Page 18 - IAV Digital Magazine #455

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
Riders Say Uber Drivers Are
Using Vomit To Scam Them
By David Lohr
Some Uber riders in Florida are accusing their drivers of engaging in some truly stomach-churn- ing fraud.
According to the el Nuevo Herald, sever- al customers claim unscrupulous drivers have falsely accused them of puking inside the Uber vehicles, making the riders responsible for bogus clean-up charges.
Miami resident William Kennedy told the publication he was victimized twice in one night.
“It was a total fraud by two different driv- ers,” Kennedy said. “They have every- thing planned for the fraud,” Kennedy said.
The scam, which has been dubbed “vomit fraud,” has been around for a few years. Reports of it have surfaced in dif- ferent parts of the country, including New York and California.
The shysters will reportedly pick a cus- tomer up, deliver them to their intended destination and then report to Uber the individual vomited in
the vehicle. The driv- ers allegedly provide the company with fake pictures of the mess, whereupon the company hits the passenger with a large clean-up bill.
One Uber driver, who asked the el Nuevo Herald to remain anonymous, said she’s aware of the scam and knows driv- ers in South Florida
who have done it.
“They’ve been doing it for a long time,” she said. “Many people don’t review their emails or credit card statements, so the drivers wind up pock- eting the $80 or $150.”
Some victims have reportedly had a diffi- cult time getting Uber
to refund the fraudu- lent charges. Others said they’ve com- plained and have yet to receive a refund.
Uber told the el Nuevo Herald it is “actively looking into reports where fraud may be detected and will take appropriate actions.”
The company added, “the vast majority of
cleaning fee reports are legitimately the result of someone making a mess in the car.”
Miami police told The Miami Herald the fraud “is difficult to consider as a crime.” Complaints, accord- ing to the depart- ment, are between the passengers, the company and its driv- ers.
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine