Four taxi drivers have been arrested in the port town of Lavrio after allegedly overcharging tourists, concealing their taximeters and demanding fares well above the legal rates, in the latest crackdown on taxi scams targeting visitors in Greece.
The arrests were carried out by officers from the Attica Traffic Police Directorate following complaints from passengers at one of Attica’s busiest ferry ports.
Tourists allegedly charged inflated fares
According to the Hellenic Police (ELAS), three of the drivers allegedly charged tourists €200 for the route between Lavrio Port and the Acropolis, despite the official fare being €150.
In a separate case, another driver allegedly charged €12 for a journey of around 1.5 kilometres between Lavrio town centre and the port. Police said the legal fare for the trip should have been approximately €4.
Authorities said criminal charges and administrative fines were issued against all four drivers.
Taximeters allegedly concealed
Investigators allege the drivers targeted tourists arriving at the port, taking advantage of visitors unfamiliar with local taxi fares.
Greek media reported that in some cases the taximeters were either switched off or deliberately covered with objects, including towels, preventing passengers from seeing the actual fare during the journey.
One driver is also accused of refusing to provide identification to police officers and attempting to evade arrest through dangerous driving manoeuvres.
Licences confiscated
Police confiscated the drivers’ licences and special taxi permits, while the taxis involved were taken off the road.
The four suspects were brought before the Athens Misdemeanour Prosecutor under the expedited legal process and face charges relating to excessive fares, as well as additional offences including disobedience and dangerous driving where applicable.
Series of taxi scams
The Lavrio arrests come amid a string of high-profile complaints involving taxi drivers in Athens and Attica.
Earlier this week, passengers accused a taxi driver at KTEL Kifisos of refusing to use the taximeter, demanding €80 for a journey to Piraeus, and abandoning them on the roadside after they refused to pay.
In another recent case, a taxi driver was arrested after allegedly charging tourists €175 for a journey from Athens International Airport to the Acropolis, significantly above the official fare.
The repeated incidents have raised concerns about illegal pricing practices at major transport hubs, where tourists arriving by ferry, bus or plane are particularly vulnerable.
Authorities step up enforcement
Police say inspections will continue throughout the summer, particularly at ports, airports and other busy transport centres, in an effort to protect visitors and safeguard the reputation of Greece’s taxi industry.
Passengers are reminded that taxi drivers are generally required to operate the taximeter for city journeys. Travellers who believe they have been overcharged should record the taxi’s registration number, route, time and location where possible, and report the incident to the police or the relevant transport authorities.