Would You Realize a Stranger is Driving You Before it’s Too Late?
February 28, 2017
Need a ride? Well you can just download an app and have your own personal driver. The question is, how do you know if it’s your driver, or a scammer?
Uber is a transportation company that comes directly to you, unlike a taxi service where you sometimes have to walk in the streets on New York to get a cab. By downloading the app, you can have your Uber in minutes and charges are automatically paid by your credit card information on the app. The company’s owner is worth 6.3 billion and made a revenue of 1.5 billion just in 2015. This service is available in over sixty countries and over 500 cities in the world.
Getting into a car with a stranger you found on an app? Yes that sounds pretty sketchy but Uber drivers have a process to go through before they start driving people. They have to be of age, have good health, be able to drive, and pass a background check. They also have to have a business license. So not just anyone can be an Uber driver. In order for people to know if their driver is legit, the drivers must take a picture of themselves that show on the app.
Even with these precautions, there have recently been stories on “fake Ubers”. They most commonly happen at airports where the victims are in a hurry and stressed out.
A victim who was visiting his dying mother said, “I should have realized something was not right, but all I could think was “time is of the essence,” so I handed over my MasterCard.”
The victim was scammed the minute he got into that car. There ended only up being an extra fifteen dollar charge than what was estimated but in other cases, people have been scammed of hundreds of dollars.
In another Uber scam, a woman suffered a much more frightening experience. She was approached by four women in a car and was asked to split the charge all together. When she told the driver where to go, another woman pulled out a knife on her. She was then taken on almost an hour ride to a gas station and an ATM where she was forced to buy things and take out money.
The question is, will Uber continue to be as successful as it was? If you ever need an Uber, make sure you look for the make and model of the car as well as the license plate number. If there are any hesitations, stay cautious…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uber_(company)
https://www.google.com/amp/amp.usatoday.com/story/91903508/?client=safari