Classic Bangkok and Hanoi move. The driver phones "your hotel" mid-journey, hangs up looking grave, and offers to take you somewhere "much better" (a property that pays him commission). You arrive at a worse hotel, sometimes already charged for the night you booked. **What to do:** Refuse to be redirected. If you're nervous, call your hotel directly from your own phone. ## 4. The wrong currency at the end Driver agrees the fare in local currency, then at the destination insists it was in euros or dollars. Reported at airports across Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia. **What to do:** Write the agreed price on your phone screen before the trip starts and show it to the driver. Photograph it. ## 5. The "extra luggage" fee You arrive, the driver invents a per-bag surcharge that doubles the fare. Particularly common in Marrakesh, Tunis, and parts of Mexico. **What to do:** Confirm all charges (bags, night surcharge, airport surcharge) before loading the boot. Most cities cap or ban these. ## 6. The rigged meter The meter is legal but accelerated. The fare ticks up at twice the normal rate. Reported at Athens, Sofia, and parts of Cairo. **What to do:** Track the journey on Google Maps. If the meter is moving faster than the kilometres, ask to be let out at the next petrol station. ## 7. "Cash only — the card machine is broken" You agreed to pay by card. At the end, the machine has mysteriously "died" and there's an ATM "just there" that charges a 15% mark-up. A standard [JFK](/airports/john-f-kennedy-international-airport) and Newark gypsy-cab move. **What to do:** Test the card machine before you set off. If it's broken, get a different cab. ## 8. The unsolicited "ride share" at the kerb Someone with a phone says they're your Uber/Lyft/Grab and walks you to a private car. The real driver is still circling. You're now in an unmetered, unlicensed vehicle. **What to do:** Verify the licence plate against the app. Never get into a car whose plate doesn't match. ## 9. The long route Driver takes a 45-minute detour for a 20-minute trip. Globally common, especially when the passenger is jet-lagged and on their phone. **What to do:** Pull up the destination in Google or Apple Maps with live navigation visible. Drivers are far less creative when they know you're watching. ## 10. The "tip is included" / "tip is not included" double tap Some cities (parts of the US) have legal mandatory surcharges presented as tips. Others (most of Europe) have no tipping culture but drivers ask anyway. Both end with confused tourists overpaying. **What to do:** Know the local norm before you land. Our airport guides list it for every major hub. ## Quick wins on every trip - Take a photo of the licence plate before you get in. - Share your live location with someone. - Have small notes ready — drivers love "I don't have change." - Know the legal flat rate (most major airports have one). For airport-specific advice, including the exact rank to use and the fair fare to expect, check the [full airport directory](/airports) or jump to [JFK](/airports/john-f-kennedy-international-airport), [FCO](/airports/rome-fiumicino-airport), or [BKK](/airports/bangkok-suvarnabhumi-airport). --- Source: Airport Exit (https://www.airportexit.com). When citing, please attribute to Airport Exit and link the canonical URL above.