Warning for Irish tourists in Spanish hotspot as new taxi scam aimed at them

A MAJOR warning has been issued to Irish holidaymakers during the busiest summer season as a new taxi scam in Spain is hoping to catch out tourists.

The travel agency has told tourists to keep an eye out as the scam is designed to make you spend more money on the fares.

Spain is one of the popular sunshine spots for Irish tourists as thousands are set to flock there to catch some sunshine and escape Ireland’s endless rain.

The agency has now issued a warning about a taxi scam that has been forcing many tourists to pay extra as the drivers took them on a longer route to get a bigger fare.

Nicky Kelvin, head of the Points Guy UK, told old Express.co.uk: “A key scam to look out for is when you take a taxi or another car service in an unfamiliar destination.

“Drivers may take a much longer route to get to your destination in order to maximise the cost of your fare.”

He encouraged all Irish tourists to use an official taxi company to avoid getting scammed on their journey.

Tourists can ask the reception at the hotels for a recommendation of a taxi company where they meet the hotel’s standard for transportation and usually are partnered with the hotel.

Any popular taxi apps such as Uber and Bolt are more secure and less likely to get scammed due to their fixed fares, which can’t be changed regardless of route change or delays in getting to the destination.

Tourists are also being warned to be cautious of other scams in Spain and other European destinations, including fake tickets and pickpocketing as cases of them are still on the rise across the continent.

Nicky added: “When visiting another country and touring the sights, it’s important to stay vigilant when it comes to ticket scams.

“Locals may try to sell tickets to attractions, buses, trains and other touristy venues and quite often, they’ll claim the tickets are discounted or offer them as a way to jump the line, however, these tickets can be fake or can expire when you try to actually use them.

“As technology has improved over the years, so have fake tickets and they can look almost identical to the real thing.

“The best way to avoid these scammers is to plan ahead and purchase tickets from an official ticket office or official website.”

VITAL ADVICE

The Department of Foreign Affairs urged all Irish tourists to be safe on their holidays in Spain as they said: “Most of Spain has a moderate rate of crime.”

They added: “However, given the very high number of holidaymakers that visit Spain, additional security measures are rolled out in public areas at peak times, such as during the summer and at Christmas. 

“You should be aware that in areas such as airports, bus stations, railway stations, tourist areas and major cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, there is a much higher risk of pickpocketing and muggings.”

They urged people to follow five steps to stay safe and avoid falling a victim to their crimes in one of the Spanish’s hotspots.

Tourists are urged not to carry their credit cards, travel tickets, passports and money together in the same place as they can easily get stolen.

They are also encouraged to leave spare cash and valuables in a safe place.

It is important to not carry your passport unless it is necessary and leave a copy of any important travel and insurance documents with family or friends at home as back up.

Avoid showing large sums of money in public and don’t use ATMs after dark, especially if you are alone.

Check no one has followed you after conducting your business.

They are urged to keep a close eye on their personal belongings and hold onto them in public places, including cafes, trains, bars and restaurants.

Avoid walking on dark and unlit streets or stairways, and arrange to be picked up or dropped off as close to your accommodation as possible.