In London, a quick check helps before you board or accept an offer. Around theatres and sights, a clear question about the booking and total price goes a long way. The five traps below show you what to look for.
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The 5 most common London scams
The pedicab fare
How it worksAfter a very short pedicab ride, the driver demands an excessive fare. TfL is introducing licences and legally regulated maximum fares for pedicabs.
WhereCentral London, mainly Soho and the West End. Fares can get especially high at peak times.
How to protect yourself
- The new rules cap the fare at a base of 5 pounds plus 1 pound per started minute. Additional passengers attract a surcharge. A lower fixed fare can be agreed before the ride starts.
- Agree the total for your whole group before sitting down. Ask whether it is per person or per ride, and get the amount in pounds.
- Walk or take the Tube for short journeys.
The shell game on Westminster Bridge
How it worksA game with cups looks entertaining and invites you to bet. It is a con and you cannot win. Distraction in the crowd also makes pickpocketing more likely.
WhereWestminster Bridge. Police and Westminster City Council patrol there and make arrests for illegal street gambling.
How to protect yourself
- Do not play or place a bet.
- Do not stop in the crowd around the game.
- Keep your bag closed in front of you and walk on.
The unbooked minicab
How it worksA driver offers you a ride directly, or a bouncer takes you to a minicab. Without a booking through a licensed operator, the ride is illegal and uninsured for passengers. This also applies if the car has a TfL licence sticker or you approach the driver yourself.
WhereOutside clubs, bars and stations at night, particularly in the West End.
How to protect yourself
- Book a minicab with a licensed operator by app, phone or in person.
- Only licensed taxis, the black cabs with a lit TAXI sign, can pick you up on the street or at a rank without a booking.
- Check the registration, driver’s first name, licence number and driver photo in your confirmation. If the car or driver does not match, do not get in.
Street ticket sellers
How it worksSomeone offers you theatre tickets in the street. For a reliable purchase, use the theatre box office or a member of the ticket retailers’ association STAR. Copied barcodes can leave you unable to enter with your ticket.
WhereThe West End, Leicester Square and outside theatres.
How to protect yourself
- Buy only from official sources, never from street sellers.
- Book with the theatre box office or a STAR member. The official ticket booth in central London has last minute deals.
- Check collection requirements. The venue may ask for ID or the card used to pay.
- Do not share booking confirmations, ticket photos or barcodes. Others can copy them and block your entry.
Phone snatching
How it worksSomeone on a bicycle, moped or e-scooter snatches your phone from your hand. They often approach from behind while you are texting or talking.
WhereOutside stations, shopping centres and concert venues, and at road crossings. Most cases happen between 18:00 and 22:00, but they also happen by day.
How to protect yourself
- Look up and look out. Step away from the kerb towards a wall to use your phone, and face oncoming traffic.
- Keep the phone out of sight when you do not need it.
- Note your IMEI using *#06# and enable the phone lock and stolen device protection.
- Never chase the thief. Call 999 if the theft has just happened. Otherwise, report it through 101 or online.
Travel London with fewer surprises
The five traps above are not the only ones. Which ones really matter depends on how you travel: solo, with family, on a budget, or in peak season. That is why TravelCheck on iPhone builds your personalized London scam report, usable offline, with English phrases you can play aloud.
FAQ
Is London safe?
Petty crime such as pickpocketing happens at tourist sites and on public transport in London. People on bicycles also snatch phones from your hand as they pass. Stay alert in crowds, especially at airports, stations and on the Underground. Pay cashless where possible and carry only the cash you need that day. Keep your bag closed in front of you and put your phone out of sight after using it.
How much can a pedicab in London charge?
The new regulations set a maximum fare with a base of 5 pounds and 1 pound for each started minute. Additional passengers attract a surcharge. You can agree a lower fixed fare before the ride starts. Ask for the total for your whole group in pounds before sitting down. Check whether the quoted amount is per person or for the entire ride. For a short journey, you can walk or take the Tube instead.
What should I do at the shell game on Westminster Bridge?
Do not play or place a bet. The shell game is a con and you cannot win. Watching from the crowd also distracts you and makes pickpocketing more likely. Walk on and keep your bag closed in front of you. Do not let the apparently entertaining game draw you into stopping with the group. Police and Westminster City Council patrol the bridge and make arrests for illegal street gambling there.
How do I recognise a legal taxi in London?
Only black cabs with a lit TAXI sign can take passengers from the street or a rank without a booking. Book a minicab through a licensed operator by app, phone or in person. Check the registration, driver’s first name, licence number and photo in your confirmation before boarding. If the car or driver does not match, do not get in. A licence sticker alone is insufficient. Unbooked minicabs are illegal and uninsured for passengers.
How do I protect my phone in London?
Look up and stay aware of your surroundings. Step away from the kerb towards a wall to use your phone and face oncoming traffic. Put it out of sight afterwards. Enable the phone lock and stolen device protection, and note your IMEI using *#06#. If someone snatches your phone as they ride past, never chase them. Call 999 if it has just happened. Otherwise, report the theft through 101 or online.
