A UK tourist in Paris fell victim to a common taxi scam, losing €570 (£493) after a driver surreptitiously altered the payment amount on a card reader. The victim's bank, Monzo, refused to refund the money, citing insufficient evidence of the agreed fare.
How the Scam Unfolded
The holidaymaker, who contacted The Guardian for help, explained they took a taxi from outside the Musée d'Orsay to their hotel near Notre Dame—a 12-minute journey. The meter showed €9.70 (£8), but the driver asked them to pay via card reader through the car window, claiming poor internet connection. While the tourist complied, the driver secretly changed the amount to €570.
“I immediately filed a fraud report with my bank, Monzo. It rejected my claim because I have no evidence of the agreed price,” the victim said. “This is a common scam, and it relies on the fact that you don’t pre-agree a price with a cab driver, or get an invoice or receipt. This will keep happening to people unless banks start clawing the money from the scammers.”
Monzo's Response
Monzo defended its decision, stating: “We’re confident in our decision not to raise a chargeback because we believe it wouldn’t have been successful without the supporting evidence required.” The bank urged customers to “always double-check the amount before making a payment.”
Broader Pattern of Fraud
Earlier this year, a gang of fake taxi drivers appeared in court accused of scamming tourists in Paris out of nearly £600,000 in exorbitant fares. The defendants allegedly posed as taxi drivers using counterfeit number plates on unlicensed cars, targeting tourists near the Eiffel Tower, Montparnasse railway station, and department stores. They overcharged customers by surreptitiously switching the fee on contactless card readers in a scam known as “sum up.”
Tourists are advised to always agree on a fare before starting a journey, request a receipt, and verify the amount on the card reader before entering their PIN. Banks recommend using official taxi apps or licensed ranks to reduce the risk of fraud.
