MEL taxi scam

[cove]

No I hailed it coming up the street towards a taxi rank so about 300 metres from the Langham in Southbank Melbourne.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

We will never pay a Melbourne taxi with a credit card after getting scammed and had to replace that card.

The grownups solved that dilemma years sgo:

 

[cove]

Thanks @Cruiser Elite. We don’t get to Melbourne very often. Our footy team is unlikely to play in the grand final this year so we booked a trip to the US when that is on.]

 

[SeaWolf]

What has always puzzled me is why it's such a big problem in Melbourne but not other Australian cities. I remember this happening right the way back when I first started visiting Melbourne back in the early 2000s. While I have occasionally seen touts at Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, I've never seen them on the scale that they are at Melbourne.

 

[mel-world]

What has always puzzled me is why it's such a big problem in Melbourne but not other Australian cities. I remember this happening right the way back when I first started visiting Melbourne back in the early 2000s. While I have occasionally seen touts at Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, I've never seen them on the scale that they are at Melbourne.

Could it be that all the MEL terminals are in a row rather than at different places around the airport so, if they see security in one area, it is easy to try another terminal without having to move their car.

 

[AuSammy]

What has always puzzled me is why it's such a big problem in Melbourne but not other Australian cities. I remember this happening right the way back when I first started visiting Melbourne back in the early 2000s. While I have occasionally seen touts at Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, I've never seen them on the scale that they are at Melbourne.

They were doing it in the 70s. Its a long tradition.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Melbourne is a developing 3rd world Country/City these days

Am I allowed to say: all the uber drivers seems to be from a certain country.
Their habit of honking or sounding horn at back of Ibis and Novotel drived me nuts.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Could it be that all the MEL terminals are in a row rather than at different places around the airport so, if they see security in one area, it is easy to try another terminal without having to move their car.

Those touts are not the drivers.
The touts hold a smartphone in their hands, held casually behind their backs.
They mutter taxi but not very loud, and they pick people to ask.
More covert now.
And then they then send pax to friends pick up under thr multi storry carpatk, not the taxi pick up.
Up front of the whole curved row from T1 to T3 curve, its 99% uber now.
I confrontef one of the walla and he looked ay me, but then went on with his muted speil.

 

[lovestotravel]

Am I allowed to say: all the uber drivers seems to be from a certain country.
Their habit of honking or sounding horn at back of Ibis and Novotel drived me nuts.

It's not that, originally taxi drivers were European, and there were issues then, only wanting short trips/long trips etc. Growing up in the late 80's/90's I was in a taxi most weekends after big nights out.

I lived a far way out of Melbourne for that era (40 mins from CBD) and it was hard to get a driver to take me all the way home. So had to lie and say a suburb closer to the city, and then change the destination about half way there. Caused quite a bit of anger, was kicked out of a few cabs, and other times gave a tip.

Now the drivers love the long one-way fares.

 

[Chicken]

I have to say that I have never been approached in Melbourne. Surprised by this article.

I'm a Sydneysider, so only exit from domestic; and I walk out in cargo pants with a Samsonite spinner.

Guess I look like a hobo who stole a suitcase?

 

[antycbr]

I have to say that I have never been approached in Melbourne. Surprised by this article.

I'm a Sydneysider, so only exit from domestic; and I walk out in cargo pants with a Samsonite spinner.

Guess I look like a hobo who stole a suitcase?

I find it doesn’t really matter on appearance it’s having a sense of purpose and direction. That works worldwide. Hesitation is an open invitation.

Headphones also help.

 

[Chicken]

I find it doesn’t really matter on appearance it’s having a sense of purpose and direction.

That could be true. I always know where I am going. I may not know which path, or to turn left or turn right, but I know where or what I'm looking for.

 

[aikman]

For the touts to still be there they must have a steady stream of victims. Surely AU residents know better so who is taking these rides? Tourists from developing countries who are used to this? Friendly passengers who engage with the touts and are too polite to say no?

 

[SeaWolf]

I find it doesn’t really matter on appearance it’s having a sense of purpose and direction. That works worldwide. Hesitation is an open invitation.

There's a lot of truth in that, I've found the same trick to work with the various charity muggers you get on the street. You can smile, you can say Hello, but you've got to just keep moving and don't slow down or break stride.

 

[docjames]

They are pretty obvious at T3 arrivals. Definitely decreased in volume compared to some years ago, but always there.

Unclear to me who is responsible for enforcement to prevent this, but clearly no-one is enforcing it properly.

 

[AuSammy]

Unclear to me who is responsible for enforcement to prevent this, but clearly no-one is enforcing it properly.

If you watched Airport 24/7 series on ch 10 you would have seen airport staff assigned to do it

Thread 'Airport 24/7: Melbourne Airport - TV series on Channel 10'

May 27, 2025

New TV series going behind the scenes at Melbourne Airport coming soon to Channel 10 and 10 Play. First episode will air on 5 June.

Will anyone be watching?

Fasten Your Seatbelts: Airport 24/7 Is Cleared for Takeoff. - Paramount Australia & New Zealand | Corporate

Landing Thursday, 5 June At 7.30pm On 10 And 10 Play. Get ready to take flight with Airport 24/7, the all-access, first-class docuseries that puts the plane truth on full display — Landing Thursday, 5 June at 7.30pm on 10 and 10 Play! Narrated by The Project‘s own frequent flyer and funny woman...

www.paramountanz.com.au

• Mattg
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Open Discussion

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• 

 

[Balad2005]

They are pretty obvious at T3 arrivals. Definitely decreased in volume compared to some years ago, but always there.

Unclear to me who is responsible for enforcement to prevent this, but clearly no-one is enforcing it properly.

Please see my earlier posts regarding who is responsible.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

We will never pay a Melbourne taxi with a credit card after getting scammed and had to replace that card.

I'm not so worried about card scams - this is what chargebacks can help with.

 

[JIMMYTHEJET]

I have to say that I have never been approached in Melbourne. Surprised by this article.

I'm a Sydneysider, so only exit from domestic; and I walk out in cargo pants with a Samsonite spinner.

Guess I look like a hobo who stole a suitcase?

Maybe they think your the driver

 

[docjames]

If you watched Airport 24/7 series on ch 10 you would have seen airport staff assigned to do it

Thread 'Airport 24/7: Melbourne Airport - TV series on Channel 10'

May 27, 2025

New TV series going behind the scenes at Melbourne Airport coming soon to Channel 10 and 10 Play. First episode will air on 5 June.

Will anyone be watching?

Fasten Your Seatbelts: Airport 24/7 Is Cleared for Takeoff. - Paramount Australia & New Zealand | Corporate

Landing Thursday, 5 June At 7.30pm On 10 And 10 Play. Get ready to take flight with Airport 24/7, the all-access, first-class docuseries that puts the plane truth on full display — Landing Thursday, 5 June at 7.30pm on 10 and 10 Play! Narrated by The Project‘s own frequent flyer and funny woman...

www.paramountanz.com.au

• Mattg
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Open Discussion

• 
• 

Please see my earlier posts regarding who is responsible.

Yeah well they aren’t enforcing it particularly well…..