Another visitor was scammed into paying an outrageous fee during a five-minute ride between terminals at Cancun International Airport. Despite union proposals for new taxi fare payment structures, issues persist, with Americans and Canadians still reporting transportation problems when visiting Cancun and other parts of Mexico.
Another recent incident emerged where a traveler was forced to pay $6,000, which they did not know about until checking a statement later.
A Traveler Was Charged $6,000 For A Five-Minute Ride Between Terminal 3 And Terminal 4
The unnamed traveler posted the incident online as a warning to others. The taxi scam generated hundreds of comments. After a five-minute taxi ride, the visitor quickly realized he had likely been scammed. The exchange took a turn after the driver declined his card twice.
“Had to take a car from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4 to meet some friends. The five-minute ride cost me $6,018 USD. Guy told me twice my card was declined. I figured it was the bank flagging the card for fraud, so I asked to try tap to pay. He got out a different card reader, I tapped for the $18 ($300mxd) and went about finding my friends.”
Once the traveler obtained Wi-Fi, the charges totaled $6,000. The traveler reported the charge from “Luxora Mobility” to their bank.
“Then it hit me — my tap to pay is the same card he was telling me was declined. Alarm bells went off in my head, so as soon as I got to WiFi, I logged into my banking app, where I found these two charges from Luxora Mobility totaling $6000.02. Immediately called to report the fraud.”
Hundreds reacted to the incident. Many suggested the traveler use pre-arranged accommodations near the airport.
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-“Yup. Typical taxi scam. This sub is filled to the top with recommendations of safe and trusty shuttle services.” |
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-“I’m at the point that I don’t take the taxis anymore unless I absolutely have to. Book transport through your hotel to get you to and from the airport. I’ll take the bus before I take a taxi. Besides, Uber is all over the place down there (except the airport) – If your hotel doesn’t let them up, walk to the end of the driveway and pick up your Uber from there. $6-8 to anywhere in the hotel zone.” |
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-“Cancun airport is a joke. The moment you step outside the scammers are trying to get you, it’s basically the third world. Your goal should always be to get out of there as quickly as possible while interacting with as few people as possible. Pre-arrange transportation with one of the reputable vendors frequently mentioned on this sub; no Uber, no cabs. Meet the rest of your party at your destination. If you can’t afford these things, stay home until you can.” |
The visitor added that his family usually opted for pre-booked arrangements. However, this time, they opted for the quick taxi ride to meet with another party.
“We always book our transport with the resort, including this time. The only difference is our party was split between terminals 3 and 4. The bus to 4 had just left, and they said it would be 30 mins before it came back. We didn’t want to wait, so we took a car to Terminal 4 where our resort-booked transport was waiting for us. I was paying more attention to my five-year-old and our luggage, so I didn’t watch him enter the cost into the card reader. I got got.”
Given the high volume of taxi scams taking place in Cancun and across Mexico, government officials have issued advisories while advocating for change.
How Mara Lezama, Governor of Quintana Roo, Has Reacted To The Taxi Scams
The head of the Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco) in Quintana Roo, Israel Malacón Osuna, has suggested alternative modes of transport for visitors. Bus transportation is typically the cheapest option. Additionally, Osuna told Riviera Maya News that “accredited providers” with visible rates at the airport are recommended.
Governor Mara Lezama has also pushed for further changes to be made. According to Lezama, the taxi scams have hurt Mexico’s image in recent years.
“We are not going to let our guard down. We are going to continue working because we cannot allow a few to affect the work of everyone. It is very clear, I have said it and I maintain it, no one is above the law and all excessive charges hurt the destinations and when you hurt the destinations, you hurt the citizens, and the most important thing in this state is tourism.”
Along with Lezama’s warning, the U.S. Department of State has also issued an advisory on taxi scams in Mexico. U.S. government officials, in particular, are being asked to avoid unregulated taxis, also due to safety concerns.
The U.S. Department Of State Has Issued Taxi Restrictions For U.S. Government Employees
The U.S. Department of State last updated its travel advisory for Mexico on May 29, 2026. The advisory level is currently “Level 2: Exercise increased caution.” Warnings for terrorism, crime and kidnapping are in place.
Additionally, there are advisories in place for U.S. government employees who are traveling within Mexico. Government employees should avoid traveling alone in remote areas, and only use regulated taxis.
“U.S. government employee travel restrictions (U.S. citizens are strongly advised to follow): Must rely on dispatched vehicles from regulated taxi stands or app-based services like Uber or Cabify and may not wave down taxis on the street,'” the U.S. Department of State wrote in its advisory.
With yet another taxi scam occurring, plenty of work remains as U.S. travelers continue to face troubling issues. Pre-booking remains the ideal solution when navigating Cancun and other parts of Mexico.
