2 days ago
14
Finding a way home from the airport after travelling can be stressful and exhausting, especially if you’re with children or have a lot of people or luggage.
And while most Australian locals are used to navigating their way around the designated zones for rideshare operators and taxis, those unaware can fall victim to a dangerous scam at the hands of illegal motorists.
If you’ve passed through Melbourne Airport recently, chances are you would have seen signs warning people to avoid accepting rides from drivers hanging around the pick-up points.
“If you are approached for a taxi or a ride – do not accept. These drivers are not authorised,” the sign states.
According to the airport, crooks posing as legitimate Uber or taxi drivers who don’t have the required accreditation or licences are targeting unsuspecting travellers.
These offenders typically offer lower prices than traditional operators from Uber or taxi services, or at least match them, but when asked to show identification and ride confirmation, they allegedly state the mobile phone app isn’t working.
“These drivers seek to take advantage of unsuspecting travellers by coercing them into paying more than they should, while depriving honest drivers of work,” a Melbourne Airport spokesperson told Drive.
The scam has been prevalent in major airports like Sydney and Melbourne for years, but despite laws having been recently amended to try and stop the illegal practice, it's still happening and at a higher rate in recent years.
One Reddit user took to the social media platform to share their experience of falling victim to the trap on the r/Melbourne thread in February 2025.
“I heard people falling for this scam before, and it did just happen to me a few minutes ago. So just as a quick reminder, there are people posing as Uber drivers picking up people at the Uber rank,” they said.
“How the scam works: one, they will ask for your ride PIN. Two: once they’ve driven out of the rank, they will say the PIN didn’t work. Three: they will tell you the app isn’t working.
“Four: They will ask for your address. Five: they will propose a solution; just pay them whatever Uber is charging you (at this point, you are on the freeway).
“I made him drive all the way back to the airport again. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a photo of his licence plate,” they added.
The Reddit user's experience isn't isolated, with other commenters adding similar stories of the dangerous scam.
In response, an Uber spokesperson stated, “Fraudulent activity such as driver-partners encouraging riders to pay for a trip outside of the Uber platform is a clear breach of Uber’s community guidelines, and this kind of behaviour can result in driver-partners permanently losing access to the app”.
While rideshares have a set fee and more security features on their apps, the scam is also affecting the traditional taxi industry, where prices are more flexible depending on the driver and customer's needs.
Before legislation in Victoria was tightened in 2023, taxi drivers were allowed to not use the meter if a service fee was agreed upon between them and the customer at the beginning of the journey.
This loophole allowed scammers to pose as taxi drivers to take advantage of travellers by agreeing to a set price before the trip, but once the destination was reached, they forced customers to pay a higher fee.
According to Safe Transport Victoria, taxi drivers are legally allowed to offer a discounted fare, but the meter must still be on throughout all accepted trips and “the fare cannot exceed what is shown on the meter”.
Additionally, Melbourne and Sydney airports said they have worked with authorities to prevent tourist exploitation by increasing enforcement across their respective jurisdictions.
“Melbourne Airport has been actively working with Safe Transport Victoria, the Victorian Government and the Australian Federal Police to address the issue of touting by drivers around the terminals,” an airport spokesperson told Drive.
“We have worked with authorities to increase patrols and enforcement activities around the airport, which has resulted in numerous illegal drivers being issued with fines and 12-month bans.”
Likewise, a Sydney Airport spokesperson said it has “zero tolerance for touting and soliciting”.
“The NSW Point to Point Transport Commission conducts regular enforcement checks. Drivers who are caught touting and soliciting in the Sydney Airport precinct can face prosecution and fines of up to $5000,” they told Drive.
How can you protect yourself from being scammed?
To avoid falling victim to this scam, it's worth paying attention to the information shared on a rideshare app or only sticking to taxis and rideshare operators that are parked in dedicated pick-up zones.
“We encourage riders not to enter a vehicle without verifying beforehand with details provided in the app, this includes confirming the driver's photo, number plate, and vehicle type, or with the six-digit PIN code at Melbourne Airport,” an Uber spokesperson advised.
“If details don't match, they should report it to Uber's on-the-ground team at the airport, airport security, or via the help section in the Uber app.”
Similarly, a Melbourne Airport spokesperson said, “In the interests of safety, passengers should only take taxis or rideshares from dedicated ranks or pick-up zones, and should refuse any unsolicited offers of a ride”.
Have you or anyone you know been affected by this scam? Let us know in the comments below.
Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.
