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Posted on the 5th December 2025 in PHTM News

REVEALED THE WORLD'S WORST PLACE FOR TAXI SCAMS AND HOW TO AVOID THE BROKEN METER TRICK

New research analysing Reddit travel discussions has named Turkey as the country where tourists most frequently report falling victim to taxi scams.

The study by AllClear examined over 450 Reddit posts and more than 30,000 comments across major travel communities to determine which destinations generate the most discussion about taxi swindles.

Turkey topped the list with over "4,200 comments on Reddit threads discussing taxi scams," nearly double the number of complaints generated by second-place India. Thailand, Vietnam and Egypt also made the top five.

The analysis found that these scams occur most often in "popular tourist hotspots, particularly in countries where public transport systems are less developed." 

A common element across all complaints was airport taxis, with "nearly a third of all the Reddit posts analysed mentioning an airport in the title."

Common Scams and How to Avoid Them

The research identified several prevalent taxi scams travellers should watch out for:

  • The Unlicensed Hustle: Unlicensed drivers offer cheaper fares but then "charge extortionate amounts when the ride is over."

  • The Broken Meter: The driver claims their meter is broken and demands an "inflated fare, which can be two to three times the standard rate."

  • The Long Detour: One of the most common swindles Redditors discuss "includes taking long detours, avoiding faster roads or missing turnings to increase the fare." To counter this, experts recommend tracking your route using GPS.

  • The Broken Card Machine: Drivers claim "their card machine is broken" often to encourage travellers to round up the fare or charge a higher rate.

To avoid being caught out by unexpectedly high quotes, especially in very touristy areas or late at night, experts advise travellers to "always asking the driver to agree to a flat fare before getting into the vehicle or asking them to turn the meter on."

 

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