Skip to content
Occasional in United Kingdom

Scam in United KingdomTaxis

Illegal minicab touts in United Kingdom

Streets where drivers approach people offering rides.

How it works

An unlicensed driver offers a ride in an ordinary car. Some touts are aggressive. These rides can carry a risk of robbery or assault.

Warning signs

  • A minicab driver offers you a ride you did not book.
  • The driver cannot confirm your booking details.
  • The vehicle does not match the details sent by your booking company.

How to avoid it

  1. Never enter an unbooked minicab.
  2. Book through a licensed operator or an app.
  3. Check the vehicle registration against your booking.
  4. Use a black cab or a night bus if you have no booking.

If it happens to you

If you feel unsafe, ask to leave in a busy public place when safe to do so. Call 999 or 112 if you face an immediate threat.

  1. Move to a safe, busy place. Do not chase a thief or confront anyone carrying a weapon.
  2. Call 999 or 112 if you are threatened, injured or being held against your will. For a crime that does not need an emergency response, call 101.
  3. Freeze missing cards and contact your card issuer about unauthorised or forced payments. If your phone was stolen, lock it remotely and contact your mobile provider.
  4. Save receipts, booking details, messages and payment records. Write down the location, time and what happened while you remember it.
  5. Report the incident to the relevant police or transport staff. Ask for a report reference and contact your insurer.
  6. If your passport is missing, contact your embassy or consulate through its official contact details.
Where it happensStreets where drivers approach people offering rides.London

What travellers report

Posts about this scam on other sites, summarised in our words. Open one to read the original.

More scams in United KingdomATM card, PIN and cash theft: how to avoid it

Questions

What is the illegal minicab touts scam in United Kingdom?

An unlicensed driver offers a ride in an ordinary car. Some touts are aggressive. These rides can carry a risk of robbery or assault.

How can I spot it early?

A minicab driver offers you a ride you did not book. The driver cannot confirm your booking details. The vehicle does not match the details sent by your booking company.

How do I avoid illegal minicab touts in United Kingdom?

Never enter an unbooked minicab. Book through a licensed operator or an app. Check the vehicle registration against your booking. Use a black cab or a night bus if you have no booking.

What should I do if it happens to me?

If you feel unsafe, ask to leave in a busy public place when safe to do so. Call 999 or 112 if you face an immediate threat.

Where in United Kingdom does this happen?

Streets where drivers approach people offering rides. It has been reported in London.

How common is this scam in United Kingdom?

Occasional. The United Kingdom is generally safe to visit, but tourists can face theft, street cons and misleading prices. London has several scams aimed at visitors, including rigged street games, ticket-machine theft and costly currency exchange. Watch your phone, refuse pushy offers and check prices before paying.

Who can I report it to?

Emergency services: call 999 or 112 for an immediate serious threat to life or safety. Ask for the service you need and give your exact location, including the town or city. Local police: call 101 to report a crime or concern that does not need an emergency response. In London, the Metropolitan Police covers most of the city; the City of London Police covers the City of London. British Transport Police: speak to an officer or station staff about railway incidents. For the tissue-selling scam on trains, text 61016 when above ground. ATM premises or bank: tell staff if a machine has suspicious attachments or appears altered. Also report it to police on 101, or 999 in an emergency. Do not try to remove a device. Card issuer or bank: use the official banking app or a verified contact number to freeze cards and report suspicious, unauthorised or forced payments. Mobile provider: use the provider's official contact channel to report a stolen phone and block the SIM. Embassy or consulate: contact your country's embassy or consulate through its official contact details if your passport is stolen or you need document assistance. Travel insurer or rental company: report the loss through their official claims or support channel. Keep the police reference, receipts and supporting records.

What number do I call in an emergency in United Kingdom?

Emergency police, ambulance, fire and rescue: 999, Alternative emergency number: 112, Non-emergency police: 101.

Reviewed by