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How a taxi scam in France cost victims thousands - and how to avoid the same fate
One passenger was charged €2,500 for a journey that should have cost just €38.60
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People using taxis in France should be aware of a lesser-known scam that has been used to cheat victims out of hundreds of thousands of euros.
The warning was issued two months ago by the Préfecture de Police, following a case in which a woman discovered she had been charged €1,500 after paying for a taxi journey at Gare du Nord in Paris.
She alerted the police, while the driver fled on foot. He was arrested in Aubervilliers around 30 minutes later, according to a post published by the Préfecture de Police.
This was not an isolated incident. In June, four men were placed under formal investigation for organised fraud, handling stolen goods and money laundering over a scheme involving fake taxis and manipulated payment terminals, according to Le Parisien.
The drivers allegedly altered the amounts charged through card payment terminals, turning inexpensive journeys into bills worth thousands of euros.
One example involved a man who discovered that a taxi journey from the Trocadéro that should have cost €38.60 had resulted in a €2,500 charge to his bank account.
Around 80 people had filed complaints, with the total financial loss estimated at €680,000.
How to avoid being overcharged
The Paris police prefecture advised people to check that a taxi has the correct equipment before getting in.
This includes a roof sign indicating that it is a taxi, an external number plate showing its taxi authorisation number and the geographical area in which it is authorised to operate. In Paris, for example, this is a black taxi authorisation plate with red numbers on the front right of the vehicle.
Other required equipment includes the driver's pink and blue professional licence card displayed on the windscreen, a visible taximeter and a fare information notice.
The Préfecture de Police also advised passengers to always check the amount displayed on the payment terminal before tapping their phone or inserting their bank card.
It said that if the screen is broken, covered or deliberately concealed, passengers should not approve the transaction. In such cases, you can always pay in cash rather than by card.
You should also always ask for a receipt. Taxi drivers must immediately provide a printed receipt for journeys costing €25 or more. However, you can request one for cheaper journeys too.
Keep the receipt in case you need to challenge a payment later.
What to do if you have been scammed
If you discover that you have been charged more than the agreed fare, contact your bank as soon as possible to report the transaction, and report the incident to the police.
Keep any supporting evidence, including the payment receipt, bank transaction details and information identifying the vehicle or driver.
