Spain ‘taxi scam’ catching holidaymakers out as tourists urged to stay alert

Spain, a beloved destination for Irish holidaymakers, is bracing for another influx of visitors with the tourism season approaching.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is constantly updating travel advice and information to ensure these tourists have a safe and pleasurable trip to this Mediterranean paradise. Although Spain is regarded as global hotspot due to its general safety for both locals and tourists, Irelands DFA reminds travellers to stay vigilant, stay informed and exercise routine safety precautions.

However, a fresh warning has surfaced about a common ‘taxi scam’ that unsuspecting tourists often fall victim to. It seems some taxi drivers are exploiting their passengers by deliberately driving a longer route to inflate the fare, reports the Irish Mirror.

Read more: Irish tourists in Spain at risk of catching severe stomach bug – symptoms to look out for

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Nicky Kelvin, head of the Points Guy UK, told 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 also suggests sticking with official taxi services as a preventive measure while acknowledging their lesser prevalence in some European cities. For a foolproof experience, one should always confirm the taxi meter’s functionality before commencing the journey to steer clear of any potential overcharging.

Spain is currently seeing a rise in scams targeting tourists, including fake tickets and pickpocketing. Speaking about the fake ticket scam, Nicky warned: “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.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs has issued crime advice for Irish tourists in Spain, stating: “Most of Spain has a moderate rate of crime. 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.”

The DFA has provided some safety tips for Irish citizens in Spain:

• Don’t carry your credit card, travel tickets, passport and money together in the same place, for example your luggage or bag. Leave spare cash and valuables in a safe place
• Don’t carry your passport unless absolutely necessary, and consider carrying your Passport Card. Leave a copy of your passport (and travel and insurance documents) with family or friends at home
• 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
• Keep a close eye on your personal belongings and hold on to them in public places such as cafes, train and bus stations, bars, restaurants, etc.
• Avoid dark and unlit streets and stairways, arrange to be picked up or dropped off as close to your hotel or apartment entrance as possible.

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