Tourist Scams in Taiwan

Some drivers outside the official taxi queue at Taoyuan International Airport approach arriving tourists and quote flat fares to Taipei city that are 50–100% above the metered rate. They are convincing and insist that the meter will cost more due to traffic.

How to avoid: Use only taxis from the official taxi rank inside the terminal. The meter will always be used by licensed drivers. Alternatively, take the Airport MRT directly to Taipei Main Station for a fixed, much cheaper fare.

Some vendors at Shilin and Raohe Night Markets apply significantly higher prices for foreign-looking tourists compared to locals, sometimes charging double. Prices are not always posted, allowing vendors to quote different rates at their discretion.

How to avoid: Look for vendors with clearly posted price boards and point at the listed price when ordering. If no price is shown, ask before ordering. Having the price written or shown on a phone translation app removes ambiguity.

Kaohsiung's Liuhe Night Market and Ruifeng Night Market see targeted phone and bag snatching in the dense pedestrian crowds. Thieves work in pairs — one creates a distraction or body contact while the other takes the item. The narrow lanes between stalls create conditions where movement is restricted and snatchers can disappear into the crowd quickly.

How to avoid: Use a wrist strap on your phone in night market crowds. Keep bags zipped and in front of your body. Be alert to anyone who bumps into you from behind — check your pockets immediately. Avoid holding your phone at your side while walking through narrow market lanes.

Some taxi drivers at Kaohsiung International Airport take circuitous routes to the city center or fail to use the meter, quoting fixed fares that substantially exceed what a metered ride would cost. The airport is relatively close to central Kaohsiung, making inflated fixed fares particularly unjustifiable. Visitors unfamiliar with the layout are most vulnerable.

How to avoid: Use the official metered taxi rank outside arrivals or take the Kaohsiung MRT from the airport directly into the city center — the station is connected to the terminal. If taking a taxi, insist on the meter before entering. The metered fare to the city center should be approximately NTD 200–350.

Seafood restaurants along the harbor in the Cijin and Gushan ferry areas price many items by weight without clear signage, resulting in bills significantly higher than visitors anticipated. Fish and shellfish presented live in tanks are sold per jin (600g) with prices displayed in small characters, and portions ordered casually can cost several times what the customer expected.

How to avoid: Always ask the price per unit and the approximate total before ordering any live seafood or weight-priced items. Request that the restaurant weigh the item and show you the price on the scale before cooking. Restaurants one or two streets back from the waterfront generally charge significantly less for equivalent seafood.

Some rental shops in tourist areas rent scooters or bicycles and later claim damage occurred during the rental period, presenting the tourist with a large repair bill. Pre-existing damage is used to justify the charge, and tourists who did not document the condition at rental have little recourse.

How to avoid: Photograph and video the entire vehicle — including all scratches, dents, and worn areas — before accepting any rental. Send the photos to yourself via a timestamped message. Use a credit card for the deposit so you have chargeback protection.

Liuhe Night Market is Kaohsiung's most tourist-facing night market, and certain stalls apply tourist pricing above posted rates or give incorrect change to distracted customers. Some vendors quote prices verbally that differ from the posted menu once the bill arrives. The busy, crowded environment makes it easy to lose track of transactions.

How to avoid: Point to menu prices before ordering to confirm what you are paying. Count your change before walking away from any stall. Learning "how much is this?" in Mandarin (duoshao qian?) and having the vendor show you the price rather than quote it verbally reduces discrepancies.

Guanghua Digital Plaza and its surrounding side-street stalls are a hotspot for counterfeit or gray-market electronics sold as genuine branded products. Vendors offer items such as fake USB drives with falsified storage capacity, counterfeit batteries, and knock-off accessories at prices just low enough to seem like a bargain. Buyers often discover the defect only after leaving the area, and the vendor is rarely traceable. Some stalls operate on the pavement outside the main building rather than inside licensed shops.

How to avoid: Stick to established retailers on the upper floors of the Guanghua Digital Plaza building itself, which have clear business registration. Test electronics before paying whenever possible and ask for a printed receipt. Avoid buying from pavement stalls or individuals operating without a fixed counter.