"30-Minute Ride Costing 13 Million Won"… Chile Airport Taxi's Excessive Overcharge

"Mainly Foreigners Are Crime Targets"
"Do Not Follow Blindly"

In Chile, South America, taxi drivers demanding exorbitant fares from travelers have been caught.

On the 11th (local time), according to Chilean daily La Tercera and BioBioChile, Chilean police arrested nine individuals on fraud charges for operating taxis around Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport in the capital city Santiago and charging tourists excessive fares.

Official taxi sign used by taxi drivers committing fraudulent payment schemes at a Chilean airport. Chilean police X (formerly Twitter)

It was found that these individuals committed the crimes targeting those arriving at the airport during late-night hours. Their destinations were mostly affluent eastern neighborhoods of Chile such as Vitacura and Las Condes. The local police revealed that in one case, they extorted 9 million pesos (approximately 13 million KRW) after driving 20 to 30 minutes from the airport to a hotel. The total profit gained from these fraudulent activities was investigated to be 100 million pesos (approximately 147 million KRW).

The Chilean police explained on X (formerly Twitter), "All suspects are either unofficial drivers or recruiters who are not formally registered with the relevant authorities," adding, "They mainly targeted foreigners as victims."

It is known that unofficial taxi drivers often collude to extort money at Santiago Airport. The British Embassy in Chile also urged Chilean authorities to take action after receiving numerous reports from British tourists about taxi fare scams at the airport during the first quarter.

As the problem of taxi fare gouging targeting tourists continued, the authorities issued a cautionary message. They warned not to blindly follow those holding signs printed with "Taxi Oficial" near the airport exit. The Korean Embassy in Chile emphasized in a related safety notice, "Upon arrival at the airport, you should first pay the fare at the official transportation booth located in restricted areas or next to the first-floor exit, and then board the taxi under the guidance of the staff."