The old ‘bait and switch’ and other taxi scams tourists fall for

TAXI drivers scam us in so many different ways. Here are the ones to watch out for - and how to beat them every time.

THERE are a lot of honest professional taxi drivers. Unfortunately, a few unscrupulous ones cause havoc that can lead to public distrust.

It’s sad but the reality is that each time I get into a taxi I expect to be scammed — it’s just happened too many times.

Fortunately, I’ve learned from each incident and I’m now better equipped to deal with it.

Here are some of the more common taxi scams of which you should be aware and tips for avoiding them.

The money sleight-of-hand trick

Your taxi fare is 16 euros and you hand the driver a 20 euro bill. The driver immediately asks for more money, claiming you only handed over a 10 euro bill, and holds up a 10 euro bill as “proof”.

Whether you’re sure of which bill you gave the driver or not, you’re in for a hassle.

The best way to avoid this scenario is to state directly to the driver which bill you are presenting — while the bill is still in your hand.

The driver says that your fare is 16 euro. You say, “Here’s 20 euro” and then hand them the bill.

The driver doesn’t drop you off directly in front of your hotel

If the driver does not take you to your hotel, dropping you off several blocks away or on an adjacent street, there’s a chance you’re being scammed and he does not want the hotel staff involved.

Knowing the approximate fare you should be paying is paramount in this situation.

If the driver demands more, refuse, insist on being taken to your hotel, or pay the appropriate amount and get out.

When you go to pay, the driver doesn’t have change

Hoping for a bigger tip, drivers may say they have no money to give you back any change.

Always carry small bills and if you get to your destination without having the correct change, tell the taxi driver you will go inside and get some change.

It’s easy to outwit conniving cabbies, if you know how.

The meter is broken, turned off, is covered up or there is no meter

Before entering the taxi, make sure there is a visible, working meter.

If not, it is imperative you negotiate a fare prior to getting in the cab or change to a cab with a properly functioning meter.

If you don’t do this you may have little recourse when you’re charged an outrageous amount at the end of your journey.

We had four people in a cab in Mexico, the luggage was loaded and I noticed there was no meter. No one was happy when I asked how much the ride would be but we paid half after changing cabs.

The meter is rigged

When the meter jumps significantly in a short period of time, it is rigged.

Question it as soon as you notice it and involve the hotel staff if the driver drops you off there.

If the driver is scamming, he certainly doesn’t want anyone else involved.

If you’re not going to a hotel, you should have the knowledge of what the fare should be, confront the driver and only pay the proper amount when exiting the cab.

The driver takes the long route

Having the route on your mobile phone is one way of avoiding the scenic route scam.

Even if you have an unrelated map on your phone, the driver will assume you’re tracking the journey just by seeing you access your phone before entering the cab.

And when a driver asks if it’s your first time visiting, always say no.

The driver charges you an outrageous amount

If the driver has taken you to your hotel, you can get the hotel staff involved.

We had this happen in Shanghai and the bellman hollered at the taxi driver until he revised the fare.

The meter was covered with receipt paper and the bellman threw it back and, sure enough, the fare was half what the driver was charging.

Once again, knowing the approximate fare for your destination can give you power in these situations.

The driver does the taxi bait and switch

Once I agreed to a taxi ride because the driver was leaning against his taxi and we had successfully negotiated an acceptable fare.

I assumed it was his taxi but then he started to lead me to another car which was unmarked and certainly not a licensed ride.

Never get in a rogue vehicle.

AVOIDING THE SCAMS: A SUMMARY

— You can access and compare approximate fares/routes in advance on sites such as I Hate Taxis, World Taxi Meter, Taxi Fare Finder or Rome2Rio.

— Always make the extra effort to carry small bills in order to pay the exact fare.

— Take a photo or make note of the driver’s ID and taxi number.

— When there is no meter or a broken meter, negotiate a fare upfront or change vehicles.

— Know the route and have the map on your cell phone or carry a printed copy.

— Ask your concierge, bellman, or front desk person what the approximate fare should be to your destination before you leave the hotel.

— Never get into an unlicensed or unmarked vehicle. Use alternatives such Uber or Lyft.

— And finally, personally, I see no sense in arguing over a small amount of money.

This article originally appeared on Frugal Travel Guy.