13 Fake Taxis Confiscated by Shanghai Police

Shanghai Daily has reported that police have confiscated 13 fake taxis that were parked in the rural area of Pudong District’s Caolu Town. Fake license plates necessary to operate a fake taxi can be purchased for approximately RMB10,000-20,000. 

We've all been bombarded with the “Taxi, sim card, metro card, money exchange?” salutation upon arriving at a local airport in Shanghai. It might even come from someone in what appears to be an official uniform. There's a good chance it is far from official, though. 

According to StudyinChina, some fake taxis can charge more than 200 percent more than the normal price for a taxi, sometimes as high as RMB500 for one trip. And the fake taxis don’t just stop at the airport; they are often found prowling throughout the streets of both rural and urban Shanghai. 

Perhaps the latest traffic crackdown and this warning to fake taxi drivers/producers will help eliminate these taxi scams, but for now it is best to stay vigilant and avoid becoming an easy target.

[Image Via China Daily]