Fake taxi scams on the rise as demand for taxis increases due to heat waves and monsoon, with demands for taxi fares as high as 60,000 won for a 4km ride,
Taxis waiting for passengers at Seoul Station taxi stand. Yonhap News, ‘With the recent increase in passengers using taxis due to heat waves and monsoons, unauthorized ‘fake taxis’ are rampant. Fake taxis operate without proper permits, posing a risk of crime due to lack of driver background checks, and difficulties in insurance processing in case of accidents. They deceive passengers by pretending to be ‘luxury taxis’, urging cash payments after taking passengers, and even fabricating relationships with passengers or acquaintances when faced with scrutiny.’,
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, ‘According to a report by Seoul Shinmun on the 16th, taxi driver Maro (46) reported to the police a suspicious Carnival vehicle as a fake taxi one night at around 9:30 pm in front of Jamsil Sports Complex in Songpa-gu, Seoul on the 29th of last month. Although the empty car indicator light was on like a regular taxi, it was not displaying a yellow taxi license plate and was also actively soliciting pedestrians. The Carnival driver, Mr. A, explained to the police that he was ‘just giving a ride to an acquaintance’, but when asked for the acquaintance’s phone number, he could not provide an answer and eventually admitted to illegal operation. Mr. A, who was booked for violation of the Passenger Transport Service Act by the Seoul Yongsan Police Station, is reportedly being investigated for the same charges by other police stations. According to the police investigation, Mr. A often overcharged passengers by inflating the distance 4 times more than the actual.’,
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, ‘Office worker Kim also had a similar experience recently. He paid 60,000 won for a mere 4km ride from Yeoksam-dong in Gangnam-gu to Samsung-dong. Kim said, “I was in a hurry for a company meeting, so I hopped in thinking there were no passing taxis, but I was shocked when they asked for 60,000 won, realizing it was a taxi with no meter.”.’,
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, ‘ MobileAdNew center ‘, ‘Lee Young-hwan, director of Seoul Individual Taxi Association, stated, “Fake taxis are more rampant when there are severe weather conditions and more passengers are out.” Park Won-seop, chairman of the Seoul Individual Taxi Association, mentioned, “On weekend nights at Seoul Station, fake taxis are always abundant,” and added, “Even if reported, they manage to evade crackdowns and reappear.”‘,
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, ‘Police also point out that fake taxis pose a risk of exposure to crime due to lack of driver background checks and can cause difficulties in insurance claim processing. According to the Korea Road Traffic Authority, from 2021 to 2023, unlicensed taxi drivers were involved in a total of 7 accidents, injuring 16 people. Lawyer Jeong Gyeong-il commented, “Not only are insurance settlements at risk, but with unqualified taxi drivers, the potential for accidents is even higher,” and emphasized the need to strengthen penalties for fake taxis.’