Uber is a well-known taxi business that has become popular all over the world. It recently managed to get into the Kenyan market and hit really well. It is one of the most respected taxi services in Kenya because of their great drivers and brilliant cars. Although just like in any business, not everything can be entirely genuine. Have you ever felt cheated while using an uber ? or sometimes feel over priced for no reason? Ever since Uber dropped their charges in Kenya some drivers have been known to be corruptible or rather mischievous. But could your uber drivers be intentionally scaring you into paying extra money?
Recently Uber drives in China have been uploading petrifying images as their profile photos to scare customers into cancelling their rides. The practice has been labeled as “the ghost driver” issue. This new scam pushes the customers into cancelling their trips and forcing them to hit “cancel” especially when they see who is coming to pick them up. In desperate attempts some Uber drivers have been deviously ensuring that customers pay extra fees. With this new ghost driving scam the cancellation fee ends up in the driver’s pocket without having to drive the customer. In some instances where the customer is not frightened as the driver would have hoped, the scammers would claim that the client has been in the ride longer than they actually had. At other times, the driver would start the trip without being there physically and overcharging the passenger thereafter.
In China the on top of the amount paid by customers, the scammers also receive a subsidy from Uber. This problem has been reported in more than half a dozen major cities and Uber is so far working to combat the scam. So far, Uber has taken the initiative to work with public security departments especially in China. The ghost driving system will then further be curbed by the use of facial recognition technology to match driver’s faces with their profile pictures. As for the insolent drivers their accounts have been frozen and have been investigated. Though the problem has mainly been in China with Chinese authorities struggling to regulate the scam, this new scam is something to be aware of or any other reported fishy behavior. As this has become one of the most trusted taxi systems, it is wise to report any issue to Uber via email or their customer services.
