For many tourists visiting France, one of the easiest ways to lose money is being scammed before they've even left the airport, here's a look at how the scammers operate, and how to avoid being ripped off.

It's a common story over the summer, an unsuspecting tourist is presented with an enormous bill for a trip into Paris from its main airport, and realises that they have fallen victim to a fake taxi scam.

Now, an investigation by French daily Le Parisien has shown how fake taxi drivers continue to target tourists arriving at Paris airports - despite the laws that stipulate a fixed fare of €56 to the Right Bank of Paris, or €65 to the Left Bank.

Journalist Matthieu Hennequin teamed up with American content creator Jay Swanson, who has lived in Paris for a decade, to see how easy it would be to fall victim to the scam at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport. 

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHbcP6yG0Xs[/embed]

 

Dressed like typical American tourists in sportswear and carrying cabin luggage covered in travel stickers, the pair play the part of confused new arrivals at the airport, and were quickly approached by a taxi scammer.

They were then instructed to take a lift down to the airport car park, where another man was waiting with a vehicle.

Rather than taking the most direct route into Paris, the driver took a lengthy detour, while the fare on the meter continued to climb.

On arrival, the driver demanded €190. He claimed the higher fare was justified because the journey had taken longer than expected, citing supposed new pricing rules and the duration of the trip.

The pair said they never felt physically threatened, but described feeling under significant psychological pressure to pay.

READ ALSO: What you need to know about taking a taxi in Paris

Organised networks

The investigation also demonstrated that these fake drivers were often part of organised criminal networks rather than acting alone.

Officers from a specialist unit of the Paris Police told Le Parisien that they regularly deal with networks that use lookouts to monitor airport terminals and warn drivers about police checks, sometimes through group messaging apps.

Created in 1938, the brigade carries out daily operations at Paris's airports and major railway stations. Many officers work undercover, posing as arriving passengers to catch fake taxi drivers in the act.

Those convicted of operating an illegal taxi service face penalties of up to three years in prison, a €45,000 fine and the confiscation of their vehicle.

How to avoid scams

Licensed taxis travelling between Paris and its airports charge fixed fares, regardless of traffic conditions or journey time.

The current fares are:

  • €56 between Charles de Gaulle Airport and destinations on the Right Bank (Rive Droite) of Paris.
  • €65 between Charles de Gaulle Airport and destinations on the Left Bank (Rive Gauche). 

If you're coming in from Orly Airport, it will be €36 for the Left Bank and €45 for the Right Bank. These prices are set by the authorities and include luggage, so there should be no additional charge for suitcases.

Always use the official taxi lane - follow the signs marked Taxi inside the airport terminal and ignore anyone who approaches you inside the arrival halls offering a ride.

Licensed taxi drivers are not permitted to solicit passengers - so anyone approaching you and offering a taxi ride is almost certainly unlicensed. 

Check the vehicle - official taxis must display an illuminated taxi sign on the roof. When the light is green, the taxi is available. They also carry a visible licence number and should have a working taximeter, even if a fixed airport fare applies. This does not apply to VTC services like Uber or Bolt, but these taxis must be booked in advance through the app, you cannot hail one on the street.

Know the fixed rate - before getting into the vehicle, make sure the driver confirms the official airport flat rate. If they refuse or quote a different price, find another taxi.

Although Charles de Gaulle Airport is a well-known hotspot, the problem does not only concern France's busiest airport. Illegal taxi drivers have also been reported at Orly Airport and at several of Paris's busiest railway stations, including Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est, where they similarly target newly arrived travellers.

READ ALSO: How to avoid taxi scams in Paris