Fans heading to the Australian Open have been warned to be on the lookout for Melbourne cab drivers who will try to scam them by using a shonky payment method to rip them off. Some taxi drivers are using the underhanded trick to charge customers as much as $80 for a fare from the MCG to Richmond, which is just a short walk from the famous stadium, and one traveller was told to pay $100 for a six-kilometre journey recently.
![[Nick Kyrgios (pictured) will be one of the biggest drawcards at this year's Grand Slam]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/02/01/93661541-14242413-image-a-15_1735780165766.jpg)
The offending drivers have found a way around the current payment system, which is linked directly to the meter to stop cabbies from adding extra charges to the fare. They are instead using a different, hand-held payment terminal to get around the meter and charge hugely inflated prices.
![[Spectators who catch cabs back from Melbourne Park (pictured) have been told to beware drivers who use a separate payment system to rip them off]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/02/01/93660543-14242413-image-a-14_1735780157495.jpg)
Taxi giant 13Cabs has asked the Victorian Government to introduce new regulations to stamp out the practice. 'This is the method they [the drivers] use when they charge you $80 to take you from the MCG to Richmond,' 13Cabs head of public affairs David Samuel told News Corp.
'The taxi meter is what creates integrity in the taxi. It is that taxi meter that gives you the privilege to do rank and hail work. Tennis fans who plan on heading to Melbourne to see stars like Alex De Minaur (pictured) at the Australian Open have been told to be on the lookout for shonky taxi drivers.
