Bali. Taxi scams can be one of your worst nightmares if you are a tourist, especially when you are traveling in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language.

The Bali police last week arrested the taxi driver who tried extorting money from foreign tourists. A video of 2 foreign tourists getting extorted by a taxi driver in Bali went viral on the internet not long ago. The video showed that the driver had forced the passengers to pay $50, but the tourists only had Rp 50,000 ($3.21). The driver immediately threatened them with a weapon, which the travelers claimed to be a knife. Although the passengers eventually got out of the taxi unharmed, this shows that foreign tourists need to watch out for taxi scams.

If you are a foreign tourist, there are some things that you might want to take note of to tell a fake taxi:

1. The taxi copies the color and the logo of famous taxi brands. 

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2. The driver is not wearing their official uniforms.

3. Unclear taxi fares.

4. The driver aggressively offers its services to its passengers.

Bluebird, known by its blue color, is a pretty common taxi in Indonesia, including the tourist hotspot Bali. But as it is the largest taxi operator, scammers might turn the vehicles to pose as a Bluebird taxi. Here’s how you can avoid getting scammed by a fake Bluebird, according to a recent press release:

1. Bluebird fleet is frost blue;

2. A taxi sign with a Bluebird logo on top of the car and the word “TAKSI” written;

3. A Bluebird marking and logo on the front windshield of the car;

4. Bluebird and PT Praja Bali Transportasi logos on the side door,

5. An alphanumeric fleet code on the back, side and inside of the taxi;

6. The driver’s ID card on the front dashboard;

7. Clear taximeter shown on screen;

8. Driver follows the passenger’s route directions;

9. Standardized fleet with cool and clean air conditioners;

10. Driver wears blue batik uniforms with the Bluebird logo; 

11. Accepts cash or cashless payments.

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