British holidaymakers heading to Portugal have been warned about unlicensed taxi drivers operating at Porto Airport. According to Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Notícias, these drivers approach tourists with promises of lower fares than licensed taxis, but then demand much higher fees after the journey.
A licensed taxi driver reported that the scammers show passengers a fake metre to lure them into the car. Once the destination is reached, they ask for significantly more money than initially quoted. The driver stated, 'They show you a fake metre and then, when you get to the centre, they trick you and ask for more money. This is very bad for us.'
The Public Security Police (PSP) acknowledged a recent increase in such incidents, noting that over 100 unlicensed drivers were caught at Porto Airport last year. At Lisbon Airport, the situation was worse, with around 1,000 offences recorded in 2023, resulting in fines totalling £850,000 (€1 million).
Authorities advise tourists to only use taxis from designated ranks at airports and to book other transport through official platforms. They urge visitors to be wary of individuals approaching them outside terminals with offers that seem too good to be true.
