A lot has been written regarding taxi scams in Buenos Aires. To-day the newspaper La Nacion
calls the attention of its readers to two different scams going on in Buenos Aires.
Both kind of scams could be averted by calling for radio taxis , I wish to stress the importance of calling not flagging radio taxis. Because I am almost a local, I know I am guilty of doing the opposite
but after reading the article in La Nacion I urge all visitors not to do it.
For those who have to know what scams the newspaper was refering to, one involved the taxi making an uncalled turned in a quiet street and someone getting into the taxi to rob the passenger and the other one the taxi driver asking a tourist for special money for paying taxis and managing to extract more money from the passenger.

Well, Graziella, as frequent readers of this forum probably remember, I have always argued, against the advice of other forum members, that what makes radiotaxis safer is CALLING for them, not simply hailing any cab supposed to be a radiotaxi.

Yes, I totally agree.Buenos Aires is not the only city that this goes on. In Mexico City for instance we did the same. And also in Prague, which was a little more difficult but in spite of not speaking one word we managed. I found out that the system to call taxi cabs is the same all over which makes sense and helps. In Prague the scams were different but also terrible.

Once after a very fine dinner at a highly regarded restaurant, we asked that a taxi be called for us. About a block or two before we reached our hotel, the driver pulled to the side of the road and demanded more money. I was ready to give it to him, but my husband, who has a very scary deep voice when angry, refused. We just paid what we owed and left the cab. Luckily, there were no threats of violence. So how do you know when you're getting a legitimate taxi?

Islebethere: are you quite sure the cab was CALLED and not simply hailed for you on the street?

What avrooster suggests is what probably happened, another possibility is that they called a radio taxi but we got in the wrong car. When you ask the restaurant to call a taxi be sure they do so, and ask what company taxi they called . So you are double sure....

I mean you got into the wrong taxi.

How does one call a taxi when out and about, ie just leaving the Recoleta Cemetery. We probably won't have cell phones for just our 2 weeks....

If you are unable to call a cab, just hail one. Normally, there are many available, so try to choose one driven ideally by a tidy looking at least mature gentleman.

Furthermore, if, when you open the cab's door, you don't see a large card with the driver's photo and data hanging from the front seat, don't board it. You could also make sure the driver sees you writing down the number of his cab's license plate or other info on the cab's door.

Anyway, we are dealing here with an extremely low percentage of rogues who tend to wait outside touristy spots at night.

Have a great time in our town.