Influencer Exposes 10,000-Peso Taxi Scam in Cancún

A social media influencer has recently voiced her concern over exorbitant taxi fares in Cancún, Quintana Roo. She revealed that she was charged 10,000 pesos for a short trip from a location near Playa del Carmen to Tulum, a journey that typically takes around half an hour. The influencer, Nara Baasanhuu, stated that the taxi driver warned of an additional charge for a requested stop at a Seven Eleven store. Despite agreeing to the extra charge, the group was asked to pay the full fare before reaching Tulum, citing lack of internet connectivity in the area. The cost of the trip had unexpectedly soared to 10,000 pesos.

Baasanhuu recalled the incident, "Suddenly, the taxi stops and tells us: 'You'll have to pay before we arrive because there won't be internet there.' And then they say: 'It will be 10,000 pesos.'" She urged her followers to be cautious when dealing with taxis in Cancún.

The driver initially estimated the fare to be 5,000 pesos. However, due to a brief stop at the store, an additional 2,000 pesos was added to the fare. Baasanhuu emphasized that they only spent five minutes at the Seven Eleven. The final fare, after several increases, amounted to 10,000 pesos. The driver maintained that the fare was set by his superiors. Despite their protest against the excessive fare, the group eventually paid the full amount to avoid any potential conflict. Baasanhuu advised her followers not to travel to Cancún alone to prevent similar situations.

In a related incident, Mexican influencer Luisito Comunica also reported being charged 2,000 pesos for a 20-minute taxi ride in Cancún. He noted the high rates set by taxi companies, suggesting that these might be due to quotas imposed by unions or airports. The taxis in question were part of a private transport company operating at Cancún's airport. He, too, felt that the drivers were not to blame, but rather the inflated rates enforced by the companies.

In a subsequent development, drugs and cash were discovered at the location, along with an area allegedly used as a "torture room".