Six out of every ten British tourists have fallen victim to a taxi scam while on holiday, new research has found.
A survey carried out on 2,000 adults by Hoppa, found that the most prevalent scam was drivers taking longer routes in an effort to charge passengers more.
Matthew Hall, MD at Hoppa, advised: "While holidaymakers are excited to get away and explore this summer, a little bit of planning ahead of time can avoid a lot of problems and disappointments. Not all taxi drivers are looking to scam tourists, however 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 licensed taxis wherever you go. It is important to remain vigilant to reduce the risk of losing your travel money to common scams."
Read more: Internet users warned of four 'appalling' scams used to drain bank accounts
Thankfully The Express has compiled a list of common scams drivers may use, as well as how to avoid them altogether.
Taking a longer route
Cabbies on foreign soil may take tourists on needlessly long routes, in a bid to charge unsuspecting travellers more money. Tourists could try tracking the route using a GPS system to make sure they're not being taken advantage of.
If data isn't available, it's worth researching the route beforehand, as well as the average price per route before taking a taxi.
Adding extra charges to a trip
Taxi drivers may also try to invent bogus extra charges to scam holidaymakers out of extra money for minute trips. Examples include fake 'city taxes' or late night driving fees - while some cabbies may attempt to charge extra for luggage.
Tourists can avoid this scam by researching average taxi fares beforehand, and are advised to challenge any suspicious extra charges.
Not carrying small notes or change
Some drivers may also not carry small notes or coins, so they can keep the change from trips. Hoppa's research details how one in seven Brits abroad have fallen victim to this scam on their travels.
Tourists can attempt to carry small change so they can pay precisely, or book a ride using an app which allows card payment.
