Eleven taxi drivers investigated for scamming tourists in Maspalomas
The Local Police are investigating eleven taxi drivers for allegedly overcharging tourists through fraudulent fare practices in Maspalomas, in the south of Gran Canaria. One driver alone is suspected of having scammed around 2,400 foreign visitors over the past two years by manipulating taxi fares, allegedly pocketing approximately €30,000.
The three-month investigation began after a routine traffic check uncovered irregularities and a recurring pattern of inflated charges. Councillor for Security, José Carlos Álamo, stated that the suspected fraud took advantage of tourists’ limited knowledge of local fare structures, damaging the reputation of one of the island’s most important holiday destinations.
Concerns had also been raised by the local Taxi Cooperative, which had reported repeated customer complaints about excessive fares. As a result, the council increased monitoring of the sector and is currently reviewing additional taxi licences to curb what authorities believe may be widespread malpractice rather than isolated incidents.
At a regional level, the case has prompted accelerated action and investigation in all main tourist areas across the islands. The Canary Islands’ Director General of Transport, María Fernández, has confirmed that work is under way to introduce a unified taxi tariff across much of the archipelago, to simplify pricing and improve transparency for both residents and tourists.
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