The short version
- Book your ride before you land, or use the official taxi desk or app pickup zone.
- Never accept a ride from someone who approaches you inside the terminal.
- Keep your phone charged, your hotel address saved offline and some local cash ready.
The first fifteen minutes after you land are when travelers are easiest to work. You're tired, your phone may not have service yet, and you're carrying everything you own for the week. Scammers in arrival halls around the world count on exactly that.
The common plays
The fake driver
Someone holds a sign with a name close to yours, or simply asks, "Taxi? Uber?" inside the terminal. Official drivers and licensed taxis wait in marked areas. Anyone soliciting rides inside the building is a red flag.
The helpful stranger
A friendly person offers to help you with the ATM, a SIM card or your bags. Sometimes it's kindness. Sometimes it's a distraction while a partner works your pockets, or a setup for an overpriced "service."
The hotel that "closed"
Your driver tells you your hotel is full, closed or unsafe, and knows a better one. He gets a commission there. Your hotel is fine.
The currency trap
Airport exchange counters often charge steep rates. Machines that offer to charge you in your home currency usually add a markup too. Choose the local currency.
Your arrival plan
- Before you fly: book the transfer through your hotel or a reputable company, or confirm where the official taxi rank and app pickup zone are.
- Save it offline: screenshot your hotel's address in the local language, your booking and the driver's details.
- Charge up: land with a charged phone and a battery pack.
- Carry small local cash for tolls or tips, separate from your main wallet.
- Walk with purpose: head straight to the marked pickup area. A polite "No, thank you" without stopping is enough.
If something feels off
Don't get in the car. Go back inside, to the information desk, a uniformed officer or your airline's counter. Text your check-in person at home with where you are. Feeling awkward costs nothing. Getting in the wrong car can cost a lot.
Want to practice this with a professional? Our partner Contingent Group teaches situational awareness, self-defense and trauma care in person. See training →