MEL taxi scam

[dajop]

I suspect many international students arriving for the first time are very well connected through social media networks and probably have a lot of tips about arriving into the country. Many of them come from countries where scams are almost as common as Melbourne. Airport.

 

[Quickstatus]

international students arriving for the first time are very well connected through social media networks

Actually the connection is with the University they are enrollingwith
Often the University will have a student welcome desk in the arrival halls for meet and greet, organise prebooked rides where the driver meets them inside the arrivals hall.

Geez when I first went to the University of Sydney, I was in the country at the time and had to find my way there. We started a month prior to Orientation week so there was nothing waiting for us except a welcome desk in some area of the University that i had never been to before and we had to find our way there.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

We are encouraging them to take taxis ?

Not we, but the uni is.
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Imagine, a new international student, gets given a $100 Cabcharge one use voucher, how far would that $100 go, maybe just past the closest eastern suburb after Bell St at Preston, then what, esp if at midnight.
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Saw that as described on Reddit, how far would that taxi go.
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Granted, not a taxi tout reply as such, but this opens the scam for sure, for the wily taxi driver.
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Re: Quickstatus,
Often the University will have a student welcome desk in the arrival halls for meet and greet, organise prebooked rides where the driver meets them inside the arrivals hall.
Been through T2 many times, never did see a desk there for arriving int uni student, this poor one tho, is arrving at midnght!

 

[Flyfrequently]

On Channel 9 A Current Affair, taxi touts at Melbourne Airport - nothing new

 

[Saab34]

Coming through T4 exit last week was a blue it seemed between a touter and another male, AFP was talking to both.

 

[SeaWolf]

On Channel 9 A Current Affair, taxi touts at Melbourne Airport - nothing new

For those that are interested, it's the first story:

Watch A Current Affair - Season 2026 - Thursday 4 June | 9Now

Have you ever arrived at the airport and been hassled by illegal drivers? They're called 'touters' often charging unsuspecting travellers exorbitant fares.

www.9now.com.au

Nothing new really but given how easy it was for A Current Affair to confront them, even with a camera crew in tow, it shouldn't be beyond Safe Transport Victoria to locate and fine them either. Also of note, Safe Transport Victoria was asked how many fines they've issued for taxi touting at the airport and declined to comment.

 

[Q Class Plebeian]

For those that are interested, it's the first story:

Watch A Current Affair - Season 2026 - Thursday 4 June | 9Now

Have you ever arrived at the airport and been hassled by illegal drivers? They're called 'touters' often charging unsuspecting travellers exorbitant fares.

www.9now.com.au

Nothing new really but given how easy it was for A Current Affair to confront them, even with a camera crew in tow, it shouldn't be beyond Safe Transport Victoria to locate and fine them either. Also of note, Safe Transport Victoria was asked how many fines they've issued for taxi touting at the airport and declined to comment.

Okay folks another very late night arrival at T3 at 0015 hours on Wednesday.I walked up to the T4 pick up area. Again no tout sightings and almost felt disappointed.